BFT Aspire STEAM Specialist – Summer Program

Mass General Brigham • Somerville, MA

1d • $17 - $24 • Onsite

About The Position

Aspire is a program of the Massachusetts General Hospital and Partners Healthcare Systems that serves more than 200 children, teens, and young adults with social cognition challenges, including Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD, Nonverbal Learning Disorder, and related profiles. Aspire Summer Camp serves 100 participants aged 5-13 who have the cognitive capacity for solid peer connections but who lack the understanding and skill set to form those connections. The summer program is an immersive experience in which campers are placed into thoughtfully-matched groups, with participant-to-staff ratios no greater than 3:1. Participants engage in outdoor education activities, such as hiking and fishing, theme-based curriculum, such as art or recreation, and skill building lessons to support in the development of social skills, stress management strategies, and self-awareness. The STEAM Specialist is responsible for planning and leading participants through STEAM activities that tap into their strengths, creativity, curiosity, interests, and skills. These activities are therapeutically designed to facilitate the development of participants’ social skills and social thinking, communication skills, self-esteem, and group participation. The STEAM Specialist leads activity sessions that are 45 minutes each. Participants are grouped by similar age with an average of 6 participants per group. The STEAM Specialist will ensure that each group has a well-designed curriculum plan with specific goals to address key developmental milestones, matched to the age and skill level of each group. This professional will also work closely with Site Managers, Assistant Site Managers, Group Leaders, Assistant Group Leaders, and other staff to identify and support participants’ strengths and reinforce social, stress management, and self-awareness goals. We invite neurodivergent candidates to apply.

Requirements

• Degree: High School Diploma or Equivalent Field of Study: Interest in a related field ☒ Required
• Type of experience: Prior experience working with neurodivergent children and/or adolescents ☒ Required
• Desire to work in a team environment
• Desire and ability to work in an outdoor setting
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to solve problems collaboratively with staff
• Desire to help participants feel safe, succeed, and have fun
• Ability to demonstrate a calm demeanor with children, caregivers, and staff

Nice To Haves

• Degree: Bachelor's Degree Field of Study: Science/Technology, Psychology, Education, Speech and Language, Occupational Therapy, Social Work or related field ☒ Preferred

Responsibilities

• Plan and lead groups of neurodivergent participants through STEAM activities that tap into their strengths, creativity, curiosity, interests, and skills. These activities should be therapeutically designed to facilitate the development of participants’ social skills and social thinking, communication skills, self-esteem, and group participation.
• In collaboration with your supervisor and Group Leaders, support the identified goals for each group through group management, tailored supports, and curriculum.
• Help all groups develop and practice social skills, stress management strategies, and self-awareness through your medium. Determine skills shared among group members in these three areas and design/deliver developmentally appropriate STEAM lessons.
• Attend all staff meetings, trainings, supervision, and planning sessions as relevant to the role; these are scheduled during assigned staff hours.
• Maintain the rules of confidentiality and all HIPAA expectations.
• Complete communication logs, incident reports, and other forms in a timely manner. Submit supply order forms at least 5 days prior to when you need materials for specific activities or groups, consistent with budget expectations for your position/curriculum.
• Be an active participant in your supervision process; this includes setting goals for yourself in discussion with your supervisor.
• This position also serves as a transportation chaperone for the bus route from Charlestown to Hale at the start and end of each camp day. Communicate professionally with parents/caregivers at pick-up and drop-off.

What This Job Offers

• Education Level: High school or GED