Camp RISE - Camp Therapist/Behaviorist- 2026

Greater Somerset County Ymca • Plainfield, NJ

11h • Onsite

About The Position

An exciting opportunity to join the team of a progressive YMCA located in vibrant Somerset County, New Jersey. The YMCA is one of the nation’s leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. With a 150-year-old history, Greater Somerset County YMCA (GSCY) is a pillar of the community and has seven locations across three counties, which collectively serve upwards of 30,000 individuals. GSCY has 100 full-time and 950 part-time employees along with operating revenues to $22+ million. The Y empowers everyone—no matter who they are or where they are from. To fulfill our purpose of strengthening community for all, GSCY is committed to being an inclusive organization and leveraging our collective impact to address social inequities. To learn more about GSCY, visit our website: http://gscymca.org Requirements Camp: Camp RISE with Plainfield YMCA is seeking a Camp Therapist to support the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The Camp Therapist's primary responsibility is to utilize behavior management strategies based on principles of behaviorism to help campers manage their behavior and ensure a positive, safe, and productive experience for everyone. Working under the direction of the Camp Leadership Team, you will serve as your group's dedicated Behavior Specialist, providing targeted support while also being an active, engaged leader. In this role, it is imperative to make camp the best experience a child could ever dream of. Camp Therapists are role models demonstrating our core values of honesty, caring, respect, and responsibility.

Requirements

• At least 18 years of age.
• Previous experience working with children, preferably in a day camp setting, with a minimum of two previous camp seasons.
• Strong skills in behavior management, de-escalation, and positive reinforcement techniques.
• Knowledge of behaviorism principles and their application in youth development settings is highly preferred.
• Experience creating or implementing behavior support plans or contracts is an asset.
• Patience, empathy, and a genuine desire to help individuals, including those with special needs.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• CPR, First Aid, AED certifications, and Child Abuse Prevention training within 30 days of hire date.
• Previous experience with diverse populations preferred.

Responsibilities

• Behavioral Leadership: Serve as the primary behavioral support specialist for a group of 15-30 children, working collaboratively with other counselors to create a structured and positive environment.
• Establish Clear Expectations: Clearly communicate rules and behavioral expectations to campers from the outset and maintain them consistently.
• Positive Reinforcement: Actively praise and reward appropriate behavior to encourage campers, utilizing verbal praise, special recognition, and other camp-approved rewards.
• Skill Development: Encourage campers to achieve goals in personal development by focusing on social skills, communication techniques, and self-regulation.
• Behavioral Interventions: Work with individual campers or small groups to create and follow behavior contracts/agreements when necessary, and apply consistent, appropriate consequences for misbehavior in alignment with camp policy.
• Activity Leadership: Collaborate with other counselors to develop and execute fun, educational, and therapeutic activities throughout the week.
• Active Participation: Swim daily with campers to have fun, assist in daily swim lessons, and ensure safety for all.
• Camp Spirit: Show camp spirit every day by participating in camp traditions, singing camp songs, cheering on campers and staff, and playing camp-wide games.
• Safety & Supervision: Maintain safety at all times by knowing every camper by name, maintaining proper ratios, carrying first aid supplies, and being responsive on a walkie-talkie system.

Benefits

• FREE Individual Membership Access to any YMCA in the Nation.
• 10% Discount on most programming at Greater Somerset County YMCA.
• Access to one of the leading retirement programs, "Y Retirement Fund," from the first day of employment.
• Opportunities for professional development, mentoring, growth, and promotion throughout the YMCA Movement.
• Supportive and inclusive community for people of all backgrounds and access to Employee Resource Networks.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed