Early Childhood Education Programs - Camp Programs Assistant Lead Counselor (Seasonal)

Join the PRIDE! This position contributes to the success of Brookfield Zoo Chicago (“BZC”) by providing the highest level of quality customer service and extraordinary guest experiences with top-quality programming to participants to further BZC’s mission of inspiring conservation leadership. This is a seasonal non-union hourly position, grade S009 with a pay rate of $19.85 per hour. For our Benefits Summary Information, follow this link to our Benefits Table or copy and paste the following in your internet browser 5dfac8db-5b35-45d1-8e3c-b37c698b6d43.pdf (please refer to the non-union, seasonal employee section) and/or refer to the benefit details provided below after the job description information.

2026 Summer Camp dates are: June 8 - August 7. There is no camp the week of July 4th (June 29 - July 3). Camp staff training will take place the week of June 1. The typical scheduled hours for camp staff are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; until 5:00 p.m. for aftercare. Each staff member typically gets assigned one week of aftercare coverage. Further information about camp programs can be found here.

PRIMARY JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

• * Assist the Lead Camp Counselor in managing the daily program needs of camp staff and campers; monitor camper check-in and checkout, prepare activities, and develop program content. Assist in pick-up and drop-off of programs in accordance with established protocol. Maintain and organize program supply inventory including art supplies, t-shirts, program tools, etc.
• * Maintain open communication on a daily basis with parents and/or guardians of program participants regarding questions or concerns, discipline issues, extended day care, etc.
• * Facilitate Camp sessions in the absence of Seasonal Camp Programs Counselors. Supervise program participants through different exhibits and facilitate projects, games, and activities.
• * Provide coaching/feedback to Seasonal Camp Programs Counselors on a regular basis. Support Seasonal Camp Programs Counselors and Assistant Counselors in the absence of the Manager.
• * Partner with Camp Inclusion Specialist to plan for accommodation of participants with special needs.
• * Facilitate program/activity development, prototyping, and documentation.
• * Direct and/or delegate Seasonal Camp Counselors to complete tasks as appropriate.
• Other related duties as assigned.
• Denotes Essential Job Function(s)

POSITION REQUIREMENTS AND SPECIFICATIONS:

High school diploma or educational equivalent (e.g., GED.) required. Must be at least 18 years of age as required by the American Camp Association Guidelines. One year or more paid and/or volunteer/unpaid experience working with groups of children and/or educating the public in a formal or informal educational setting, e.g., camp, park district, Special Recreation Association, day care, student teaching, school, or cultural institution, required.

Strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills required. English fluency at a professional working proficiency. Must be an enthusiastic and flexible team player and able to work in a stimulating environment. Excellent customer service skills and ability to work with guests effectively. Cultural competency; experience and/or ability to work and interact effectively with a diverse, multicultural audience.

Knowledge of how to send and receive emails and basic word processing skills required.

DESIRABLE/PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

One or more years of college or the equivalent of two years training and/or experience preferred, including coursework in education, biological sciences, communication, therapeutic recreation, or other directly related field or subjects, such as public speaking, interpretation, theater, recreation, environmental studies, children and families, or art and interpretation.

Experience working in inclusive informal, educational, or recreational programs a plus.:

Experience in a zoo, aquarium, museum, nature center, or art studio environment a plus.:

Experience in Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel preferred.:

Multilingual ability, Spanish fluency a plus. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: This position description summarizes the primary duties and functions of this position, but should not be considered a complete listing of every duty the incumbent may ever be called upon to perform. Must represent Brookfield Zoo Chicago in an appropriate and professional manner to campers, families of enrolled campers and Zoo guests. Must have a genuine interest in nature and animals. Must be willing and able to learn play facilitation skills. Incumbent must display a positive attitude and be a positive role model to program participants and provide a fun and positive learning environment for program participants including school-aged children. Pre-school camp is for children 4 and 5-years old. School-age camp is for children in grades K–5. Incumbent may be scheduled to work non-standard hours including evenings. Camp programs run from June through August, training takes place in May. The work schedule for Zoo Camp is generally Monday through Friday, 7 to 8 hours per day, based on camper enrollment. Must be available to work the weeks of summer camps, June through August. Incumbent must be enthusiastic with demonstrated abilities to engage with guests and other staff. All schedules are based on the needs of the operation. This is a temporary position.

OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENTS: See Occupational Requirements Form.

001241/012125:

Seasonal Employees Mental Health: Support, counseling, and resources for life issues at no cost to you. Eligible employees and their immediate family have access to Perspectives, a dynamic Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) which provides 24/7, confidential care and resources to address work and life stressors.

Retirement Savings: A 401(k) savings plan is available for all employees. Choose either pre-tax and/or Roth after-tax contributions. First of the quarter following one year of service, eligible employees receive matching contributions of 50% of the first 6% you contribute. Other Benefits & Perks for All Employees (unless otherwise noted)

Advanced Inquiry Degree Program

Brookfield Zoo Chicago has partnered with Project Dragonfly at Miami University of Ohio to bring an exciting Master’s degree program to the Chicagoland area. The Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) is an inquiry-driven learning experience, allowing participants to take classes from Miami University faculty. Enrollment is open to applicants with a bachelor's degree, regardless of academic major or profession. This program is designed for teachers and other education professionals.

BZC University

The Zoo offers a variety of training, both on-site and via virtual classes and e-learning through Brookfield Zoo Chicago University at no cost to employees, including professional development, skill-building courses, conservation topics, zoo and animal-related topics, safety, leadership development, wellness, and much more. Instructors include guest speakers, staff presenters, and outside trainers.

Tuition Reimbursement

Regular, full-time non-union employees who have at least one year of seniority are eligible to apply for reimbursement of tuition expenses to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year.

Access Credit Union

Employees are eligible immediately upon employment to participate in the credit union. The minimum balance is $5. Savings are insured up to $100,000, and savings accounts, new and used car loans, personal loans, student loans, and much more are available.

Blackhawk Work Perks

Special offers on Chicago Blackhawks games. Tickets start at $30.

Discounted Membership at Loyola Center for Fitness

Corporate discount members receive $0 enrollment and 25% off individual dues. Monthly pricing is subject to the number of people on the membership.

Discounted Day Care

Discounted day care is available through a partnership with KinderCare Education to provide discounted childcare benefits for employees. Covered brands include KinderCare® Learning Centers, Children’s Creative Learning Center, Inc. (CCLC), and Champions before and after-school care programs. Employees with children enrolled at a participating center save 10% on childcare tuition for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years available at over 100 locations throughout the greater Chicago metropolitan area.

Employee Discounts

Employees may benefit from “Working Advantage,” an employee discount program, which offers a wide variety of discounts to staff.

Enterprise-Rent-A-Car

Discounts are available to staff members through Enterprise-Rent-A-Care for their personal use.

Free Flu Vaccines

Each year the Zoo offers free, on-site flu vaccinations to all full-time and regular part-time employees.

Free Admission and Parking

The laminated pass entitles the employee to free parking and admission to the Zoo and paid attractions. The card also extends the same privileges to the employee’s immediate family (spouse, domestic partner, civil union partner, children, and parents).

Free Admission to Other Cultural Institutions

The Zoo has reciprocal agreements with other major Chicagoland cultural institutions which allow employees and certain guests to receive free admission and/or parking pursuant to BZC’s policy.

Free Notary Public Service

Several staff are commissioned Notary Publics and provide free notary services to BZC staff.

Freebie Table

Consistent with our conservation ethic, we have a “Freebie” table where staff can place unused/unwanted items that still have value for other staff members to claim. This has been a great way to recycle/upcycle by making unused items available to others.

Little Free Library: Take a Book. Share a Book.

The Zoo has a “Little Free Library” book exchange. If an employee sees a book they would like to read, they can take it, or they may donate a book they have finished. When they are done, they can return it to the Little Free Library or leave it at another Little Free Library location for others to enjoy.

Zoo Day Camp Discount

Zoo staff who register their child(ren) for Summer Camp at Brookfield Zoo Chicago receive a discounted price for a week of camp for each child registered. The discount is limited to immediate family members only (grandchildren included). Lunch and T-shirts are not discounted.

Zoo Discounts

Employee discounts are available on BZC gift shop and restaurant purchases, including 25 cent drinks when the Zoo-issued drink cup is used.

Brookfield Zoo Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Please note that portions of our recruitment and selection process may involve the support of AI tools to help ensure efficiency and consistency.