Counselor at Overnight Outdoor Adventure and Mythology Summer Day Camp

Title: Counselor

Employment Status: Exempt/Seasonal

Company Summary:

Plato Learning operates outdoor mythology-based camps for kids ages 7-15. They create a world where monsters, myth, and magic transport kids out of the mortal realm into one where they are empowered to develop new skills, take risks, solve problems, and ultimately become Heroes. With seventeen locations spanning from NYC to California, Plato Learning uses actors, live-action role-play, and physically and mentally engaging activities to bring myths to life.

Camp Mythik is Plato Learning’s first overnight camp! Demigod Campers who are rising 5th-10th graders will enjoy a week of adventure, creation, and storytelling at our Cold Spring, NY site. We are looking for team members with a compassion and understanding for the behavioral needs of middle schoolers–they are navigating and their relationship with the world, history, politics, gender, sexuality, and building their opinions and values.

Are you ready to join the team and accept our call to adventure?

Job Summary:

We are hiring energetic and creative leaders to serve as Camp Counselors at our sleepaway camp location. Counselors are responsible for leading a group of 10-15 year-old camper ‘demigods’ on their weekly camp journey through the world of mythology, and for developing them into the heroes they were destined to become. Plato’s immersive storytelling weaves a mythology-inspired adventure throughout the camp week, culminating in an action-packed “Quest”. Counselors lead demigods on Quest at our site, helping them to use critical thinking and problem-solving skills, while interacting with actors playing monsters and heroes alike. Job Responsibilities

Lead a Community of Heroes.

• Mentor and live alongside a group of 10 campers within their groups and reside in a shared cabin with campers and co-counselor
• Enthusiastically lead and participate in all activities, while managing camper’s behavior, group dynamics, and safety policies.

Train your Demigods.

• Take charge of activities like Archery, Forge, Potions, and Combat-Training, take an active role in preparing their demigods for the Quest ahead.
• Work off of time-tested activity plans, while building activities and modifications to make each activity reflect the week’s storyline at camp.
• When it is time to go on Quest, guide groups with immersion and creative flair, as engaged in the storyline as the campers are.

Build the World.

• Embrace your demigod persona, to uphold the world of Camp Mythik and discuss matters like a chance Cyclops encounter.
• Read story briefs and prepare for each week’s storyline, and enthusiastically commit to an active belief in its magic. Facilitate buy-in to the adventure–it is only as magical as you make it.

Steel your Resolve.

• We are looking for courageous individuals who can lean into the challenges presented by our energetic mostly-outdoor environment.
• Staff are the first people our Demigods look to in times of challenge and uncertainty, we are looking for courageous individuals excited by the discomfort in adventure, and who do not shy away from responsibility, in the rain or heat of summer.

Rise to the Challenge.

• We believe counselors prove their leadership through action and are prepared to handle challenging situations with kindness and readiness to help.
• Whether being patient with a homesick camper, or staying positive during challenging weather, we look to those who uplift.
• A Camp Mythik Counselor will spend most of their day on their feet and walk anywhere from 18,000-20,000 steps/day on the job, across varying terrain at the Taconic Outdoor Education Center.

Grow as an Adventurer.

• Working with the Camp Director counselors develop as compassionate mentors.
• We encourage Counselors to grow as collaborative team-builders, effective communicators, adept problem-solvers, and agile creative-thinkers.
• Above all, we foster resilience in our Counselors, and emphasize the ability to graciously handle the challenges and triumphs of overnight camp.

Support Camp Operations.

• Help maintain the operations of camp, whether it's helping with camp set-up/break-down, talking with parents during program drop off, pickup, and transportation, or maintaining safety procedures
• Counselors are critical to keep camp running.

The Hours.

• Approx 4-6 hours of self-paced Training
• Attend a 25 hour In-Person Training, the days before program start date
• 3 Weeks in-person at your camp location (our program runs on a 6 day on, 1 day off schedule with rotational nights off weekly).
• Camp Day Schedule: 7:30am-9:30pm; Monday-Saturday morning, which includes personal breaks
• Housing is provided for the entirety of the program, all meals are provided from Monday breakfast - Saturday breakfast.
• Camp operates three weeks from June 26th-July 15th

What skills are we looking for?

• Overnight camp experience preferred but not required
• Experience working with children in grades 5th-10th
• Enthusiasm for world-building with campers, staff, and performers
• Excitement about working in an outdoor fast-paced environment in the summer
• Passion about any of the following: athletics, literature, theater, storytelling, music, visual arts, science & nature studies, fencing, combat, martial arts
• Age 18 and above by the start of the summer camp season
• In a team, able to lift 25-50 lbs of camp materials without injury
• Full program availability June 19th-July14th. Due to the nature of staffing sleepaway camp, we are unable to accommodate in-season conflicts.

Plato Learning would like to put forth this statistic: While men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the requirements, women and other underrepresented people often only apply when they match all criteria. Even if you don't meet every checkbox in the job description, but you think you have what it takes, we encourage you to apply.

Benefits and Compensation:

• Compensation. $600/week for the Camp program. This includes:
• During Staff Training days: 20-25 hours for your program (at $15/hr)
• Referral Bonus: $50 bonus for any referred applicants who are hired for a seasonal position, paid at the end of the season
• Opportunity for Advancement.As Plato Learning grows, we look first within our talented seasonal staff to fill full-time opportunities within the company when they arise.
• Community. Containing hundreds of creative-minded heroes, the Plato Learning network carries authors, podcasters, performers, dungeon masters, and many others ready to chat and create.
• Housing and meals. For the duration of the program and training, housing is provided. During the program's duration, meals are provided Monday breakfast through Saturday breakfast.

Please keep in mind, our dates for the Camp Mythik season:

• Camp runs June 19th-July 14th

Job Type: Temporary

Pay: $600.00 per week

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person