Lifeguard/Camp Counselor

Job Summary: 

The Lifeguard with Counselor Duties is responsible for providing supervision and ensuring a safe environment at the camp’s waterfront, assisting with all aspects of the waterfront’s operation. When not at the waterfront, lifeguards will assist the counselors with caregiving responsibilities of campers.  

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities: (Additional duties may be assigned) 

• Participate in weekly waterfront in-service trainings and drills as led by the Waterfront Manager. 

• Provide lifeguard supervision of all waterfront activities, including shallow and deep-water swimming, canoeing, and kayaking; provide surveillance that seeks to prevent injuries and emergencies from occurring. 

• Assist the Waterfront Manager with all aspects of boating activities, including fitting lifejackets and retrieving paddles, loading and unloading boats, moving boats, and other duties as requested. 

• Maintain a basic understanding of boating techniques 

• Assist the Waterfront Manager in leading aquatics instruction and activities, and other swimming and dock area related duties as requested by the Waterfront Manager. 

• Maintain knowledge about the facility and its emergency action plan; ensure proper safety procedures are followed during all waterfront activities, and activate the emergency action plan when necessary, and alerting the Waterfront Manager of emergencies and safety risks as needed. 

• Utilize CPR and First Aid as necessary. 

• Set up and clean up the waterfront prior to and after daily usage in coordination with the Waterfront Manager, ensuring daily logs are maintained in conjunction with other waterfront staff to monitor equipment (boats, paddles/oars, et cetera). 

• Ensure all safety procedures are followed by campers and fellow staff during all waterfront activities. 

• Assist with weekly camp clean up, including sweeping, mopping, sanitizing, trash pick-up, etc. 

• Implement approved programming as assigned 

• Provide supervision and expertise to all other outdoor programming as assigned on a weekly basis 

• Serve as in the Counselor role when not stationed at the waterfront; counselor duties as follows: Apply basic principles of youth development, connect with the campers, and work with campers to create positive and meaningful relationships utilizing communication, respect and empowerment. 

• Act as a positive role model for campers. 

• Take an active role in the camp community, by participating enthusiastically in all aspects of camp, including camp traditions. 

• Strive to provide a fun, exciting, and inviting atmosphere for all campers 

• Interact with campers’ parents, utilizing strong customer service skills and maintaining good rapport. 

• Work cooperatively with fellow staff members to ensure a positive camp environment 

• Assist with check-in and check-out procedures, either in camp or on the bus. 

• Assist with weekly camp clean up, including sweeping, mopping, sanitizing, trash pick-up, etc. 

• Adhere to all protocols required by NYS Department of Health, Girl Scouts Safety Activity Checkpoints, and American Camp Association Standards. 

• Supervisory Responsibilities: 

  The Counselor does not supervise employees but does supervise the campers. 

   

   

Minimum Qualification Standards: 

• Be at least 17 years of age. 

• Current Lifeguarding certification with appropriate Waterfront module and up-to-date CPR and First Aid, or willingness to obtain. 

• Believe in the Girl Scout mission. 

• Possess good character, integrity, patience, sense of humor, enthusiasm, and willing to be a part of the camp community. 

• Have training and/or experience working with children in an outdoor setting preferred, but not necessary. 

• Prior summer day or resident camp experience preferred, but not necessary (Girl Scout camp experience a plus). 

• Experience instructing swimming and basic familiarity with paddling sports (canoeing, kayaking) a plus. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:   

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. 

• Strong organizational skills including the ability to manage multiple projects and details simultaneously. 

• Possess good character, integrity, patience, sense of humor, enthusiasm, a high level of flexibility, and willingness to be a part of the camp community. 

• Ability to work productively in a fast paced, stressful environment. 

Physical and Mental Requirements: 

Light mental and visual attention required for performing work where there is some variety but actions taken and decisions made are limited to few possibilities. Work requires some coordination with others.  

Physical Exertion: 

• Prolonged standing, bending, stooping, walking long distances, hiking, climbing, and stretching 

• Moderate lifting (up to 50 pounds) 

• Walking on uneven terrain, up and down hills for distances up to ½ mile 

• Endurance to meet emergency needs 

• Ability (and willingness) to live in a camp setting and work irregular hours 

• Ability to tolerate daily exposure to the sun, heat, and animals such as bugs, snakes, bats, etc. 

Environmental Conditions: 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that may be encountered while performing the essential functions of this position. 

The employee is subject to inside and/or outside environmental conditions, noise, outdoor elements such as rain, wind, sun, heat, and animals such as bugs, snakes, bats, etc. 

Salary : $17