Lead Camp Counselor

Lead Camp Counselor 

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Job Title: Lead Camp Counselor 

Region/Location: Colorado, Rocky Mountains 

Department:  Camp, OPP 

Occupational Job Group: Summer Camp 

Pay Range: $540/week plus food and lodging (valued at $200) 

Reports To: Camp Director and/or hiring manager 

Date: May-August (exact dates TBD) 

FLSA Status: Exempt 

Terms: Seasonal, Full Time, Onsite 

Supervisory Responsibility:  Camp Counselors 

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GENERAL PURPOSE: The Lead Camp Counselor is responsible for living with, guiding, and counseling group of campers and support/supervision of counselors at a Girl Scouts of Colorado (GSCO) camp property. This position is responsible for supporting and guiding a team of counselors in daily living, camp activities, and carrying out camp goals. Additionally, this role supports the property, hospitality, operational, program, health, & cabin leadership team as needed as part of the camp team. A primary function of this, and every other job at the camp, is to ensure that each member, guest and visitor receives the highest caliber of service. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES ***(Employees are held accountable for all duties of this job) 

          General Responsibilities 

• Provide and/or support emergency procedures during on-site and off-site trip incidents.  

• Provide and/or support health and wellness practices.  

• Provide support as necessary to all operational, program, cabin leadership, and health staff.  

• Support the work of the site, kitchen, and housekeeping staff as needed. 

• Assist in the care & management of program equipment, including storage, maintenance, and usage in coordination with fellow team members. 

           Program Responsibilities 

• Assist in the planning, direction, and implementation of camp program for a group of campers during overnight, troop day, and family camp sessions.  

•  Responsible for the care, cleanliness, maintenance, and/or inventory of assigned areas.  
  
  Camper Leadership & Supervision  

• Act ‘in loco parentis’, living with, and guiding a group of campers during overnight camp sessions, in accordance with the Colorado childcare licensing ruling 8CCR 1402-1, 2.422I.  

• Support & counsel campers in daily living, camp activities, and developing peer relationships.  

• Support and facilitate a meaningful experience for the Counselor’s-in-Training in your unit by encouraging leadership opportunities throughout the entirety of the session. 
  
  Staff Leadership & Supervision 

• Guide, support, and provide leadership to a team of assigned counselors.  

• With supervisor and director guidance, assist in counselor session assignments.  

• Train & orient of proper use of specialized areas, materials, and delivery of program.  

• Verify staff competence before assigning them supervisory role. Monitor their performance throughout the season. 
  
  Administration  

• Manage administrative responsibilities in a timely, independent, and detail-oriented manner.  

• Work on the development, review, and assist in the creation of daily, weekly, and activity schedules, in cooperation with other staff, based on camp program, camper planning, and camp goals.  

• Provide a system for accurate logs, forms, inventory, and record keeping. 

• Provide & participate in camper and staff feedback forms as necessary for the overall camp’s strategic planning.  

• Participate in regular staff meetings and training for planning purposes, communication resolutions, and carrying out assignments.  

• Coordinate and communicate schedules to campers & staff as necessary.  

• Carry out ongoing observations to assure that goals and expectations of leadership & program delivery are positive and appropriate. 

• Interact with digital systems including Slack, Instagram, & Facebook.  

• Respect the confidential nature of all information pertaining to staff, volunteers, and campers. 

• Follow policies, procedures, and standards set by the American Camping Association, Girl Scouts Safety Activity Checkpoints, Colorado Department of Health and Human Services, and other certifying industry organizations. 

PRIMARY CROSS-FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES 

• In accordance with the philosophy of Girl Scouts of Colorado, the person filling this position may occasionally be required to carry out or assist with other tasks in addition to the duties listed on this job description.  

• Support the efforts and commitments of Girl Scouts of Colorado in pluralism and diversity throughout the organization and within each community served. 

• Embrace diversity and inclusiveness by contributing to positive relationships between diverse racial, ethnic, and social groups in the Council as a whole and between employees and volunteers. 

JOB QUALIFICATIONS 

Education and/or Formal Training  

• High school diploma or GED and at least one year of college or equivalent work experience.  

• Must have current OR willingness to obtain the following certifications: First Aid/CPR, Child Abuse Mandated Reporter, Universal Standard Precautions, and Medication Administration. 

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Experience 

• Preferred experience or desire for working with children.  

• Preferred experience working in an outdoor program and/or camp setting. 

• Working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.  

• Experience in leadership of children, peers, or staff.  

• Willing to provide innovative and engaging program development and facilitation in an informal, outdoor setting. 

Additional Requirements 

• Must be able to pass a criminal background check acceptable to GSCO standards. 
• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Must meet Colorado childcare licensing requirement of being the same gender identity as the campers they are sleeping in the same room or tent as. - Rule and Regulating Children's Resident Camps 2.425   

MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT DIRECTLY USED  

• This position works with program related equipment in areas such as hiking, hot elements, archery, and other outdoor skills activities. 

• This position occasionally works with farm equipment and in an outdoor setting that includes domestic farm animals such as horses, pigs, rabbits, chickens, goats, etc.  

• Subject to injuries from falls, accidental strikes, cuts from equipment, etc. 

• Computer and related software, telephone, copiers, and equipment commonly found in an office environment.  

• Handheld radios.  

• As directed, golf carts, owned and leased vehicles, including 15-passenger vans.  

WORKING ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES  

• Camps are at altitudes of 8,000-9,500 feet.  

• Ability to work non–traditional hours including evenings, weekends, extended overnight periods and extended work hours, up to 22 hours per day. 

• Required daily, frequent exposure to highly stimulating and loud environments. 

• Except for daily time off, counselors are always with campers.  

• Program activities are carried out in the out-of-doors often in inclement weather. 

• Willing to be on-call at all times, for health, emergency purposes, camper supervision, and program implementation. 

• Required to live on-site in shared housing with fellow staff and campers.  

• Requires extensive walking/hiking >2miles/day over uneven and unpaved terrain.  

• Able to carry, lift and/or transfer at least 50 pounds. 

• Ability to hear, listen, see, sit, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, bend, use hands & fingers to handle or feel, reach with hands & arms, and balance. 

• Must have interpersonal skills/behaviors (i.e. working with individuals with a range of moods & behaviors in a tactful, congenial personal manner, so as not to alienate, or antagonize them).  

 ***Employee signature below indicates the employee's understanding of the requirements, essential duties & responsibilities of the position. This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Please contact your supervisor/manager or HR with any questions. 

GSCO will make reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with known disabilities and employees whose work requirements interfere with a religious belief, unless doing so would result in an undue hardship or a direct threat to the Girl Scouts of Colorado. If you need such accommodation, contact your supervisor or Human Resources immediately to begin the interactive accommodation process.