Lead Camp Counselor

Position Profile

Status:  Part-time/Temporary/Seasonal (PTS) position, non-exempt

Pay:  $17.00 to $19.00 Hourly

Benefits: Valuable work experience enhancing skills such as communication, leadership, initiative, and organization. Spend your summers outside working to make a difference in the youth of Eden Prairie. No evenings or weekend hours!

Location: Park buildings at Miller Park, Homeward Hills Park, Crestwood Park, Prairie View Park, Lake Riley Park, Staring Lake Park, and the Eden Prairie Community Center

Hours:  Monday – Friday up to 40 hours a week

Reporting Relationship: Reports to Senior Recreation Supervisor  

Parks and Recreation Department

Every summer we welcome passionate, independent, and caring individuals to our camp community.  We look for team-oriented individuals, to help us create quality experiences for every young person in our summer camp programs.  Leads are vital members of our summer team.  We value growth and opportunities to learn and grow as an individual and future professional in your field of study.  Gain valuable experience with curriculum development each week, implantation of lesson plans, student, and behavioral management strategies, how to lead a group and increased communication skills.

Applicable Careers- Teacher, Special Education Teacher, Social Worker, Healthcare, Therapist OT/Speech/PT, School Counselor, Psychologist, Recreation

Position Responsibilities

The LeadCamp Counselor – is the site lead position at the day camps. This position is on the leadership team and coordinates, designs, and manages the daily program activities, staff, and campers. The lead is responsible for ensuring an effective and cohesive operation on a day-to-day basis. The primary position responsibilities and areas of impact are but not limited to:

• Manages the overall operations of the day camp program content, facility, and staff.
• Onsite supervisor for counselors. Provides feedback and guidance as needed.
• Conveys expectations of the program to staff and gives work direction and responsibilities to prepare for the camp day. Leads the development, organization of the weekly lesson plans with the counselors. Ensures the lesson plans are prepared and implemented to the standards expected by parents, and Sr. Recreation Supervisor.
• Assists Sr. Recreation Supervisor in the delivery of staff orientation, trainings, and staff meetings.
• Ensures communication and feedback both positive and constructive is being delivered in a timely manner to parents and staff. Represents the City of Eden Prairie in a professional manner.
• Assists counselors in the supervision of the campers and the management of their needs. Participates enthusiastically in all camp activities, providing support and guidance. Supports counselors in behavioral management of participants.
• Attends weekly leadership meetings.
• Completes reporting procedures for all accidents/incidents, behaviors, medications, or emergency forms.
• A willingness to learn about and support people with disabilities to fully participate in camp activities.

While these areas are the primary focus of the position, we believe strongly in teamwork and employees will be called upon to perform a variety of duties as a part of their role with the City.

City of Eden Prairie Values

We are a service organization. We take pride in what we do. We cultivate a supportive, encouraging and productive culture with a strong customer focus. We promote wellness and plan work/life balance into our goals. We value differences and foster inclusion. We achieve success by exhibiting our core values: collaboration, innovation, integrity, performance and relationships.

Position Requirements

• Must be 19 years of age or older.
• Experience in leadership roles, giving work direction to others and the development and delivery of programs and activities.
• Ability to communicate and work with various leadership styles and provide necessary instruction to campers and staff.
• Must be current or able to become certified in First Aid/CPR prior to first day with campers.
• Ability to observe staff and camper behavior, assess its appropriateness, enforces safety regulations and emergency procedures as well as apply appropriate behavior-management techniques.

• Must possess strength and endurance required to maintain constant supervision of campers such as prolonged standing, bending, walking long distances, running, climbing and ability to lift to 50 lbs.
• Physical ability to respond appropriately to situations requiring first aid, behavior, or emergency related situations.  Must be able to assist campers in an emergency.

Position Specific Expectations

Communication: Able to convey a message to get a point across; communicates in a clear and concise manner; able to write clearly and succinctly; tailors’ message to a variety of communication settings and styles.

Attention to Detail: Able to find errors in work and solve problems; anticipates issues and performs at a high level of accuracy; sets up systems to ensure errors are not repeated.

Accountability: Follows through on commitments; focuses on appropriate tasks throughout the shift; takes responsibilities for actions both as an individual and on behalf of the organization; actions and words are in sync; follows all policies and procedures; maintains confidentiality; is prepared and punctual to all scheduled shifts.

Sound Judgment: Able to decide based on the right mixture of facts; determines a course of action after weighing and analyzing different options.

City of Eden Prairie Pre-employment Process

The City of Eden Prairie conducts the following pre-employment checks for this position:

• Professional Reference Checks
• Criminal History Check, Driver’s License Check

All final candidates must successfully complete and pass the City’s evaluation of the pre-employment process before their first day of employment.

City of Eden Prairie Application Timeline

Please complete an application at www.edenprairie.org/employment  

Application Deadline: until filled

Review Applications: ongoing

Interviews: ongoing

Potential Start Date: May 2024