Nature Program Counselor

Kellogg PEAK Initiative•Boscobel, WI

8d•$700 - $700•Onsite

About The Position

Our mission is to bring out the limitless potential in young leaders through extraordinary experiences and nurturing relationships. At PEAK, we know that with the right support and access to quality programs and experiences, all young people are able to achieve at the highest level imaginable. PEAK’s Four Beliefs Every living being has inherent value. The community is better when everyone contributes. We can only grow when we are honest about our mistakes. Everyone has the power to change their world. POSITION SUMMARY: Provide experiences for campers to develop a relationship with nature by leading educational activities that increase knowledge of the natural world around them.

Requirements

A belief that with the right support and access to quality programs and experiences, all young people are able to achieve at the highest level imaginable.
Ability to receive constructive feedback and coaching from supervisor and make necessary adjustments.
Ability to work collaboratively with co-workers to achieve program objectives.
Ability to live with, support, and work with all camper age ranges at camp.
Commitment to being punctual and adhering to a schedule provided by camp leadership.
Possess strong communications skills and apply them with coworkers and supervisors, maintaining confidentiality of sensitive staff and camper information when necessary.
Ability to perform job duties in a fast-paced environment and able to embrace change and be flexible.
Must be at least 18 and/or have a high school diploma/GED before the position start date to apply.
Staff are required to actively participate in all camper activities, including water-related activities.
Staff must be ready for new experiences and maintain a consistent level of energy all summer long.
Position requires standing, stooping, sitting, walking long distances on uneven terrain (5+ miles a day), and occasionally lifting up to 40 pounds with or without assistance.
Camp activities are often loud, involving many people talking, yelling, cheering, etc., in indoor and outdoor settings.
The camp environment is often hot, rainy, with bugs or other wildlife. Staff must be able to work outside in a nature setting for sustained periods of time without air conditioning.
All PEAK Initiative properties, including Lake Valley Camp and the Milwaukee Program Center, are substance-free environments. Smoking, vaping, alcohol consumption, and the use of illicit drugs are strictly prohibited on all property regardless of whether or not staff are on break.
Staff must be able to walk and perform activities in the dark in an outdoor, nature setting.
Staff must be able to sleep in a tent outdoors.
Staff must be able to eat in a dining hall setting with 100+ people. The dining hall will be very busy and very noisy during these times and staff are expected to supervise and sit with their cabins throughout the meals.
Staff must be able to eat family style meals in a dining hall for 3 meals a day. Sample menus available upon request. With pre-summer notice, the kitchen can accommodate most medical or value-based dietary restrictions.
Position requires working weekends and nights, with time off in between camp sessions. Camp days are often long and at times require late night camper support, especially for Leadership Team Members and Health Staff. Staff will have daily scheduled breaks. Staff will have a combination of work and on call hours for up to 22 hours a day for several consecutive days.
Staff must be able to reside in shared housing on the LVC overnight camp property in Boscobel, WI starting with staff training in June and ending after the last camp program lets out in mid-August.
Staff must be able to live and sleep in housing with campers. Cabins have electricity, but no plumbing. Staff and campers are required to use communal bath houses located within the village.

Responsibilities

Live in a cabin with a co-counselor and 8 campers, and provide active supervision and attention to the physical and emotional wellbeing of campers during all on-duty hours.
Provide age and ability appropriate activities focusing on nature, ecology, and sustainability and conservation, utilizing pre-approved curriculum.
Complete participation notes and attendance notes daily for all campers who attended nature activities.
Communicate with co-counselor and supervisor appropriately to balance responsibilities as a program instructor with responsibilities as a cabin counselor.
Actively participate in camp programming outside of Nature programming, including evening activities, camper choice time, theme days, bus duty, and more.
The main objective of the nature program is to nurture a love of nature through 1) developing a sense of place and comfort with natural space and 2) raising awareness of issues impacting the environment and actions we can take to improve and sustain it.