Youth Arts Wellness Facilitator

The Children’s Gallery Chicago is hiring a Youth Arts Wellness Facilitator for our 2026 Voices of Summer Art Camp.

Rate: $30/hour

Schedule: Part-time | 3 days per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)

Time: 12:00 AM–4:30 PM

Duration: 6 weeks during summer camp

Additional paid hours may be available for training, planning meetings, and urgent program support.

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We are looking for someone with a strong background in youth work, social work, art therapy, counseling, education, or a related field to support our summer camp team across our Humboldt Park, North Lawndale, and East Garfield Park sites.

This role is ideal for someone who is currently in graduate school or recently completed graduate-level training in social work, art therapy, counseling, psychology, education, youth development, or a related field, and who is comfortable supporting children’s emotional regulation, group participation, creative expression, and moments of overwhelm during a busy arts camp environment.

Primary Responsibilities

The Youth Arts Wellness Facilitator will help create a calm, welcoming, and emotionally supportive camp environment by drawing on their background in social work, art therapy, counseling, psychology, education, youth development, or a related field. This person will support Teaching Artists, youth leaders, and volunteers by helping children navigate transitions, participate in group art-making, take breaks when needed, and access low-pressure creative or calming activities throughout the day.

This role is especially focused on supporting camper well-being, emotional regulation, and developmentally appropriate participation. Responsibilities may include supporting our Little Artists Group, helping manage the relaxation corner, assisting with story time or quiet activities, offering one-on-one redirection when appropriate, observing camper needs, and helping the team respond thoughtfully to moments of stress, overstimulation, conflict, or big feelings.

The ideal candidate will be able to bring a trauma-informed, child-centered, and creative lens to the camp environment while understanding that this is not a clinical therapy role. Instead, the facilitator will help strengthen the emotional safety, accessibility, and care practices of the program so children can participate more fully and joyfully.

Hard Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be at least 21 years old
• Have direct experience working with children ages 5–12
• Have experience or training in social work, art therapy, counseling, psychology, education, youth development, or a closely related field
• Be comfortable supporting children with a range of needs, including neurodivergent youth, around emotional regulation, transitions, conflict, sensory overwhelm, and group participation.Be available 3 days per week from 12:00 PM–4:30 PM for the full 6-week camp period
• Be able to travel to Humboldt Park, North Lawndale, and East Garfield Park
• Pass a background check
• Complete required onboarding and child safety training before camp begins. Current, relevant certifications may be accepted when applicable.
• Communicate clearly and promptly with the camp team
• Be dependable, calm under pressure, and comfortable working in a lively, high-energy arts environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate student or recent graduate in social work, art therapy, counseling, psychology, education, or a related field
• Experience with trauma-informed youth work
• Experience supporting neurodiverse children or children with varying support needs
• Experience facilitating art, storytelling, movement, mindfulness, or creative wellness activities
• Bilingual Spanish/English is a plus
• Familiarity with Chicago’s West Side communities is a plus

To Apply

Please submit your resume. We also welcome a brief note of interest, which you can send to Executive Director, Patty Aikonedo at patty@tcgchicago.org. In your note, please share your experience working with children, your relevant training or background, and why you are interested in supporting a youth-centered arts camp.