Resident Camp Counselors

YMCA Camp Cullen is a 500-acre summer camp and conference center located on Lake Livingston in Trinity, Texas. Owned by the Greater Houston YMCA, Camp Cullen serves youth ages 7-16 throughout the greater Houston area. Camp Cullen strives to provide high quality experiences for children and parents by creating a place where campers can belong, have the choice to participate in a wide variety of activities, and achieve new goals throughout their time at camp. During the summer, you will have countless opportunities to make a genuine impact on the lives of others, whether it's through leading quality programming, helping a camper try something new, or just a simple conversation with a camper, the summer will leave you with lasting memories and friendships. Not only will you help campers grow, but you also will gain new skills and experiences to use in future careers and opportunities. Summer employment for Camp Cullen begins around May 15th, 2021 and goes through August 7th, 2021. Beginning with three weeks of certification and general counselor training, counselors will learn the skills needed to teach the their activity area, work with different ages of campers, and the ins and outs of camp's schedule. Skills vary from geology, high adventure, lifeguarding, motorboat driving, etc. For the next nine weeks, counselors will use their new skills to create meaningful connections with new sets of campers each week.

Position Summary:

Provides direct supervision of a group of children in a seasonal resident camp. Provides a quality experience to children and parents focused on youth development including the YMCA core values: honesty, respect, responsibility, caring, and faith.

Essential Functions:

1. Supervises a group of children in cabins and at activities.
2. Plans and implements program activities that are culturally relevant, developmentally appropriate and consistent with YMCA core values.
3. Adheres to program standards including safety and cleanliness standards.
4. Attends staff meetings and trainings.
5. Follows YMCA policies and procedures, including those related to medical and disciplinary situations, child abuse prevention and emergencies.
6. Reports suspicious and inappropriate behaviors and policy violations.
7. Follows mandated abuse and incident reporting requirements.
8. Meets timelines and deadlines related to supporting systems and employee compliance. Example includes but are not limited to Kronos Workforce Ready for review and approval of time sheets.
9. Maintains positive relations with parents and other staff.

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.

Qualifications:

1. High school graduate or equivalent; one year or more of college preferred.
2. At least 18 years of age.
3. Previous experience working with children preferably in a camp setting
4. Experience preferred in one or more of the following areas: outdoor living, archery, boating, camping, songs/music, skits, sports, aquatics, recreational games, etc.
5. CPR, First Aid, AED certifications and Child Abuse Prevention trainings.
6. Previous experience with diverse populations preferred.

Language Skills

Ability to read, interpret, retain, and teach documents such as safety rules, operating maintenance instructions, and procedure/educational manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of children, parents, staff, members of the YMCA, and/or others, as well as in one-on-one situations.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to apply common sense, understanding, and sound mature judgment to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form, including assisting with curriculum learning. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. Ability to maintain confidentiality. Ability to be sensitive and alert to the needs, feelings, and safety of others. Ability to ensure children's safety and maintain YMCA, and state standards and guidelines at all times.

Physical Demands

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. The employee must frequently move and/or lift up to 50 pounds and move up to 100 pounds such as furniture, supplies, equipment, children, etc. Possess adequate vision and hearing to safely monitor environment and children.

Current record of tuberculosis examination and/or current local health department regulations, examinations, and/or immunization as required by the local or State Department of Health.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing 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 regularly works outside. Nonsmoking and drug and alcohol free work environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, occasionally loud. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes and airborne particles, toxic, or caustic chemicals, extreme heat, and/or blood. The employee regularly is exposed to bodily excretions of children, depending on developmental level of children in the employee's care. The job is working for a YMCA Resident Camp Program located at YMCA Camp Cullen in Trinity, TX.