Summer Camp Counselor-Camp Bette Perot-Palestine, TX

Girl Scouts Of Northeast Texas • New Mesquite, TX

7h • Onsite

About The Position

Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas is hiring seasonal counselors for Camp Bette Perot, an equestrian sleepaway camp for girls ages 7–16. The camp serves approximately 150 campers per week from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Camp is located about 20 minutes from Palestine and two hours from Dallas, Texas.

Counselors lead a fun and impactful summer camp program. They live in cabins, platform tents, or lodges with campers; build relationships; care for campers; lead activities; and participate fully in daily camp life. Counselors act as caring mentors, fun companions, patient teachers, positive role models, and helpful problem solvers. They report to the Camp Director. Paid staff training takes place at Camp Bette Perot at the beginning of the summer. Counselors live onsite in group accommodations during work. The work season runs from early June through late July. A typical work week is six days, approximately 13 hours per day, with overnight responsibilities with campers.

Additional leadership roles are available to eligible or experienced staff: Lifeguard Counselors (ages 16+), who teach swimming and serve as lifeguards; High Ropes Counselors (ages 18+), who lead the challenge course; Activity Leader Counselors (ages 18+ with relevant certification and experience), who oversee an assigned activity; Unit Leader Counselors (ages 18+ with camp experience), who support a campsite unit; Photography Counselors (ages 18+ with photography experience), who create and manage a photo portfolio; and Junior Crew Leaders (ages 18+), who supervise and mentor Junior Crew Members. Certifications for lifeguarding and high ropes are provided. The position requires female staff under the stated BFOQ exception for youth in single-gender cabin and restroom settings.

The camp environment involves group living and limited privacy and personal time; outdoor activity in variable weather, including extreme heat, humidity, rain, and wind; exposure to wildlife; long workdays; and possible overnight responses to camper needs or emergencies. Staff receive personal break time each day.

Requirements

• Ability to live, eat, teach, and play respectfully with diverse staff and campers throughout the day, with limited privacy and personal time.
• Willingness to live in a camp setting and be exposed to wildlife, including bugs, spiders, and snakes.
• Willingness to be active outdoors throughout the day in variable weather, including heat over 100°F/38°C, humidity, rain, wind, and possible tornadoes, and to walk extensively around camp.
• Willingness to model respect, positivity, kindness, patience, honesty, inclusion, accountability, and emotional self-regulation.
• Willingness to listen to, learn from, and cooperate with others.
• Willingness to embrace a simple living environment while staying at camp.
• Ability to work long hours throughout the day and week and possibly respond to campers or emergencies overnight; personal break time is provided each day.
• Ability to complete the full term of the camp agreement, covering all camp weeks.
• Counselors ages 16–17 must have prior experience at a Girl Scout camp as a CIT.
• Ability to demonstrate courtesy, respect, and professionalism with coworkers, volunteers, and others encountered through the role.
• Upon employment, must register as an adult member of Girl Scouts and subscribe to the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
• Must maintain regular, consistent, reliable, punctual, and predictable attendance, including working regular hours and shifts, before and after hours, and weekends when required.
• Must complete and pass a criminal background check.
• Female staff are required under the stated BFOQ exception for privacy and supervision standards in youth single-gender cabin and restroom settings.
• Must abstain while on camp property or on duty from tobacco products, herbal intoxicants, vaping and electronic cigarettes, alcohol, illegal drugs, firearms, and fireworks; must not possess these on camp property or return to camp under their influence.
• Must abstain from explicit or harmful language, volatile expressions of emotion, romantic or sexual activity or public displays of affection on camp, clothing featuring alcohol, drugs, or harmful topics or language, and sharing private adult issues with campers.
• Must not use a cell phone while on duty; phones may be kept in the administrative building and used during scheduled staff breaks away from campers.
• Must be able to use hands and fingers to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; work indoors and outdoors; sit, stand, and engage in physical activity; walk extensively across a 1,300-acre camp; withstand prolonged work hours and large groups of youth and high noise levels; and lift, carry, or move up to 45 pounds.

Nice To Haves

• Experience serving youth in a work or volunteer setting.
• Experience attending summer camp or going camping.
• Current certifications in first aid and CPR, lifeguarding, ropes course, archery, or fishing are appreciated.
• Lifeguard Counselor applicants must be at least 16 and able to swim 200 meters, tread water for two minutes, and complete a timed event retrieving a brick from 10-foot depth.
• High Ropes Counselor applicants must be at least 18, comfortable with heights and wearing a harness.
• Activity Leader Counselor applicants must be at least 18, have relevant certification, and have experience in the assigned activity.
• Unit Leader Counselor applicants must be at least 18 and have camp experience.
• Photography Counselor applicants must be at least 18 and have photography experience.
• Junior Crew Leader applicants must be at least 18 and have strong leadership, communication, organization, and mentoring skills.

Responsibilities

• Champion a positive, inclusive, caring, safe, and fun camp environment and promote the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
• Supervise and support campers’ physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing, including hygiene, meals, sleep, and medications as applicable.
• Lead and participate in camp activities and daily operations, including meals, rest, free time, chores, staff trainings and meetings, planning, preparation, and cleanup.
• Facilitate positive group relationships and address conflicts constructively.
• Encourage camper and staff confidence, responsibility, challenge seeking, teamwork, learning, goal setting, relationship skills, coping strategies, and personal and group success.
• Follow the camp schedule and ensure timely arrival at assigned spaces.
• Help care for campsite facilities, equipment, and supplies, and manage resources wisely.
• Follow and uphold camp safety standards and emergency procedures.
• Work independently and collaboratively to meet program and operational needs and resolve problems.
• Participate in staff training and meetings as requested.
• For leadership roles, carry out the additional duties of the assigned role, such as lifeguarding, leading high ropes or activities, supporting a unit, managing camp photography, or overseeing the Junior Crew program.

Benefits

• Meals when camp is in session.
• Housing, if applicable.
• Paid staff training and certifications, if applicable.
• Invaluable work experience that can prepare staff for future careers.
• Opportunity to build personal and professional skills and make an impact on campers and staff.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed