Camp Abe Lincoln - Residential Camp Counselor - Summer 2024

Join our dynamic team as a Residential Summer Camp Counselor and make a positive impact on the lives of young campers. Our camp is dedicated to creating a fun and enriching experience for children, fostering personal growth, and building lasting memories. If you are passionate about working with kids, enjoy the outdoors, and possess strong leadership skills, we want you on our team!

What You Will Learn

Besides finding real human connection and reacquainting yourself with nature, you will find that working at summer camp is a true leadership boot camp, and you will leave knowing you had an impact on the future.

You can expect to gain valuable employment skills such as: oral communication skills - you will be expected to communicate effectively with people at every level of the organization, from campers to directors and parents; critical thinking and problem-solving - you will be challenged to think on your feet; interpersonal and leadership skills - you will model professionalism and compassion by managing groups of campers; collaborative skills - you will receive on-the-ground, practical, real life training in how to work with a team and build the culture of your camp community; creativity - you will develop innovative and fun ways to engage an audience of 2 to 200! You will leave a changed person, better prepared for your chosen career path, and most importantly, you will have impacted the lives of others.

Perks of working at the Y!

• Free individual YMCA membership! Discounts on programs
• Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Program
• Career Development
• Tuition Assistance
• Competitive Wages

PAY RATE: $480 weekly stipend. Lodging and meals included.

SCHEDULE: This is a seasonal position during the summer months. Weekly hours may vary, but will include at a minimum Sunday afternoon - Friday evening. Requires living at camp during the season.

Responsibilities:

• Supervision: Provide constant supervision and ensure the safety and well-being of campers.
• Activity Facilitation: Plan, organize, and lead a variety of camp activities, including games, arts and crafts, nature exploration, and team-building exercises.
• Counseling: Foster a positive and inclusive camp environment by offering guidance, support, and encouragement to campers.
• Role Model: Demonstrate leadership qualities and uphold camp values through your actions and interactions with campers and fellow staff members.
• Communication: Maintain open communication with camp directors, fellow counselors, and parents to keep them informed about camper progress, issues, and achievements.
• Emergency Response: Be prepared to respond to emergencies and follow camp safety protocols.

We are looking for someone who displays the YMCA values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility and adheres to our mission. Must be able to obtain CPR/AED/FA certification (classes provided through the YMCA), pass a background check, and be 18 years of age. Prior experience working with children in a camp, school or recreational setting is preferred.

Camp Abe Lincoln is part of the the YMCA of the Iowa Mississippi Valley association which is a 4-star rated Charity Navigator employer for over 16 years. "Only 2% of the charities we evaluate have received at least 11 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that YMCA of the Iowa Mississippi Valley outperforms most other charities in America." - Charity Navigator. We have also been voted "Best in the QC" by Locals Love Us several years in a row.