Lead Counselor (Madrich/Madricha)

JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF DENVER

3d•$2,150 - $2,500•Onsite

About The Position

The JCC Ranch Camp is not just the Denver JCC’s overnight summer camp, it’s also one of the best places to work during the summer. As a staff member, Ranch Camp will become your home away from home as you work to create a community where people can thrive. You’re a hero to your campers; you have the chance to do something you really care about and have a whole lot of fun doing it. Your experience as a staff member is just as important to us as our campers’ experience. That being said: We’re here to serve kids and make sure they are in the safest environment possible while having the time of their lives. First and foremost, all our staff are madrichim or counselors. This position specifically supports the youngest campers at camp: 2nd – 4th graders. Folks in this role should plan to support that age group on a developmentally appropriate level for the entirety of the summer. Work as a team with other cabin staff, ensuring that all our campers have an experience of a lifetime that keeps them coming back for the years to come. Make sure that everything is functioning as it should in the bunk- cleanliness/organization, friendships/social dynamic, routines and rituals, etc. Shape the daily routines and rituals campers follow with their bunkmates. Support campers in their day-to-day life at camp including helping to facilitate personal care routines, providing programmatic adaptations, guiding transitions, providing sensory breaks, and mediating conflict resolution. Implement universal supports daily and tier 2 supports as needed to ensure campers’ success in their day-to-day life at camp. Work on an individual level with campers who have identified needs, such as cognitive, social-emotional, psychological, physical and behavioral needs, to carry out camper care plans and ensure accommodations in care plans are implemented effectively. Have flexibility to step in to help other cabin groups who may need extra daily support. Work directly with Camper Care Coordinators to manage crisis intervention with campers as needed, such as major dysregulation, emotional/mental health struggles, and sensory overload. From recognizing something small like losing a tooth or big like a negative social interaction between campers, lead madrichim always know what’s happening in their bunk. Nothing slips through the cracks. If you have previous camp experience, as a Lead Counselor, you’ll also have the opportunity to step into additional leadership roles and responsibilities including, but not limited to: Help develop programming for staff, such as Onegs, staff appreciation, or other events Help develop all-camp programming, such as evening programs or special days Work with the SIT (Staff in Training) program as a mentor Finally, all staff must be able to attend staff orientations and be available to live at camp for the summer season. While we prefer staff to work for the entire summer, we understand if you can’t and encourage you to apply if you can work at least 5 – 6 weeks of our summer season.

Requirements

Strong ability to lead a team and collaborate
Two years experience in a child care setting or a vested interest in working in a professional child care setting
Satisfactorily fulfill requirements for employment at the Staenberg-Loup JCC, including: background screening, three references, documentation, and compliance with CDHS law
Must be high-energy, enthusiastic, creative, and open-minded!

Nice To Haves

One year experience in a camp environment
Current CPR and First Aid certification
Completed some college coursework or hold high school diploma (GED) or equivalent experience

Responsibilities

Take care of your campers by prioritizing their physical, social, and emotional health, safety, and well-being.
Work as a team with your co-staff to make sure every day runs smoothly and to the schedule, and complete daily camper notes.
Create a community that you want to be a part of and that you want campers to be a part of. Include everyone and make sure everyone is included.
Jump into the camp life: ride horses, swim, camp, play games, sing songs, roast s’mores, be ready to do everything the campers do!
Know where your campers are and what they are doing all the time.
Care for the campers and manage camper behaviors using the tools you learn in Staff Orientation week (We’ll go over positive behavior management techniques, enforcing appropriate safety policies, emergency procedures, camp rules, and more.)
Be flexible and adaptable because things change quickly at camp. You have to be able to roll with it.
Live in a bunk with your co-staff and your campers.
Fill out daily Camper Bunk Notes to track campers’ physical and emotional health, cabin social dynamics, and overall camper wellbeing.
Shape the daily routines and rituals campers follow with their bunkmates.
Support campers in their day-to-day life at camp including helping to facilitate personal care routines, providing programmatic adaptations, guiding transitions, providing sensory breaks, and mediating conflict resolution.
Implement universal supports daily and tier 2 supports as needed to ensure campers’ success in their day-to-day life at camp.
Work on an individual level with campers who have identified needs, such as cognitive, social-emotional, psychological, physical and behavioral needs, to carry out camper care plans and ensure accommodations in care plans are implemented effectively.
Have flexibility to step in to help other cabin groups who may need extra daily support.
Work directly with Camper Care Coordinators to manage crisis intervention with campers as needed, such as major dysregulation, emotional/mental health struggles, and sensory overload.
Help develop programming for staff, such as Onegs, staff appreciation, or other events
Help develop all-camp programming, such as evening programs or special days
Work with the SIT (Staff in Training) program as a mentor
Attend staff orientations and be available to live at camp for the summer season.