Assistant Summer Camp Counselor

Job Overview: As an Assistant Camp Counselor your role is to ensure campers learn, play and create in an environment that is educational, fun, safe and supportive. You will work closely with fellow counselors and lead camp counselors to offer program-aligned, meaningful, and fun camp experiences through guided adventures, skill-building activities, games, and projects. Along with your assigned lead counselor/s, you will be responsible for overseeing campers, their behavior, and well-being and helping them navigate their camp day and the activities scheduled within. 

Camp Curriculum and Instruction:

• Work with your assigned Lead Camp Counselors to ensure the summer camp environment is engaging, organized, clean, safe, and adventurous. Activities, adventures and projects are aligned to support program goals and outcomes as marketed on our website, and in staff orientation and training. 
• Assist in setting up, instructing, and implementing engaging summer activities, adventures, and projects. This includes setting up camp and classrooms, inventorying, and distributing camp materials such as sports equipment, art supplies, lacrosse equipment, backpacking supplies, safety gear, and more. 
• Work to ensure the space is clean and presentable throughout the camp day.
• Working alongside the Lead Camp Counselors, they help implement a fun, engaging, and program (camp) specific curriculum that is hands-on, imaginative, and adventurous.
• Supervise and actively engage with children while instructors prepare for the next activity. Have group games and team building activities ready to entertain and engage campers. 
• Clean up and organize the camp space/classroom before, during, and after each camp day to ensure that camp activities run smoothly in a professional, clean environment. 
• Understand the day's itinerary and help keep the group punctual for all activities and adventures.
• Help maintain a headcount throughout the camp day, most especially on off-campus adventures. Use best practices and systems thought at orientation and throughout the summer to prioritize this important responsibility. 

• Support campers through daily activities, adventures, projects, and challenges. 
• Work with the lead counselor/s to ensure campers' well-being and daily needs are met with professionalism, care, and attentiveness.

Communication and Marketing:

• Forge strong connections with campers, creating an inclusive and supportive community. 
• Assist with documenting daily lessons, products and adventures with a smartphone. Submit photos to the Summer Camp Director or Manager as scheduled each week of camp. 
• Should behavioral needs arise, please communicate with your respective Lead Camp Counselor.

Professionalism:

• When issues arise (behavioral, emotional, psychological, family crisis, community crisis, etc.), address them with the lead counselors working with you.
• Protect campers privacy and confidentiality by not sharing photos, medical information and/or their personal information outside of work. 
• Be punctual and diligent about fulfilling prep duty and other time-sensitive obligations.
• Be a positive role model by showing enthusiasm for adventures, projects, lessons, and activities.
• Maintain a good standing in the community and speak positively about Tahoe Summer Camps with campers, their families, fellow employees, and the larger community. 
• Attend Tahoe Summer Camps orientation for all summer employees and staff to understand who we are, what we do, and how we accomplish our goals and deliver great programming.
• Understand the systems, processes and procedures used at Tahoe Summer Camps to run programming. 

• Devote a reasonable amount of time to completing additional duties like welcoming campers, checking in, checking out, cleaning up, and setting up for the following day of camp.
• Refrain from using smartphones for personal use when campers are present. Typically, smartphones are to be used to document campers engaged in camp activities and for emergencies only.
• Agree to and abide by the expectations outlined in the Tahoe Expedition Academy Employee Handbook.

Minimum Qualifications Required to Perform Essential Job Functions:  

• Some experience working with children or a keen interest in gaining this experience. 
• Evidence of experience related to the camp (i.e., art, adventure learning, rock climbing, etc.)
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work well with a team and independently.

What We're Looking For:

• Passion for Education and Adventure: You have experience working with kids or a related field, with a zest for outdoor education and experiential learning.
• Dynamic Interpersonal Skills: Your ability to connect with children and adults alike, fostering an environment of respect, understanding, and enthusiasm, is paramount.
• Team Collaboration: While independent in spirit, you thrive in a collaborative setting, contributing to and drawing from our staff's collective experience.
• Commitment to Safety: Your priority is the well-being of every camper. You're trained in safety protocols and are adept at creating a secure environment for adventure and learning.

Physical Requirements: Must be able to use a variety of equipment and classroom tools such as computers, copiers and equipment for children, etc. Must be able to exert a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Due to the amount of time spent standing and/or walking, physical requirements are consistent with those for light work.

Tahoe Expedition Academy is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of recruitment and employment.