Camp Caldera Junior Advocate

Caldera•Sisters, OR

6d•$105•Onsite

About The Position

At Caldera, we believe in the power of creativity. Our mission is to inspire and support youth from underserved rural and urban communities by awakening the potential of their creative voice. We do this through a unique fusion of art, environment and mentorship. Our Youth Program provides students from Portland and Central Oregon with long-term relationships with caring adults, which nurtures individual creativity, beginning in sixth grade and continuing into young adulthood. Caldera has a $5M budget, a 18-member board, 21 full-time year-round employees, and a range of seasonally contracted artists and staff. Its administrative office is located in Portland, Oregon, and its Arts Center is located outside of Sisters in Central Oregon. Position Description: This position is intended to help train, mentor, and provide feedback for individuals with limited experience who are interested in becoming youth workers. Each Junior Advocate supports a group of four to eight campers per camp session and works to build a fun and cohesive team with assigned campers as well as the greater camp community. The Junior Advocate will take over for Advocates as assigned by the Junior Advocate Supervisor.

Requirements

1+ year of experience working with youth
A strong desire to learn and help foster a positive community experience
Must be at least 18 years of age and have had at least one year away from Caldera as a camper
Ability to understand our racially diverse student population’s perspective, either through lived experience, previous qualifications, or work experience
Ability to navigate through potentially triggering and challenging conversations and situations while maintaining focus on the wellbeing of youth
Familiarity with culturally responsive and anti-oppression frameworks and experience working with racially and ethnically diverse staff and youth strongly preferred
Ability to set appropriate boundaries in a proactive and positive manner
Excellent communication skills
Bilingual and/or bicultural skills highly desired
Must pass a background check. Caldera considers systemic injustices when investigating findings
Willingness to live in a camp setting and work irregular and long hours. Additionally, you must have the ability to deal with limited cell and internet service and daily exposure to outdoor factors such as sun, heat, bugs, bats, snakes, etc.
Caldera has a zero tolerance policy around child abuse, and any negligence will result in immediate dismissal
Requires on-site living in shared staff quarters
Alcohol and drugs are not permitted on campus, even in personal living quarters.
Must be physically able to move around 116 acres of camp property with varied terrain
Must have visual, perceptual, and cognitive ability to recognize and respond quickly to health and safety concerns of students and appropriately re-direct any behavior that is misaligned with Caldera agreements
Moments of quiet and non-activity are few and spread out
Creating a cohesive staff environment round the clock can be challenging. It is crucial that staff see youth and adults through a strengths-based lens and prioritize creating the best possible youth experience at all times, despite what challenges may arise at the staff level

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with culturally responsive and anti-oppression frameworks and experience working with racially and ethnically diverse staff and youth strongly preferred
Bilingual and/or bicultural skills highly desired

Responsibilities

Meet youth and families at bus pick-up locations, support check-in process and supervision on the bus
Actively participate in pre-camp training and meetings
With the guidance of supervisor and camp leadership, assist Caldera youth with conflict resolution and one-on-one goal setting encouraging appropriate risk-taking
With the guidance of supervisor and camp leadership, guide campers to participate successfully in all aspects of camp activities, which include but are not limited to: orientation, behavior policies, meals, free time, tipi time, shower scheduling, housekeeping duties, evening activities, community meetings, campfires, field trips, and final celebrations
With team of Junior Advocates, plan and lead nightly campfires, modeling appropriate structure and behavior
Usher campers to and from activities in a punctual manner
Maintain camper confidentiality (except in the event of specific necessary disclosures)
Support health, safety, and emotional well being of campers
Alert supervisor to relevant camper issues
Other duties as assigned
Assist with classroom tasks and addressing youth behavior.
Facilitate and participate in camp clean-up activities.
Maintain communication with youth advocates to ensure needs of youth are being met
Alert supervisor to relevant camper issues
Promote program understanding and involvement through Caldera’s goals and agreements, participation agreement, and responsibility process
Actively participate in all aspects of camp life including: camper orientation, community meetings, evening activities, campfire, free time, etc.
Model appropriate camper behavior at all times
Perform duties with consistency and integrity
Set and respect personal boundaries while acting as mentors, guides, and allies to campers
Oversee health and safety of charges in fire drills and emergency procedures
Maintain cleanliness of living and common areas and help with clean-up at the end of each session
Serve as mandatory reporter, working with Youth Impact Manager to report instances or suspicion of child abuse.
Employees must carry out their duties regardless of inclement weather, which can include but is not limited to, heat, rain, wind, cold, and smoky or dusty conditions.

Benefits

Room and board provided during days with programming; room only during non-programming days.
A light dinner will be provided on staff arrival days.
Brunch is served on the last day of each session.

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