Cooking Instructor, Camp Kaleidoscope, Summer Day Camp 2026

JCC Greater Boston•Newton, MA

50d•$20 - $20•Onsite

About The Position

Be a role model. Share your passion! Do you love cooking, experimenting with flavors, and sharing your passion for food — and want to inspire kids in the kitchen? JCC Greater Boston is looking for enthusiastic Cooking Instructors to design and lead engaging culinary activities for children in grades 4–8 at our summer day camp in Newton, MA. Specialists are role models who create safe, inclusive, and fun program areas where kids can explore, learn, and build confidence through hands-on cooking experiences. JCC Greater Boston offers free bus service for staff from Cambridge, Brookline, Jamaica Plain, West Roxbury, Wayland, Framingham, Natick, Needham, Newton and Wellesley during the summer season. You’ll spend your day bringing the kitchen to life — whether that’s teaching basic cooking skills, guiding campers through recipes, exploring fun food science experiments, or helping them create delicious dishes. You’ll plan age-appropriate activities, adapt them to meet the needs of different campers, and keep things safe, engaging, and fun. Beyond your specialty, you’ll also be part of the camp team: helping with transitions, supporting special events, and ensuring every camper feels included, supported, and inspired. At our camps, the best part of the day is simple: the campers. Our staff say their favorite moments are playing games, cheering campers on at swim, creating art together, and bonding over shared interests. Staff describe camp as fun, dynamic, and inclusive. Here, you’ll gain leadership skills, make lasting friendships, and create unforgettable experiences – for campers and yourself. JCC Greater Boston is deeply committed to valuing and celebrating the uniqueness of each constituent. We welcome staff and participants from diverse backgrounds. While being proudly Jewish, we strive in every way to provide an open and welcoming setting for all, irrespective of personal practices, beliefs, or background. We are guided by JCC Greater Boston’s core values - Belonging, Joyfulness, Collaboration, and Transformation - which resonate with many who do not identify as Jewish. This is a great chance to join JCC Greater Boston's respected and valued, people-orientated workplace of diverse community services providers, which is rapidly growing! This is an hourly position with a daily schedule of 8:30am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday. Offering great perks, including JCC Health & Fitness center access, a supportive, vibrant in-person work environment, and a competitive starting pay rate of $20 per hour. The pay rate offered will ultimately be determined by relevant qualifications, experience, and JCC's internal equity. This 8 week camp program is June 22 - August 21, including staff training. While we prefer candidates who are available all summer, we recognize that candidates may have other obligations and are happy to work with your schedule. Since opening its doors in 1983, JCC Greater Boston has been committed to creating a vibrant, inclusive, diverse community by nurturing meaningful, lasting relationships. Through our network of early learning centers, day camps, regional teen and family programs, health and wellness offerings, and adult arts and ideas classes, JCC Greater Boston provides highly valued connections, learning, and experiences for the Jewish community and friends. JCC Greater Boston staff enjoy working in an innovative, friendly, and welcoming environment where their talents and contributions are appreciated. In our recent employee survey, staff rated their direct management and organizational alignment experiences close to 90% positive. If you want to upgrade your working experience and have a better work-life balance, we encourage you to explore becoming part of the JCC team! The JCC is deeply committed to valuing and celebrating the uniqueness of each constituent. We welcome staff and participants from diverse backgrounds. While being proudly Jewish, we strive in every way to provide an open and welcoming setting for all, irrespective of personal practices, beliefs, or background. We are guided by JCC Greater Boston's core values: Belonging, Joyfulness, Collaboration, and Transformation, which we hope resonate with all.

Requirements

Genuine enjoyment of working with children and helping them grow
Passion and expertise in your specialty area (arts, sports, music, cooking, science, etc.)
Ability to plan and lead age-appropriate, engaging, and inclusive activities
Excellent group management skills
Strong communication, teamwork, and collaboration skills with campers and staff
Safety awareness and ability to manage risks during activities
Creativity, flexibility and patience to adapt activities for diverse camper needs
Positive, energetic attitude and commitment to fostering an inclusive, joyful camp environment
Proactive problem-solving and willingness to ask for guidance when needed
Self-starter who takes the initiative
Must be able to work well with others, building/sustaining collaborative solid relationships
Ability to manage situations effectively and diplomatically and ask for help, guidance, or clarification when needed
Commitment to build strong relationships with campers, co-workers, and camp leadership
Able to work well in a busy, dynamic, and sometimes noisy environment involving multiple tasks and priorities.
Ability to work in variety of weather conditions for extended periods of time in case of rain, heat, humidity, cold, or other environmental factors to ensure the supervision and safety of campers in our care.
Able to lift and carry objects weighing 30-40 pounds (boxes of supplies, children’s backpacks, etc.
Able to sit and kneel; getting down at eye level with children regularly.
Ability to swim and supervise children in pool (able to stand in pool)
Excellent group management skills
Flexibility in plans and positive attitude
Ability to work with a variety of cooking supplies and equipment
Ability to work with allergy and dietary restrictions as needed
Enjoy working with children and a strong desire to make a difference every day
Safety awareness and ability to communicate any issues and concerns with supervisors
Ability to ensure safety of participants when working with cooking supplies, tools and variety of ingredients and food
Exhibits leadership skills, including teamwork, patience, flexibility, and diplomacy
Demonstrates positive attitude at all times
Commitment to build strong relationships with campers, co-workers, and camp leadership
Self-starter who takes the initiative
Ability to manage situations effectively and diplomatically and ask for help, guidance, or clarification when needed
Must be able to work well with others, building/sustaining collaborative solid relationships
Able to work well in a busy, dynamic, and sometimes noisy environment involving multiple tasks and priorities.
Able to lift and carry objects weighing 30-40 pounds (boxes of supplies, children’s backpacks, etc.
Able to sit and kneel; getting down at eye level with children regularly.

Nice To Haves

High school degree preferred
College degree, concentration, certification, or equivalent experience in cooking, nutrition, or related field preferred
1+ season (summer camp, semester, other) instructor experience planning and leading activities for children
Customer service experience preferred
Equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted at the JCC’s discretion to meet minimum criteria.

Responsibilities

Plan, prepare, and lead age-appropriate activities in your specialty area
Ensure the safety and well-being of campers during activities
Create a fun, inclusive, and supportive environment that encourages skill-building and exploration
Work in partnership with counselors and camp leadership to provide a cohesive, positive camper experience
Maintain, organize, and request necessary supplies and equipment
Adapt activities to meet the needs and abilities of diverse campers
Support camp-wide special events and large-group programming as assigned
Assist with overall camp operations as needed (drop-off/pick-up, transitions, lunch, supervision, etc.)
Actively create a welcoming dynamic that contributes to an environment where each individual is valued and respected
Actively participate as an essential team member
Support JCC Greater Boston’s mission, vision, and values of belonging, joyfulness, collaboration, and transformation, including through role modeling
Enthusiastically representing the organization, model excellence and achievement
Attend JCCGB meetings and trainings as assigned
Other duties as assigned

Benefits

JCC Greater Boston offers free bus service for staff from Cambridge, Brookline, Jamaica Plain, West Roxbury, Wayland, Framingham, Natick, Needham, Newton and Wellesley during the summer season.
Offering great perks, including JCC Health & Fitness center access, a supportive, vibrant in-person work environment, and a competitive starting pay rate of $20 per hour.
Each seasonal employee is eligible for access to JCC Greater Boston's top class fitness, recreation and wellness facility in Newton!
Seasonal access to the JCC Fitness Center includes: Use of the Fitness Center at Leventhal-Sidman JCC during active seasonal employment
Free or discounted enrollment for camp programs may be available for camp employees’ children based on availability.

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