Day Camp Site Coordinator

NOW HIRING:
Day Camp Site Coordinator
This position requires a minimum age of at least 18 years old.
To plan, oversee and administer Day Camp daily operations, including supervising a staff of 6-10 counselors and 40-80 campers aged 3-14. Site Director is responsible for planning weekly themed activities and crafts. Plan the Day Camp special activities, events and local excursions. The position requires excellent communication with parents, counselors, Recreation Supervisors and other Oak Lawn Park District staff. Supervise Day Camp counselors, assisting and mentoring them in their duties, evaluating and meeting with staff while handling staff issues. The Site Director is responsible for the happiness, safety and well being of campers and staff. The position is responsible for working with parents and assisting campers with special needs. Day Camp Site Director is a seasonal part time position, starting in June and ending the season in August. During the 8-week Day Camp season, the Site Director hours are 8:00am - 2:45pm for Full Day Camps; 2:00- 6:15pm for Extended Camps and 8:30am-3:30pm for Preschool Camp Sunshine.
INCENTIVES: Part time employees receive 25% off general programs with the exception of PDNA, contracted, trips and private lessons. In order to encourage a healthy lifestyle for our staff members, the Park District provides all staff with the opportunity to use our fitness facilities at the Community Pavilion and the Racquet, Fitness and Gymnastics Center free of charge.
ABOUT US: The Oak Lawn Park District, incorporated in 1944, has a long and proud history of serving the recreational needs of our 56,000 residents with a myriad of recreational programs and services. We operate under the state tax cap as a municipal corporation, meaning we are our own taxing body. Overseen by a Board of five elected officials, the District manages a combination of 34 parks and facilities which cover over 280 acres. In addition, we manage a Special Recreation Cooperative that offers recreational programs and services to individuals with disabilities in 9 municipalities.
*The Oak Lawn Park District is an equal opportunity employer. Equal access to programs, services and employment is available to all persons. Those applicants requiring accommodations to the application and/or interview process should contact a representative of the Personnel Department.
QUALIFICATIONS:
A minimum of two (2) years working in Day Camp programs or related programs working with children ages 3-14. Have degree or pursuing a degree in Elementary Education, Physical Education, Recreation or another 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. This position requires a minimum age of at least 18 years old.
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR:
Recreation Supervisor
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Plan at least one craft per week and direct staff on assisting campers.
- Direct and mentor counselors on planning activities and provide and keep resources for games, crafts and Day Camp activities. Supervise staff and campers during activities.
- Direct and mentor staff on camper behavioral issues and disciplining actions, following the Oak Lawn Park District Day Camp's policy, stepping in when necessary.
- Document camper behavioral issues and keeping accurate records. Communicate such issues with parents and Day Camp Coordinator.
- Attend weekly staff meetings with the Day Camp Coordinator. Submit weekly planners, signed field trip permission forms, playground inspection forms and accident reports.
- Evaluate counselors weekly and meet with them individually to discuss any issues and provide staff with positive feedback.
- Hold special staff meetings with staff as necessary.
- Meet with staff weekly to review week's activities schedule and prepare weekly planners.
- Keep accurate records of campers' personal forms, including the Emergency/Health Information form, Aquatics form and Discipline form. Responsible to communicate any health or personal issues to camper's counselor. Responsible to submit copies of Aquatics forms to Pool Manager.
- Responsible for using good judgment and making decisions regarding moving the camp to an indoor facility in the cases of inclement weather, including rain and extreme heat.
- Responsible for campers to have sunscreen reapplications when necessary.
- Responsible to seek shelter and keep all campers and staff safe from threatening weather conditions. Responsible to know where the indoor safety areas are located in your indoor facility in the event of tornadoes and lock-down situations and guiding and calming campers and staff.
- Responsible to know the Fire Escapes in your indoor facilities and guiding and calming campers and staff in the event of a fire.
- Responsible for maintaining inventory of Day Camp supplies for 1st Aid, crafts, sports and other activities and submitting supplies order request to the Day Camp Coordinator.
- Responsible for contacting the bus driver and Day Camp Coordinator of any location or schedule changes and cancellations. Contact the bus driver directly when inquiring of bus arrival time to your campsite. Communicate with Day Camp Coordinator when bus is running late.
- Work with the Day Camp Coordinator in the decision making of canceling swim or field trips due to weather or other issues.
- Accurately fill out Accident Reports and submit to Day Camp Coordinator or immediately to the Recreation Supervisor if it involves a head injury or other serious injury.
- Inspect playground equipment prior to every visit. Fill out Playground Inspection forms and submit to Day Camp Coordinator. Contact Day Camp Coordinator immediately if any possible risk of injury to campers exist or there is profanity/ inappropriate materials at playground.
- Site Directors will closely supervise the staff and campers while swimming, by viewing from the pool deck. Communicate with pool manager and staff regarding issues. Administer Swimming Ability tests to campers the first day they swim and periodically throughout the Day Camp season. Communicate with counselors regarding campers' designated swim area in pool and communicate any changes with parents.
- Keep accurate daily attendance records.
- Keep inventory of 1st Aid supplies available and be prepared to administer first aid.
- Collect and review counselors' time sheets, submitting to the Day Camp Coordinator biweekly.
- Plan special activities, events or local excursions.
- Assign counselors to their group of campers based upon campers' ages.
- Work the pre-season Parents Night, being available to meet families and answer questions and accommodate special requests.
- Work with Special Recreation Supervisor when a special needs child is included in our program. Communicate with parents, Special Recreation Aid, Special Recreation Supervisor, Day Camp Coordinator and Recreation Supervisor on any related issues with the inclusion.
- Distribute and collect program evaluations from parents and submit to Day Camp Coordinator.
- Handle staff concerns and communicate concerns with individual as they occur and report staff issues to Day Camp Coordinator and staff evaluations.
- Site Directors will send weekly email updates to parents who sign up for the Weekly Email Updates. Reports will include details on the past week's activities, along with information and reminders for the upcoming week. These reports need to be forwarded to the Day Camp Coordinator and Recreation Supervisor.
- Distribute correctly sized camper t-shirts and communicate with Day Camp Coordinator regarding inventory needs of t-shirts.
MARGINAL FUNCTIONS:
- Attend all Park District mandatory training sessions and meetings.
- Upon hire, completion of provided First Aid and CPR certification
- Must wear staff Day Camp t-shirts daily. One-piece swimsuits are to be worn by female staff at the pool (tankinis allowed). Swim trunks are to be worn by male staff at the pool.
- Site Directors are evaluated by the Day Camp Coordinator at the end of each 4-week Day Camp session.
PHYSICAL CONSIDERATIONS:
The 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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, sit, see, hear, talk, walk, lift and carry up to 25 pounds. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, crouch or reach to retrieve supplies and assist campers. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus. The job requires worker to be outdoors about 70%-90% of the time. Must be able to perform job duties while dealing with the elements of the outdoors, including heat, sun exposure, wind, insects, etc.
PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS:
- Must be able to work closely with co-workers.
- Must be able to work well with general public.
- Must be able to work well under supervision and director of supervisor.
- Must be able to work well under stress of complaints, deadlines, and children's issues.
- Must be able to work flexible hours to meet deadlines.
- Must be able to work well under stress of daily Day Camp problems and be a good problem solver.
- Must be able to work well with children and their parents.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:
- Worker performs activities indoors. Indoor environmental conditions will include lighting and temperature.
- Worker may be exposed to CRT rays while working at computer.
- Worker may be involved in repetitive work (i.e.: computer keyboarding, writing).
- Worker will perform job duties outdoors 70%-90% of the time.
COGNITIVE CONSIDERATIONS:
- Employee must have the ability to follow and give directions.
- Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing
- Employee must possess time management and organization skills to effectively perform his/her job.
- Employee must possess computer skills including proficiency in word processing spreadsheet and database applications.
- Employee must have ability to make judgments with respect to confidentiality of information, and problem solving.
- Employee must use good safety awareness and judgment in all aspects of this position.
- Employee must have a good sense of empathy, nurturing, patience, and fairness and be able to handle a multitude of situations as they come up, while keeping a positive and friendly attitude.