Day Camp Integration Counselor

Description:

OUR CULTURE:

Guiding Principles describe our behaviors to support our organization’s work throughout its life in all circumstances, irrespective of changes in goals, strategies, and leadership. Our Guiding Principles are as follows: We CULTIVATE-We grow staff and volunteer leaders who will be stewards of the Y mission, resources, and opportunities. We OWN-We think long-term and act on behalf of the organization, beyond our own team. We WELCOME-We are inclusive of all people and all communities. We SERVE-We provide timely and excellent service to members, volunteers, community, and each other. We LEARN-We are never done learning and always seek to improve. We are curious about new possibilities and act to explore them. We UNITE-We work together to achieve big goals and speak as one voice. We RESPECT-We treat others with kindness and speak positively about other people in all situations. We PLAY-We celebrate, appreciate, and have fun!

The YMCA of Great Grand Rapids utilizes a Membership By Design framework, which is a member involvement and community building model for YMCAs across the country. All staff members—front-line, management, full- and part-time—and volunteers have a role to play in member engagement. These responsibilities can be broken into six steps:

1. Enrollment: Staff and volunteers encourage potential members to enroll in programs and activities that meet their needs.
2. Satisfaction: Staff and volunteers ask members continually about their satisfaction with a program or activity, track responses, listen to suggestions, and respond promptly in a manner consistent with the values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.
3. Relationship Building: Staff and volunteers are open, friendly, and approachable to all YMCA members and participants. Staff and volunteers initiate interaction with and between members.
4. Education and Conversion: Staff and volunteers know about and share their knowledge of the YMCA, its programs, its policies, its mission, its values, and how it benefits members and the community.
5. Volunteerism and Leadership: Staff and volunteers create opportunities for members to volunteer in their areas of interest, and they ask members to do so whenever appropriate.
6. Ownership: Staff and volunteers encourage members to “own” the YMCA, using words such as “we,” “us,” and “our association” (and actions that match those words) to include members as well as staff and volunteers.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Day Camp Integration Counselor provides high level support and direct supervision of the integration program and integration campers in a seasonal Day Camp. The Day Camp Integration Counselor creates a positive, inclusive environment and assumes responsibility for the integration program including program planning and development. This is a seasonal position that runs from early June through mid August. Day Camp programming operates Monday – Friday, 7:00am-6:00pm. Staff shifts vary.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Participate in a pre-camp training and in-service camp training programs as scheduled.
• Complete First Aid and CPR certification prior to unsupervised interaction with campers.
• Embrace and model the mission of the YMCA in all daily activities.
• Create a welcoming and nurturing environment for all campers and their families.
• Abide by all Wolverine Worldwide Family YMCA Policies and Procedures, as well as standards set forth by the American Camp Association (ACA).
• Plan and prepare appropriate strategies and supports for campers participating in the integration program.
• Offer 1:1 support to specific, predetermined campers each week.
• Gather and review parent and teacher feedback forms regarding integration campers. Develop camper summaries for Integration Counselors, camp directors, and camp coordinators. Schedule and facilitate meet and greet with families prior to attendance at camp.
• Develop materials and plans to support integration campers.
• Develop strategies and tools to support the integration camper
• Work with general camp staff to support, as needed, graduated and fully integrated past campers.
• Familiarity with campers’ developmental abilities.
• Encourage each camper’s potential.
• Utilize positive discipline techniques and redirection when responding to behavioral issues of campers.
• Document all incidents, injuries, and behaviors that are out of the normal range of day to day activities with the population served in a timely fashion.
• Ability to effectively communicate in a pleasant and positive manner with children, families, YMCA members, and YMCA staff members.

Performs any other functions necessary for the smooth and efficient operation of the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids.

COMPENSATION

$15.95 - $19.94 ; Full-Time, Non-Exempt (up to 40 hours/week)

BENEFITS:

• Free YMCA Individual Membership
• 10% retirement contribution upon eligibility, learn more here.
• 403(b) retirement savings account
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• Access to the Employee Assistance Program and resources for you and your family
• Community Discounts, and more!

Requirements:

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Experience working with special needs children
• Education classes or experiences in camp, youth programs, recreation, working with children, or in a related field.
• Ability to lead, organize, and implement program activities.
• Ability to work as a member of a team and the ability to accomplish tasks with the little direct supervision.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Must have the physical ability to lead and participate in camp activities which include, but are not limited to swimming, team building initiatives, physical games, and activities.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATION

• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) (required)
• First Aid Certification required within the first 60 days
• AED-Oxygen Certification required within the first 60 days
• Blood Borne Pathogen training
• State of Michigan criminal background clearance (ICHAT)
• Fingerprinting

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

TRAVEL

0-5% of local travel within the state of Michigan; occasional out-of-state travel may be required for educational conferences or training.