Summer Camp Early Childhood Specialist (NYC & NJ)

Kids in the Game•New York, NY

53d•$5,200 - $6,400•Onsite

About The Position

As an Early Childhood Specialist, you will report to the Programming Assistant Director, Early Childhood Division Leader, and Camp Leadership Team and work collaboratively with counselors and fellow specialists to deliver daily programming for Pre-K and Kindergarten campers (ages 3–5). You are responsible for leading structured activity periods across creative movement, art, STEM, and gross motor play, supporting counselors with classroom and behavior management, and ensuring a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environment throughout the camp day. This role is highly hands-on, routine-driven, and leadership-focused, requiring strong communication, organization, patience, and a deep understanding of early childhood development and youth-centered care. We currently have 12 New York based camp locations and 1 Jersey City camp location. The sites and addresses are: Westchester & The Bronx: Westchester-Crestwood - 465 Westchester Ave, Tuckahoe, NY 10707 Riverdale - 3120 Corlear Ave, Bronx, NY 10463 Manhattan: Inwood - 532 W 215th St, New York, NY 10034 Upper West Side - 147 W 70th St, NY, NY 10023 West Village - 272 W 10th St, New York, NY 10014 Chelsea - 259 10th Ave, New York, NY 10001 Upper East Side (Carnegie Hill)- 980 Park Ave, New York, NY 10028 Upper East Side (Lenox Hill) - 132 E 78th St, New York, NY 10075 East Village - 215 E 6th St New York, NY 10003 Brooklyn: Park Slope - 588 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215 Greenpoint - 100 Dobbin St, Brooklyn, NY 11222 Fort Greene - 39 Adelphi St, Brooklyn, NY 11205 Jersey City: 118 Ferry St. Jersey City, NJ 07307 You must be able to arrive by 7:45am daily via public transportation or personal transportation (car) and stay on-site until 4:15pm daily (and until 5:30pm twice per week to support after care activities).

Requirements

Patience: The ability to adapt to work easily with people who have different personalities, backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles and learning styles — simultaneously — is critical.
Must have strong interpersonal skills to relate to the younger children at program
Creativity: It is crucial to knowing how to make the curriculum engaging and how to adapt to varying styles of learning among students
2+ years experience working with 2 to 5 year olds
Gross motor skills knowledge for younger age groups
Strong interpersonal skills
Strong classroom management and behavior management skill set
Ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time, including during outdoor activities, playground supervision, gym classes, or park-based programming.
Ability to walk to and from nearby program locations or parks, sometimes several blocks, while supervising children.
Ability to bend, kneel, crouch, and reach to engage with children at their level, assist with activities, or provide support as needed.
Ability to climb stairs in school buildings or community facilities.
Ability to lift and carry up to 25–40 pounds, including sports equipment, activity supplies, or personal belongings (weight may vary by role).
Ability to participate in active games and movement-based activities, including running, jumping, throwing, and demonstrating basic sports skills.
Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions, including heat, cold, or light rain, depending on program needs.
Ability to maintain visual and auditory awareness to supervise children effectively and ensure safety in active environments.

Nice To Haves

Being DOE or DOH fingerprinted is a plus
Being CPR, First Aid and AED certified is a plus

Responsibilities

Lead 45-minute early childhood activity periods throughout the camp day
Provide structured, age-appropriate instruction for Pre-K and Kindergarten campers (ages 3–5)
Prepare and facilitate activities across: Creative movement and gross motor play Art and sensory-based projects Early STEM exploration and hands-on learning Group games adapted specifically for early childhood development
Modify activities to support varying developmental levels, attention spans, and abilities
Align daily activities with weekly camp themes and early childhood curriculum goals
Support smooth transitions between activities, routines, and environments
Foster social-emotional development, independence, and confidence in young campers
Support the development of fine and gross motor skills, communication, and cooperation
Encourage curiosity, creativity, and positive peer interactions
Help campers learn routines, expectations, and appropriate behavior through positive reinforcement
Celebrate camper milestones, progress, and participation
Work closely with counselors to support classroom management and daily routines
Help counselors implement consistent behavior management strategies and positive reinforcement systems
Communicate clearly with Camp Directors, Assistant Directors, and Early Childhood leadership regarding camper needs, behavior, or safety concerns
Support all-camp events, theme days, and transitions as appropriate for early childhood groups
Contribute positively to staff collaboration, morale, and team culture
Prioritize camper safety at all times by following Department of Health regulations and camp safety protocols
Maintain constant supervision of young campers during activities, transitions, bathroom breaks, meals, and outdoor play
Set up, maintain, and clean early childhood activity areas and materials daily
Ensure all materials, equipment, and environments are developmentally appropriate and safe
Identify and respond to behavioral, emotional, or safety concerns promptly and calmly
Communicate incidents or concerns to leadership and assist with documentation as directed