Head of Counselors-Camp Bette Perot-Palestine, TX

Girl Scouts Of Northeast Texas • New Mesquite, TX

8h • Onsite

About The Position

The Head of Counselors supports counselor belonging, development, effectiveness, wellbeing, and growth through staff training and meetings, mentorship and check-ins, observation and feedback, and encouragement. The role oversees counselor staff to help ensure campers have a safe, fun, and enriching experience in structured activities and free play; assists with conflict mediation and problem-solving; and collaborates closely with the Head of Program to coordinate and support daily camp life.

Summer leadership staff assist the Camp Director and team with the daily operations of sleepaway camp, including program coordination, staff coaching and mentorship, promotion of camp values, relationship-building, and general operations support. The role builds relationships with staff and campers and participates fully in camp life as a caring mentor, positive role model, and helpful problem solver. It reports to the Camp Director. Paid staff training takes place at Camp Bette Perot near Palestine, Texas. The position is onsite in a shared staff bedroom. The summer leadership season runs from early June through late July, with a typical workweek of 13 hours per day for six days per week.

Requirements

• Be at least 21 years old.
• Have a college degree, be within one year of completing a degree, or have equivalent experience.
• Have at least two summers of experience as a camp counselor or in a similar participant-focused role in a youth camp setting, or equivalent work experience with similar functions and responsibilities.
• Be organized, participant-focused, and safety conscious.
• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrate commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism.
• Be enthusiastic about working with youth and young adults of varied ages and needs.
• Be able to address staff and camper conflicts, concerns, and questions equitably and in a developmentally appropriate manner.
• Be able to live, eat, teach, and play respectfully with diverse staff and campers throughout the day, with limited privacy and personal time.
• Be willing to live in a camp setting with exposure to wildlife, including bugs, spiders, and snakes, and to embrace a simple living environment.
• Be willing to work actively outdoors in variable weather, including high heat, high humidity, rain, wind, and possible tornadoes, and to walk extensively around camp.
• Be willing to model respect, positivity, kindness, patience, honesty, inclusion, accountability, and emotional self-regulation.
• Be willing to listen, learn from, and cooperate with others.
• Be able to work long hours throughout the day and week, with possible overnight responses to camper needs or emergencies; personal break time is provided each day.
• Be able to complete the full camp term and all weeks of the camp agreement.
• Maintain courtesy, respect, and professionalism toward coworkers, volunteers, and others encountered through the role.
• Upon employment, register as an adult member of the Girl Scout organization and subscribe to the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
• Meet the attendance requirement for regular, consistent, reliable, punctual, and predictable attendance, including regular hours and shifts, before- and after-hours work, and weekends when required.
• Complete and pass a criminal background check.
• Possess a current driver's license; a U.S. driver's license is preferred.
• Abstain from prohibited substances and items while on camp property or on duty, and not return to camp under their influence.
• Abstain from explicit or harmful language, volatile emotional expressions, romantic or sexual activity on camp, clothing featuring alcohol, drugs, or harmful topics or language, and sharing private adult issues with campers.
• Do 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.

Nice To Haves

• Experience serving youth in a work or volunteer setting.
• Experience attending summer camp or going camping.
• A valid U.S. driver's license and ability to meet GSNETX driving record and automobile insurance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Champion a positive, inclusive, caring, safe, and fun camp environment and promote the Girl Scout Promise and Law, serving as a positive role model for youth.
• Lead and participate in camp activities and administration, including meals, activities, rest, free time, chores, staff training and meetings, planning, preparation, and cleanup.
• Support counselor development and wellbeing through training, mentoring, check-ins, observation, feedback, and encouragement.
• Oversee counselor staff to support safe, fun, and enriching camper experiences during structured activities and free play.
• Work closely with camp administrative staff and the Head of Program to coordinate and support daily camp life.
• Assist with staff and camper conflict mediation and facilitate positive group relationships.
• Coordinate or assist with responses to emergencies.
• Provide weekend operational support as needed, including support for cultural events for international staff.
• Advocate for camper and staff confidence, responsibility, challenge seeking, teamwork, learning, goal setting, relationship skills, coping strategies, and personal and group success.
• Follow camp schedules and help others uphold them.
• Help care for campsite facilities, equipment, and supplies and manage resources wisely.
• Follow and uphold camp safety standards and emergency procedures.
• Work independently and with the team to meet program and operational needs and implement solutions to problems.
• Participate in staff trainings and meetings as requested.

Benefits

• Meals when camp is in session.
• Housing, if applicable.
• Paid training and certifications, if applicable.
• Invaluable work experience and opportunities to develop personal and professional skills.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Manager