Day Camp Counselor

Description:

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Summer Day Camp Counselor serves as a key member of the summer camp staff and participate in all day to day camp operations. This position is responsible fo participating and planning various activities and programs within the day. This position also holds primary responsibility for children’s health, safety, and well-being. Involvement includes maintaining contact and open communication with parents, program staff and community resources.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Assists in establishing positive and productive communication with families:

• Assists in maintaining contact with parents through verbal and written communication, posted information, etc.

Speaks with families in a friendly, courteous, and respectful manner.

Assists in establishing and maintaining a safe and healthful learning environment:

• Assists in maintaining an efficient, well-arranged classroom including interest areas that provide direction and a sense of organization.
• Keeps equipment and materials in good repair and stored in a safe, orderly fashion.
• Cleans and sanitizes program supplies weekly and other times as needed.
• Assists in providing materials and activities appropriate for the children’s developmental progress and individual learning styles.
• Assists in supporting children’s social-emotional development and providing positive guidance.
• Assists in providing children with opportunities for success through individual, small group and large group activities, including free play.
• Utilizes appropriate group management techniques.
• Eats with children modeling proper table manners and sharing the same menu .
• Encourages daily health routines with children.
• Provides adequate supervision ensuring the safety of active children.
• Maintains emergency information and initiates emergency action when necessary.
• Assists in curriculum planning that includes multi-cultural and multi-ethnic materials, displays, and activities.

Carries out supplementary and planning responsibilities:

• Provides input into daily curriculum.
• Maintains accurate, up-to-date records (children's files, time sheets attendance, meal participation forms, inventories, etc.).
• Helps with maintaining cleanliness of program areas (washes tables before and after snack, sweeps floor, cleans up any spills promptly, etc.)
• Attends and participates in monthly mentoring meetings.
• Prepares classroom materials, bulletin boards, learning centers, etc.
• Assumes responsibility of classroom in supervisor’s absence.
• Reports immediately any child suspected of being abused to the Director.
• Follows appropriate dress code set forth by the agency.
• Completes required number of training hours annually.
• Adheres to policies and procedures as outlined in the Employee Handbook and Policy and Procedure Manual.

YMCA COMPETENCIES (Leader):

Mission Advancement: Accepts and demonstrates the Y’s values. Demonstrates a desire to serve others and fulfill community needs. Supports fund-raising. Collaboration: Works effectively with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions, and perceptions. Builds rapport and relates well to others. Seeks first to understand the other person’s point of view, and remains calm in challenging situations. Listens for understanding and meaning; speaks and writes effectively. Takes initiative to assist in developing others.

Operational Effectiveness: Makes sound judgments, and transfers learning from one situation to another. Embraces new approaches and discovers ideas to create a better member experience. Establishes goals, clarifies tasks, plans work and actively participates in meetings. Strives to meet or exceed goals and deliver a high-value experience for children and families.

Personal Growth: Pursues self-development that enhances job performance. Demonstrates an openness to change, and seeks opportunities in the change process. Accurately assesses personal feelings, strengths and limitations and how they impact relationships. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology.

Communication: Listens and expresses self effectively and in a manner that reflects a true understanding of the needs of the audience. Communicates effectively with different audiences at all levels in the organization, easily adapting his/her approach and the focus of his/her message to the audience.

Requirements:

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Ability to plan, lead and participate in activities. Ability to lift a minimum of 35 pounds. Ability to stand for long periods of time. Ability to get down on the floor and interact with the children on their level.

DECLARATIONS:

This job description is not all-inclusive and the Summer Day Camp Counselor will also perform other reasonably related duties assigned by immediate supervisor and other management personnel. The Association reserves the right to review or change the job responsibilities of this position to meet the needs of the Association as those needs continue to change.

This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.