Description

TITLE: Seasonal Camp Educator (Counselor) 

LOCATION: Weir River Farm 

PAYRATE 2024: $16/hour

Minimum Age: 18 years 

Start Date: June 12, 2024 

Who We Are: 

Weir River Farm Camp is for the animal and nature lover! Surrounded by acres of woodland habitat, the farm is home to cattle, sheep, goats and more! Campers are outdoors all week, including the barnyard interacting with and handling our animals. They learn how to care for the goats, sheep, and others. There’s much to do beyond the barnyard, too! Campers learn gardening skills by weeding and harvesting in the Children’s Garden. They explore the surrounding wooded habitats, seeking adventure. We also play games in the Field of Fun and do crafts and projects in the Barn classroom. Each day’s activities are designed toinstill the importance of nature and agriculture in our daily lives. Supported by an extraordinary team of talented and compassionate Camp Educators, every day at Weir River Farm Camp is infused with a special sense of wonder, new friendships, and a whole lot of fun! 

Weir River Farm Camp is for ages 5–11 and runs Mondays–Fridays, 9AM–3PM, June 24–August 16. 

For more information about our camp, please visit Trustees Camps. 

Who You Are: 

You love children and being outside! You have a passion for farms or nature, thrive outdoors, and are deeply committed to the environment. You have experience with camp or being responsible for children. You want to spend your summer teaching and playing with kids. You are enthusiastic and fun-loving. You are patient and kind. You are responsible and aware of safety concerns. You are flexible to the many needs of campers and can adapt to a change in plan with ease. You work well with others, communicating effectively while actively listening to your teammates.

A Day in the Life: 

At Weir River Farm Camp, campers enjoy the barnyard and explore the natural world. Camp Educators (CEs) connect children to the farm while encouraging learning, exploring, making friends, and having fun. CEs work a 40-hour week, Monday-Friday from June 12 through August 18. CEs are responsible for direct supervision of campers 5-11 years old, and the planning and daily execution of camp activities. This position reports to the Weir River Farm Camp Director. 

Essential Functions: 

• Attend training week and fulfill onboarding requirements prior to camp 
• Be responsible for the daily supervision and safety of a group of 10-15 campers (ages 5-11 years old) 
• Create daily schedule of age-appropriate nature-based activities, games, and crafts 
• Lead nature exploration and inquiry investigations with your camper group 
• Be familiar with both local ecology and developmentally appropriate ways to interact with children 
• Act as the respected adult in charge, while being approachable and a safe person for campers to trust
• Manage group dynamics among campers, keeping safety and respect for others in mind 
• Communicate and collaborate clearly with the camp team 
• Work with Counselor-in-Training (ages 15-17) to help you and them create a positive camp experience for everyone 
• Report injuries and behavioral issues to the Camp Director 
• Perform daily camp staff chores to clean, organize, and prepare for each day 
• Meet periodically with the Camp Director to evaluate experience and performance 
• Other duties as assigned with or without accommodation 

Qualifications

What We Need From You: 

Qualifications: 

• Full availability for camp staff training week and all weeks of camp (June 12 – August 16) 
• Working towards a Bachelors degree in education, environmental studies, science, or other relevant course of study preferred
• Experience in outdoor education, working as a camp counselor, classroom teacher, or informal educator with children ages 5-11 
• Knowledge of or interest in nature education and desire to share your passion for the natural world with children, local wildlife or farm background preferred 
• Positive attitude and flexibility to changing circumstances and all types of weather conditions 
• Embrace inclusion of all, and an open-mindedness to learn through new experiences 
• Must be outgoing and bring unbridled joy and enthusiasm to work 

Additional Requirements: 

• Reliable transportationto and from work 
• A satisfactory criminal background check (CORI and SORI) 
• Adult/Child CPR and Basic First Aid certified(provided if needed) 
• Able and willing to work outdoors all summer in variable weather conditions 
• Camp Educators must be at least 18 years old by the start of camp 

Please upload a resume summarizing your education and work history and a cover letter telling us about your interest in working with children in nature in this position. 

The Trustees: 

The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) enjoy and care for more than 120 special places - roughly 47,000 acres - all around Massachusetts. We are the oldest land conservation organization in the U.S. and the largest in the state. The centerpiece of the Trustees mission is to protect places of ecological, scenic, and historic importance. Since 1891, The Trustees has been on the ground in communities across Massachusetts, working to protect special places, providing loving care of our reservations, building creative new programs to engage people, and sharing our expertise with neighbors and partners. Our seasonal staff plays an integral role in ensuring that our summer visitors enjoy our extraordinary places and programs. 

About Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion, and Equity at The Trustees 

Our commitment to Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion, and Equity (DBIE) is deeply grounded in our mission to protect and share Massachusetts’ iconic places for everyone, forever. Together, we carry forth this belief by seeking to create inclusive spaces of belonging for Trustees staff, members, volunteers, and communities across the organization and our properties. We acknowledge that creating inclusive spaces where everyone feels welcome will be a learning journey for the organization and for all of us as individuals.

Equal Opportunity Employer 

The Trustees is a proud equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any protected status including, but not limited to, age, race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, nation of origin, religion, or disability status and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ applicants. We aspire to reflect and effectively serve the residents and communities of Massachusetts, who are at the core of our mission.

For more information on The Trustees, please visit our website.