Preschool And Specialty Camp Counselor

ROLE STATEMENT:

Counselors are the primary caregivers for each camper. Counselors are responsible for planning, teaching, coordinating, and carrying out daily activities related to weekly themes that fulfill the mission of the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina and our Summer Day Camp.  Counselors exemplify and foster our core values of honesty, caring, respect, responsibility and faith which promote healthy youth development through strengthening campers’ spirit, mind, and body. 

POSITION SUMMARY:

Do you want to make a life-changing, positive impact of the lives of children in our community? If so, this is the position for you, The Jerry Long Family YMCA is looking for enthusiastic, dependable, and fun-loving Preschool Camp counselors. The Preschool Camp counselor is responsible for providing fun leadership and direct supervision of children in all activities while ensuring the safety of all participants. As a part of our quality program, counselors are here to help participants make friends, generate a sense of belonging and achievement, as well as personally build relationships and foster growth with the children we serve. Counselors are expected to utilize engaged supervision, meaning that they are supervising all of the kids in a group while also engaging with some of the group. In addition to relationships with children, counselors are expected to be strong communicators with parents. Parents are trusting counselors to take care of their children every day, so a counselor must be able to communicate to parents with both verbal and nonverbal cues. At the core of a quality summer program are caring, cause-driven individuals who function together as a strong team. Hours / Days: Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 12:00 pm.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Builds effective, authentic relationships with participants.
2. Helps a participant make friends, builds a sense of community and belonging, fosters achievement, and a positive relationship with the YMCA.
3. Engages students in enrichment activities and experiences.
4. Encourage students to build positive life skills.
5. Attends staff meetings and trainings as scheduled.
6. Follows all YMCA policies, rules regulations, and procedures, including emergency and safety procedures.
7. Ensures that the curriculum activities are followed, materials are organized and all supplies are put away daily. Reports damaged equipment.

Working conditions/ requirements include:

• Ability to work in excess of a 15-20 hr week with irregular work hours.
• Ability to walk, stand and sit(including on the floor) for long period of time.
• Exposure to communicable diseases and bodily fluids.
• Must be able to lift and carry supplies weighing up to 20 pounds.
• Ability to stand or sit while maintaining alertness for several hours at a time.
• Position may require bending, leaning, kneeling, and walking.
• The position may require engaging with children in achievement-based fun games while swimming.
• Ability to speak concisely and effectively communicate with children, parents, team members, and supervisors.
• Visual and auditory ability to respond to critical situations and physical ability to act swiftly in an emergency.

• Summer Camp experience preferred
• Desire and ability to work with all ages (from 3yrs old-5 yrs old)
• The ability to demonstrate responsibility, dependability, patience and understanding, good decision making, and receive and follow instructions
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Experience with arts and crafts programs preferred.
• Sit, stand, or maintain physical activity for extended periods of time (including outside and in the pool)
• Experience working with children in a diverse community preferred
• CPR and First Aid certifications preferred
• Ability to be flexible with work schedule preferred

YMCA COMPETENCIES (Leader):

Mission Advancement: Accepts and demonstrates the Y’s values. Demonstrates a desire to serve others and fulfill community needs. Recruits volunteers and builds effective, supportive working relationships with them. Supports fund-raising.

Collaboration: Works effectively with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions, and perceptions. Builds rapport and relates well to others. Seeks first to understand the other person’s point of view, and remains calm in challenging situations. Listens for understanding and meaning; speaks and writes effectively. Takes initiative to assist in developing others.

Operational Effectiveness: Makes sound judgments, and transfers learning from one situation to another. Embraces new approaches and discovers ideas to create a better member experience. Establishes goals, clarifies tasks, plans work and actively participates in meetings. Follows budgeting policies and procedures, and reports all financial irregularities immediately. Strives to meet or exceed goals and deliver a high-value experience for members.

Personal Growth: Pursues self-development that enhances job performance. Demonstrates an openness to change, and seeks opportunities in the change process. Accurately assesses personal feelings, strengths and limitations and how they impact relationships. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology.