YMCA Camp Carter serves over 1,400 campers each summer through its weeklong day and overnight-camp sessions filled with fun and adventure. Our Overnight Camp Counselors are in many ways the heart of our overnight camp program. As an overnight camp counselor, you will make an impact on children’s lives through the magic of summer camp. Counselors are the primary caregivers for each camper and with the support and collaboration of the leadership staff are responsible for planning, teaching, coordinating, and carrying out activities and guiding campers in their personal growth and daily living skills.
Dates and Times: Overnight Camp Counselors must be available and onsite from May 29, 2024 through August 3, 2024. Overnight Camp Staff Training will be held May 27 - June 14th and attendance is mandatory. Additional weeks after August 3rd may be available to work in our Day Camp program.
Overnight Camp Counselors must live onsite during the summer. When Overnight Camp is in session, counselors will live in a shared cabin space with 8-10 campers in male- and female-identifying cabins.
Counselors will have at least one 24-hour period and one 6-hour evening shift off during the week, with additional time off as possible and at the discretion of the Camp Carter leadership team.
This position pays $400/week before taxes.
- Must be 18 years of age or high school graduate.
- Adult, Child, and Infant CPR/AED and First Aid, certified within 30 days of hire. Training provided by the YMCA.
- Sincere interest in and ability to work with groups of campers ages 5-16, as well as parents and staff of diverse ethnic populations.
- Ability to work as a team member with counselors and adult staff members.
- Ability to multitask, self-motivated, and dedicated to Camp Carter's success.
- Working at Camp does entail physical requirements that can include prolonged standing, hiking, walking long on uneven terrain and a variety of environments and weather, the ability to lift up to 40 pounds, and other physical activities.
- Must be willing to work with daily exposure to sun and heat. YMCA Camp Carter does have heat protocols for days of extreme heat.
- Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to observe camper behavior, assess its appropriateness, enforce appropriate safety regulations and emergency procedures, and apply appropriate behavior-management techniques.
- Ability to observe staff behavior, assess its appropriateness, enforce appropriate safety regulations and emergency procedures, and apply appropriate management techniques.
- Visual and auditory ability to identify and respond to environmental and other hazards related to the activity.
- Physical ability to respond appropriately to situations requiring first aid. Must be able to assist campers in an emergency (fire, evacuation, illness, or injury) and possess strength and endurance required to maintain constant supervision of campers.
Attitude
- Embody and model Camper and Guest first experience and mindset
- Lead by example, be a team player, have a can-do attitude and willingness to jump in whenever and wherever needed.
- Set a good example to campers and others in regard to general camp procedures and practices including sanitation, schedule, and sportsmanship.
- Be a role model to campers and staff in your attitude and behavior.
Camper supervision and growth
- Assist in direction, supervision, and organization of campers in their living unit, within activities, and throughout the camp in order to encourage camper growth and development while having fun.
- Apply basic youth development principles in working with campers through communication, relationship development, respect for diversity, involvement and empowerment of youth.
- Assure campers are properly supervised at all times.
- Be aware of and implement safety guidelines.
- Maintain high standards of health and safety in all activities for campers and staff.
- Provide the daily care of each camper within your supervision including recognition of personal health needs.
- Ensure that campers receive their medications as directed by health care manager.
- Be alert to campers and staff needs and assist them with personal and/or health problems, and discuss with camp health manager and/or resident camp director when appropriate.
- Be alert to equipment and facilities to ensure utilization, proper care, and maintenance is adhered to; report repairs needed promptly to camp director.
- Be a role model to campers and staff in your attitude and behavior.
Program development and delivery
- Participate in the development and implementation of program activities for campers within the mission and outcomes.
- Responsible for leading and assisting with the teaching of activities.
- Actively participate in all program areas as assigned.
- Provide for the progression of activities within the framework of individual and group interests and abilities.
- Assist in program areas such as waterfront, nature, all camp activities, and arts and crafts as directed.
Other Job Duties
- Contribute to verbal and written evaluations and communication as requested.
- Participate enthusiastically in all camp activities, planning, and leading those as assigned.
- Participate as a member of the camp staff team to deliver and supervise evening programs, special events, overnights, and other all-camp activities and camp functions.
- Other duties as assigned by the Camp leadership team, including camp directors, assistant program directors, and unit leaders.
Benefits
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Build Your Resume: Working at Camp develops skills that apply in any number of future career fields – learn leadership and decision-making skills; how to communicate with kids, parents, coworkers, and others of various backgrounds and life experiences; hard skills like how to shoot bullseyes with an arrow, tie-dye like a true artist, and run a zipline; or obtain certifications including a lifeguard certification. Camp Counselors achieve great things on and off camp – just ask former First Lady Michelle Obama and Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner, who both served as camp counselors.
Free Gym Membership: with the YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth with access to other YMCA facilities.
Opportunities for Growth: In addition to personal growth through learning hard and soft skills, there are opportunities for continued employment with YMCA Camp Carter or the Fort Worth YMCA year-round.
Community Involvement: YMCA Camp Carter has been a vital part of the community for over 75 years.