Adventure Camp Counselor: Summer 2026, $13.25+/hour

Job Details Job Location: Conner Prairie Museum - Fishers, IN Position Type: Seasonal Salary Range: Undisclosed Job Shift: Any Job Category: Nonprofit - Social Services

Description:

Adventure Camp Staff Expectations Adventure Camp staff are more than camper supervisors—they’re mentors, role models, and inclusive leaders. Every team member helps create a community where each camper’s story is worth knowing, where they feel supported, and where they’re encouraged to explore with confidence and curiosity. Staff set the tone for belonging by modeling kindness, creativity, and steady leadership—whether guiding high-energy adventures, facilitating quiet reflection, or leading group discussions.

Working at Adventure Camp means joining a collaborative, joyful team where your story matters too. Each day offers opportunities to grow, lead, and make a meaningful impact on the lives of campers and fellow staff. Principal Function: The Adventure Camp Counselor works as part of a team to provide a safe, engaging, and educational experience for campers ages 5–13. Guided by the Adventure Camp Belonging Framework, counselors serve as positive role models, fostering a sense of connection and inclusion while leading campers through activities such as swimming, canoeing, archery, hiking, biking, and process art. Counselors help create a supportive and enriching environment where every camper feels seen, valued, and empowered to explore, learn, and grow.

Adventure Camp Counselor, 40hrs/week, May 18-Aug 2, $13.25+/hr

Schedule and Hours:

Standard hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Pre-season staff training: May 18–22, 2026 Camp dates: May 26–August 4, 2026. Camp Clean-up day: Sunday, August 2, 2026 Position requires attendance during staff training week and availability for at least eight of the ten weeks of camp. Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead daily camp activities while creating a safe, inclusive, and engaging environment for all campers.
• Support campers’ varied needs by collaborating with the Inclusion Specialist and following ADA guidelines.
• Facilitate activities such as nature exploration, process art, group reflection, creative play, and Learning Garden experiences.

Actively supervise campers at all times and respond appropriately to medical, behavioral, or emergency situations.

• Maintain accurate attendance and ensure consistent check-in and check-out procedures.
• Communicate professionally with parents/guardians and collaborate positively with fellow staff.

Model kindness, curiosity, and inclusive leadership in all interactions.

• Maintain camp equipment, supplies, and activity spaces and report needs to the Camp Manager.
• Participate in pre-season training and assist with end-of-season clean-up.

Education and/or Experience:

Must be at least 18 years old and possess a high school diploma; completion of at least one semester of college is preferred.

Experience working with children is required; prior experience in a camp, school, or youth program is strongly preferred.:

Must be adaptable and open to new experiences. Must maintain high professional standards in alignment with Conner Prairie’s mission. Must demonstrate a fun, friendly, and patient personality.

Other Skills and Abilities:

Ability to build relationships with and mentor children effectively. Ability to safely swim in pond water while wearing a life vest. Ability to paddle a canoe on the river and pond safely and confidently. Supervisory Responsibilities: This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications:

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty according to the requirements of the organization. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

Competencies: To perform this job successfully, all employees at Conner Prairie should demonstrate the following competencies:

Customer Service – Responds to requests for service and assistance; Manages difficult or emotional customer situations focusing on listening without interrupting and keeping ones emotions under control; Solicits customer feedback to improve service; Maintains confidentiality and meets commitments; Remains open to others’ ideas and tries new things.

Teamwork – Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone’s efforts to succeed.

Diversity – Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; Educates others on the value of diversity; Promotes a harassment-free environment; Builds a diverse workforce. Ethics – Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.

Organizational Support – Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; Supports organization’s goals and values; Benefits organization through outside activities; Supports affirmative action and respects diversity. Professionalism – Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.

Quality/Quantity – Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to promote and improve quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality; Meets productivity standards; Completes work in a timely manner; Strives to increase productivity and works quickly. Safety/Security – Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.

Attendance/Punctuality/Dependability – Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and events on time; Follows instructions; Responds to management’s direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternative plan.

Job-related Competencies – To perform this job successfully, employees in this job should demonstrate the following competencies:

Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings. Motivation - Sets and achieves challenging goals; Demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; Measures self against standard of excellence; Takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.

Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays or unexpected events. Initiative - Volunteers readily; Undertakes self-development activities; Seeks increased responsibilities; Takes independent actions and calculated risks; Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; Asks for and offers help when needed.

Innovation - Displays original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness; Generates suggestions for improving work; Develops innovative approaches and ideas; Presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention. 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 duties and responsibilities.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; and lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. The employee frequently will taste or smell; and lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. The employee occasionally will sit.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less), distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more), color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors), peripheral vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right while eyes are fixed on a given point), depth perception (three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and spatial relationships), and the ability to adjust focus (ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus).

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally is exposed to working in wet or humid conditions (non-weather), near moving mechanical parts, in high, precarious places, and outdoor weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. While the offices of Conner Prairie are open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, this position may require work beyond these hours and on the weekends. Valid Driver’s License preferred.