Head Counselor

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Inc•Santa Barbara, CA

40d•Onsite

About The Position

The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden's mission is to conserve California native plants and habitats for the health and well-being of people and the planet. The Garden is a living museum which fosters the conservation of California's native plants through our gardens, research, and education, and serves as a role model of sustainable practices. Within the scope of this mission, the goal of the Education team is to enable transformative experiences through native plants for the Garden visitor. The Head Counselor works with Education staff to manage, maintain, and run the general operations of the Garden's Day Camp program. Head Counselors should be experienced with good practices in group management and nature education and able to communicate effectively with their team. This is a full-time (up to 40 hours), temporary position, and reports to the Youth and Family Programs Manager.

Requirements

Minimum 1 year of summer camp experience required
First Aid/CPR certified or able to obtain prior to start date
Mandated reporter certified or able to obtain prior to start date
Medication Administration training or able to obtain prior to start date
Experience working with children ages 5 to 12
Excellent verbal communication and leadership skills with both children and adults
Excellent time management skills
Flexibility and ability to respond appropriately to diverse group situations
Must be available to work Monday through Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm from June 15 through August 14
Available for training the week of June 1. Alternative training schedule may be an option, depending on availability.
Must be available to attend Counselor-in-Training (CIT) training on June 6 and 7
Must be available to attend Counselor training from 9am-5:30pm, June 9-12
Available to assist with post-camp clean up from 9am-3pm on August 17

Nice To Haves

Experience coordinating staff in a camp/childcare setting preferred
Knowledge of ecology, botany, and/or natural history of California preferred
Working understanding of outdoor etiquette and basic Leave No Trace principals
Spanish fluency preferred
Completed or pursuing a degree in education or relevant science field preferred
Experience in a botanic garden, environmental education, and/or a museum setting preferred
Experience with informal education activities in a natural setting preferred

Responsibilities

Coordinate counselor team alongside the Youth and Family Programs Manager, including facilitating team meetings, coordinating work schedules and serving as their lead contact for camp activities, issues and concerns
Coordinate teen Counselor-in-Training volunteers (CIT's), including facilitating check-ins, coordinating work schedules and serving as their lead contact
Work with CIT's including training during camp programs, providing feedback and cultivating a strong team environment
Provide support for counselors such as setting up equipment, providing breaks and assisting with facilitating programs
Interface with all campers, counselors, CIT's and guardians daily
Manage campers by addressing behavioral incidents, supervising campers resting in health center and coordinating day-to-day needs such as early pick-up
Co-lead counselor and CIT training alongside Youth and Family Programs Manager
Familiar with summer camp programs in order to provide support and guidance to staff and volunteers, as well as be able to communicate efficiently with guardians and visitors
Lead and supervise groups of campers (ages 5-12) in various camp activities as necessary
Ensure counselors and campers are following Garden safety, behavioral and health policies
Help facilitate camper drop-off and pick-up
Manage group needs and safety, such as restocking first aid supplies, refilling water stations, and administering and tracking medication
In the event of an emergency, manage camper safety alongside the Youth and Family Programs Manager by keeping account of participants, contacting guardians and implementing emergency protocols, including Garden evacuation
Coordinate lunch supervision duties during camp lunch break, such as assigning counselors to stations and monitoring lunch breaks
Assist with shuttling lunches and materials to appropriate areas
Prep materials and clean equipment and spaces as needed
Serve as a line of communication between parents, counselors and campers including discussing behavioral issues, camp schedules, logistics, and policies as needed
Communicate with the Youth and Family Programs Manager about day-to-day camp operations and happenings
Evaluate camp program through mid-week camper interviews
Assist with other duties, such as processing camp forms and monitoring inventory, as needed
Assist with clean up, breakdown and inventorying of equipment and materials at the end of the camp season
Answer general questions about the Garden and its Education Programs to the public