Arts and Humanities Camp Counselor

Job Details Job Location: Oscar Lasko YMCA - West Chester , PA 19380 Salary Range: $ $19.06 Hourly Job Category: Childcare/Day Camp

Embark on a Journey of Impactful Adventure

The YMCA of Greater Brandywine is looking for an energetic and motivated Summer Camp Specialist who enjoys planning and leading our Camp activities for ages Kindergarten to 6th grade. The Summer Camp Specialist bring their passion and expertise to life by leading engaging, hands-on learning experiences for campers ages 5–12. The Summer Camp Specialist design and deliver instructional sessions within their area of specialty, inspiring curiosity, creativity, and confidence in every child. 

We are seeking specialists in a wide variety of program areas, including but not limited to: 

• Archery (Must hold archery certification or be willing to obtain by June) 

• Art (painting, drawing, sculpting, creative construction) 

• Aquatics (must hold or be willing to obtain lifeguard certification prior to June) 

• Activities (indoor and outdoor games, team-building, camp-wide challenges) 

• Canoe (must hold canoe certification or be willing to obtain lifeguard certification by June) 

• Ceremonies (lead daily camp songs, skits, stunts, and special events) 

• Nature & Outdoor Education 

• Sports (general or sport-specific instruction) 

• STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math-based projects) 

• Music & Performing Arts 

Who Are We?

The YMCA of Greater Brandywine (YGBW) was named a 2025 Top Workplace by The Philadelphia Inquirer for a second consecutive year. An association of nine YMCAs serving Chester County, the YMCA of Greater Brandywine is a non-profit organization dedicated to nurturing the potential of every child, promoting healthy living, and fostering social responsibility through life-changing programs for all.   

Perks & Benefits 

• Free family YMCA membership, including outdoor pools
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, along with paid holidays and plentiful PTO for full-time employees
• Babysitting while you work (up to 4 hours per day)
• Generous program discounts on childcare, camp, youth sports, swimming lessons and more
• 12% employer contribution to retirement savings upon reaching eligibility and optional 403B retirement savings plan upon hire.
• Employee Assistance Program
• Continuing education reimbursement, tuition discounts with Chestnut Hill College and Immaculata University
• Career development and paid training
• Unlimited referral bonus beginning at $300.00 

What You'll Do

• Ensures the safety and well-being of all campers in the group and camp-wide. 

• Responsible for direct supervision of campers in assigned group. 

• Plans and leads activities in accordance with the camp schedule. 

• Deliver multiple engaging 45-minute instructional sessions to small groups of campers throughout a 6–8 hour shift. 

• Maintains positive relationships with campers, parents, and staff. 

• Model YMCA core values and positive youth development principles. 

• Organizes and maintains camp equipment, supplies, and property. 

• Support daily camp routines, including setup, transitions, and clean-up. 

• Actively participates in all aspects of the day camp schedule as assigned. 

• Maintains camp records including, but not limited to accident & incident reports, sign in/out sheets, attendance documents. 

• Be flexible and collaborative within a dynamic camp team environment. 

• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor. 

Qualifications

What You'll Need 

• Must be at least 18 years of age. 

• Prior experience in working with children in a camp environment preferred. 

• Expertise or strong enthusiasm in at least one of the listed specialty areas. 

• Lifeguard certification required for Aquatics Specialists (training available) 

• Ability to effectively use technology for programmatic needs. 

• Attend all required pre-camp and camp season trainings and meetings as scheduled. 

• Obtain and maintain all new hire certifications and trainings before first day of camp. 

Work Conditions and 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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, sit, walk, communicate and hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee may frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust focus. Will be exposed to illness-causing bacteria and viruses.

Why You Need To Apply

Not meeting every single requirement? That's perfectly okay Research shows that women and marginalized groups are often hesitant to apply for jobs unless they meet all the qualifications. If you're excited about this role, don't let a few mismatches in your experience hold you back. We want to see your application You could be exactly what we're looking for

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