Camp Reed Substitute Counselor

OUR CULTURE:

At the Y, you can channel your passion into a lifelong career helping to deliver positive change. Every day, our staff – of all ages and from all walks of life – work to bridge the gaps in community needs by nurturing the potential of youth and teens, improving our community’s health and well-being, and providing support to our neighbors, by serving others, building strong relationships, and incorporating our YMCA values into our everyday work.

POSITION SUMMARY:

This position supports the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit, charitable organization committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The Camp Reed Counselor creates and maintains a safe, positive, and supportive learning environment for Camp Reed campers (5-15 years old) during overnight camps. The Camp Reed Counselor builds and nurtures campers' appreciation for the outdoors, supports them in building strong friendships, and fosters an enriching camp experience for all campers and junior counselors. The Camp Reed Counselor provides high quality outdoor educational and recreational experiences for participants while promoting YMCA core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility through all programs and activities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Supervise and support 5-15 campers in a camp cabin setting, ensuring campers are safe and always accounted for. Oversee and guide all aspects of assigned campers’ day including, but not limited to, health needs, nutrition, hygiene, cabin time, mealtime, rest, camp activity choices, cabin and camp cleaning duties and responsibilities, evening activities and transition times.
2. Set and implement standards for harmonious group life; create a motivating environment encouraging camper safety and cleanliness in the cabin and on camp grounds.
3. Identify and respond accordingly to camper behavior issues, applying age-appropriate strategies as needed.
4. Take cabin leadership at mealtimes to ensure appropriate manners and nutrition.
5. Monitor health and wellbeing of assigned campers, assuring that each camper visits the nurse as needed for daily medications, injuries, etc. Observes camp curfew and ensures each camper receives an adequate amount of rest daily.
6. Foster a positive mentoring relationship with assigned junior counselors by providing a deeper understanding of leadership and camp counseling skills. Mentor junior counselors by encouraging open communication, fair and appropriate evaluation, and providing valuable opportunities to strengthen their skills.
7. Role model the Camp Reed mission statement and YMCA core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility to campers, junior counselors, co-workers, YMCA members and the public. Ensure campers model respect of camp facilities, other campers, and camp staff and volunteer personnel.
8. Lead or assist in program and unit areas as assigned. Facilitate program activities that are developmentally appropriate, and which promote camper skill and character development.
9. Knows, reviews, and applies all safety, emergency, and child abuse prevention policies and procedures, responding to emergency situations in accordance with YMCA protocol. Reports concerns promptly to Camp leadership, and ensures each camper understands and follows camp safety regulations.
10. Follow direction of Directors in coordinating and leading all aspects of camp life including units, cabin activities, camp activities, and overnights as well as other program and special activities.
11. Make camp appropriate choices in dress, speech, and behavior. Be on time and prepared for all camp assignments, including staff meetings and staff trainings.
12. Perform necessary cleaning, dishwashing, maintenance duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum age of 18 by July 1st of the Camp Season.*
• High School Diploma or equivalent
  1. One or more years of college preferred (May be substituted with at least one year of relevant work experience)
  2. 6 months to 1 year volunteer experience preferred
• Current Driver’s license and YMCA acceptable driving record required for some positions.
• Lifeguard certification or ropes course training preferred**
• Completion of YMCA required trainings upon hire
• Ability to develop positive, authentic relationships with people from different backgrounds

*Please reach out to Camp Leadership if you have any questions related to this qualification.
**Indicates training is provided by the YMCA

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Employee has some exposure to health and safety
• hazards.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to work outdoors and participate in activities including, but not limited to, hiking, swimming, and biking
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to communicable diseases, thus engaging in frequent handwashing and use of disinfectant products.
• The employee is regularly required to remain alert for several hours at a time and react swiftly in cases of emergency.
• The employee is regularly required to interact with youth through oral comprehension and expression, as well as active listening and speech recognition.
• The employee must regularly use medium physical effort in an outdoor wilderness setting
• The employee must frequently set up heavy equipment and work in uncomfortable positions.
• The employee must occasionally move up to 50 pounds of heavy loads
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close and distance vision and the ability to adjust
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT

The YMCA of the Inland Northwest commits to being an inclusive organization for all. Driven by our mission and values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility we actively work to close equity gaps for marginalized and underserved groups. We are inspired to elevate social justice issues facing our community, remove systemic barriers, welcome cultural diversity, and create equity for those in greatest need. Through collaboration with our diverse community partners together we work to effect meaningful change. In all things, we are dedicated to ensuring our Y is a safe, welcoming place for all people to be, belong, and become. The YMCA of the Inland Northwest provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants.

STARTING PAY: $72/day

WHAT YOU GET FROM WORKING AT THE YMCA:

• Frequent opportunities to makes a difference in the lives of youth, adults, and senior members
• Something new and exciting to learn and work with every day
• Free individual membership (<19 hours/week) and family membership (20+ hours/week), with program discounts available
• Paid sick time for all staff, and paid vacation time for staff working 20+ hours/week
• Flexible schedules that work for YOU
• Onsite childcare with discounts available
• Medical, dental and health benefits for staff working 30+ hours/week
• Retirement plan with 8% employer contribution after 2 years of service (1,000 or more hours worked required in each anniversary year)

The happiest and most fulfilled Y staff are motivated to help others and want to be a part of something larger than themselves. Join our team! Come be a part of a charitable, mission-driven organization that works for individual and community well-being for all, for a better us.

Apply today!