Summer Camp Lead Counselor/Educator - Part-time

Camp Description

Wilderness Warriors Summer Camp is an outdoor adventure camp where wilderness survival and martial arts provide challenging and exciting opportunities for children to build resiliency, confidence, and self-esteem.  

The camp is run by River City Aikido (est. 2005), a family owned and operated traditional martial arts school, and the Head Instructor is Brian Hill, a 4th-degree black belt and psychotherapist with 20+ years experience working with kids.

The camp takes place in several locations of the James River Park System.  A typical day includes exploring, learning about the natural world through animal tracking, plant/tree identification, practicing survival crafts/skills like fire-making, and outdoor games.

Position Description

The Lead Camo Counselor/Educator (with a partner) will be responsible for leading a group of children ages 7-13 through activities, crafts, skills training, outdoor games, and free play.  The Head Instructor will demonstrate and teach a skill (eg one match fire making) and the Lead Camp Counselor/Educator facilitates the campers' skill acquisition.  Behind the scenes this candidate will be responsible for setup and takedown of “basecamp” including purchasing, management, and preparation of camp supplies (snacks, water, first aid, etc).

The Lead Camp Counselor/Educators’s typical day begins at 7 a.m. with a store/supply trip, arriving to the park at 7:30 a.m. to organize and prepare for meeting families at 8 a.m.  At 8:15 a.m. the group hits the trail, returns to basecamp at 12 p.m. for a one hour lunch, before heading back out for the afternoon, and return to basecamp to meet parents at 4 p.m. With cleanup and organizing for the next day, work is complete no later than 4:30 p.m.

Required Candidate Qualifications:

• Ability to create and maintain an exciting camp culture that motivates children to seek out new challenges while also fostering a supportive and safe environment.  
• Possess a passion for the outdoors, high energy, and a love for teaching children.  
• Maintains positive attitude, flexibility, and positive role model for campers.
• Experience managing and supervising children in stressful situations.
• Ability to lead adventure activities such as walking (avg 5 miles a day) with day pack, rock-scrambling in the river, floating small rapids, and other physically challenging play/adventure activities.
• 18 years of age, posses valid driver’s license, and complete background check and drug screen.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Working knowledge of child development and behavior management.  
• Experience working with groups of children in a teaching, mentoring, or supervisory capacity.
• Experience with outdoor summer camps, survival skills, leading outdoor games, team building, activities, and/or crafts.
• First aid and CPR certified.
• Experience with martial arts preferred but not required.

Commitment:

• 5 summer camp weeks
  • June 25-29
  • July 9-13
  • July 23-27
  • August 6-10
  • August 20-24
• One weekend training (TBD)