Ihduhapi Summer Overnight Camp Counselor

Summary of Roles

Cabin Counselors: Counselors are Ihduhapi’s backbone. They make the experiences of their campers each week. Cabin staff provide safe spaces for campers to challenge themselves, gain confidence in their skills, and learn how to interact with the world around them. Counselors help each camper to feel welcome and accepted. Counselors build impactful relationships by getting to know their individual campers, and understanding each kid’s unique needs on a personal level. Counselors will help assess if campers need support beyond the cabin, and will work with support staff to acquire those needs.

Counselors will lead/teach various activities during achievements blocks throughout the day. They will be responsible to be prepped and to have a plan for each activity. Some activities that require a little more planning and organizing will have a set specialist for the week. Specialists will be assigned to cabins but will only lead/teach the activities of their assigned program area during achievement blocks. Staff who are interested in these specialist roles will rotate from week to week.

Cabin Counselor Specialist roles

• Arts & Crafts
• Nature
• Outdoor Living Skills
• Theme

*The Theme Specialist will be responsible for organizing and planning the theme for that week. They will be expected to recruit other staff to assist with the implementation of the theme activities. Depending on the week, there may be more than one Theme Specialist assigned.

Ropes Course Coordinators: Our ropes coordinators will be overnight camp’s primary managers of the high element ropes course. They will coordinate schedules, plan curriculum, and run all Outdoor Challenge specialty camp activities. Ropes Course Coordinators will be required to attend and complete all assigned challenge course trainings.

Waterfront Director: The Waterfront Director is the primary waterfront manager. This person manages all waterfront risks, assures compliance with ACA and YMCA waterfront standards, provides ongoing training for Ihduhapi lifeguard staff, and keeps the waterfront organized and safe. This person will lead and/or staff polar bears every morning, facilitate the waterfront drill each Sunday, and maintain waterfront equipment (kayaks, SUPs, PFDs, and fishing equipment).

Health & Logistics Coordinator: The Health & Logistics Coordinator will have two areas of responsibilities. They will assist the nurse with camp check-in, and med organization as needed. They will be the point person for the nurse as they have questions/needs throughout the week. They will be responsible for maintaining all first aid kits and overnight med kits. The HLC will also be responsible for maintaining the overnight/cookout space—keeping it stocked with supplies and organizing and maintaining the equipment. They will also implement a set process for supply requests and checking equipment in and out. They will also assist with other logistic needs throughout the week including (but not limited to) gathering supplies/materials for activities, prepping campfires,

Leadership Development Director: LDP Director will oversee the Leadership Development Programs and experiences—Explorers, Voyageurs, Junior Leaders & CIT’s. They will work with counselors to lead each of these camper groups. They build the curriculum for the groups’ on-site schedule, including the developing leadership curriculum and facilitating intentional discussions and debriefs. They coordinate van/drivers for each of their trips. They are also responsible for organizing all aspects of a safe off-site camp experience including, prepping staff and participants, and assisting with packing & route planning.

Youth Advocates: The primary role of the Youth Advocate is to support cabin staff by working with them to promote positive social & emotional well-being throughout camp. They will be available to address concerns such as homesickness, ongoing undesired behaviors, and other emotional/mental concerns observed by staff or reported by parents. They will be responsible for all necessary communication between counselors, support staff, and the camp director – including making notes in the Camper Wellbeing Log. They will also serve as a primary consultant for communicating with parents.

Assistant Directors: Responsibilities include cabin assignments, staffing activities, keeping camp on schedule, and keeping groups accountable with their purple sheet assignments. Any schedule changes should go through them, and they will be responsible for communicating that info to staff as needed. They will make sure any all-camp activities are prepped with the necessary plans & supplies. ADs also play an important role in communicating to all camp staff by leading the daily staff meeting, giving announcements at meals, and checking in with staff, and alerting program director or youth advocate to counselor/camper needs. Assistant Directors will also assist Youth Advocates in addressing individual or group behaviors as needed.

**This job description represents the major functions of the position but is not intended to be all-inclusive. The incumbent is also responsible for taking direction from the Camp Program Director, Executive Director, or their representatives in completing projects or performing duties deemed necessary for the Camp or Association success.

YMCA Camp Ihduhapi is seeking caring and responsible staff to lead our campers through AMAZING summer experiences! Ideal candidates will appreciate the outdoors, will be friendly and welcoming to campers of diverse backgrounds, and enjoy interacting and working with youth.

As an overnight counselor you get to spend your day playing games, leading groups, running activities, and providing fun and safe spaces for your campers to be themselves. You will be encouraged to use your imagination and creativity with fun weekly themes and daily activities. And you will build amazing relationships with campers and other staff throughout the Summer!

We are hiring for the following roles:

• Cabin Counselor
• Cabin Counselor with Specialist Area
• Youth Advocate
• Ropes Course Coordinator
• Leadership Development Director**
• Assistant Camp Director
• Health & Logistics Coordinator
• Waterfront Director**
  

**No matter what role(s) you choose to apply for, we strongly encourage being trained as a lifeguard as well! This is only required for the Waterfront Director and is preferred for the Leadership Development Director.

A short general summary for each of these roles can be found below. It is the same application for everyone, though. Once you have been contacted for an interview, you will be asked which role(s) you are interested in. If you have any questions please reach out to Katie O'Toole.

Typical Camp Session: Sunday-Friday (varies slightly for a few sessions)

Base salary: $75/day

Required

• Upon hire, completion of YMCA provided First Aid and BLS certification (an option to complete this will be provided by camp during staff training) .
• Education classes or experience in camp, youth programs, recreation, working with children, or in a related field.
• Ability to lead, plan, organize, and implement program activities.
• Ability to work as a member of a team and the ability to accomplish tasks with little direct supervision.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• If applicable, current nationally accredited lifeguard certification (applicable for body of water being guarded).
• If applicable, Oxygen Administration certification (may not guard until certification is complete).

Preferred

• Ability to pass a drivers road test for YMCA vehicles and trailers.
• Upon hire, completion of YMCA provided Motor Vehicle and or Department of Transportation Insurance Training.

Work Conditions:

• Must have the physical ability to lead and participate in camp activities which include, but are not limited to, hiking, canoeing, swimming, team building initiatives, building campfires, physical games, and activities.
• Must be capable of carrying loads of up to 90 pounds and able to traverse hilly and uneven terrain without undue exertion.
• Work in conditions that will create dirt and dust.
• Perform essential program support to camp activities and programs which may include, but not limited to the following activities: semi – reaching to full-reach overhead, crouching, kneeling, shoveling, working in narrow and/or confining spaces underground, overhead, and at ground level, twisting of the waist, shoulders, and legs, and lying on stomach and/or back.
• Must have the ability to physically manage and support children when needed for safety in general camp activities (child weighing 50 - 200 pounds).
• Ability to perform a variety of tasks outdoor in different climate.
• If applicable, ability to pass lifeguard water test.
• If applicable, physically perform all skills required of a lifeguard.
• If applicable, hear noises and distress signals in the aquatic environment, including in the water and anywhere around the zone of responsibility, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• If applicable, remain alert with no lapses of consciousness.
• If applicable, see and observe all sections of an assigned zone of responsibility, with or without reasonable accommodation.