Summer Camp Counselor-Camp Gambill-Paris, TX

Girl Scouts Of Northeast Texas • New Mesquite, TX

8d • Onsite

About The Position

Summer Camp Counselors lead a fun, impactful summer camp program for campers at Camp Gambill, a waterfront camp on Lake Gibbons outside Paris, Texas. Camp serves approximately 40–80 campers per week, ages 5–18, who attend with family or troop adults. Counselors develop relationships with campers, lead activities, and participate fully in daily camp life as caring mentors, companions, teachers, role models, and problem solvers. The position reports to the Camp Director. Paid staff training is provided at the beginning of summer at Camp Gambill or Camp Bette Perot, depending on the position and its requirements.

Counselors work from the end of May through the end of July. The typical work week is 13 hours per day, four days per week. Limited on-site housing may be available but is not guaranteed and depends on availability at the time of hire. All positions include meals when camp is in session, paid training and certifications when applicable, and work experience; housing is included if applicable.

Counselor leadership roles include Waterfront Lifeguard Counselor, Waterfront Lifeguard Leader, Activity Counselor Leader, and Activity and Photography Counselor. Duties and qualifications vary by role. The work takes place in a camp environment with extensive outdoor activity, variable weather, wildlife, large groups of youth, and possible overnight responses to camper needs or emergencies.

Requirements

• Ability to interact respectfully and productively with diverse staff and campers throughout the day, with limited privacy and personal time.
• Willingness to live in a camp setting with exposure to wildlife, including bugs, spiders, and snakes.
• Willingness to be active outdoors all day in variable weather, including heat over 100°F/38°C, high humidity, rain, wind, and possible tornadoes, and to walk extensively around camp.
• Willingness to model respect, positivity, kindness, patience, honesty, inclusion, accountability, and emotional self-regulation.
• Willingness to listen to, learn from, and cooperate with others.
• Willingness to embrace a simple living environment while staying at camp.
• Ability to work long hours throughout the day and week and possibly respond to campers or emergencies overnight; staff receive personal break time each day.
• Ability to complete the full term of the camp agreement, including all weeks.
• Ability to demonstrate courtesy, respect, and professionalism toward coworkers, volunteers, and others encountered through the role.
• Upon employment, must register as an adult member of the Girl Scout organization and subscribe to the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
• Regular, consistent, reliable, punctual, and predictable attendance, including the ability to work regular hours and shifts, before and after hours, and weekends when required.
• Must complete and pass a criminal background check.
• Waterfront Lifeguard Counselor: must be at least 16 and a strong swimmer; waterfront lifeguard and small craft certifications will be provided.
• Waterfront Lifeguard Leader: must be at least 21, have prior lifeguard experience, and be a strong swimmer; waterfront lifeguard and small craft certifications will be provided.
• Activity Counselor Leader: must be at least 18, have relevant certification, and have prior experience in the assigned activity.
• Activity and Photography Counselor: must be at least 16.
• Must abstain on camp property or while on duty from tobacco products, herbal intoxicants, vaping and electronic cigarettes, alcohol, illegal drugs, firearms, and fireworks, and must not return to camp under the influence of such substances.
• Must abstain from explicit or harmful language, volatile expressions of emotion, romantic or sexual activity on camp, and public displays of affection.
• Must not wear clothing featuring alcohol, drugs, or harmful topics or language, or share private adult issues with campers.
• Must not use a cell phone while on duty; phones may be kept in the administrative building and used during scheduled staff break time away from campers.

Nice To Haves

• Experience serving youth in a work or volunteer setting.
• Experience attending summer camp or going camping.
• Current certifications in first aid and CPR, lifeguarding, ropes course, archery, or fishing.
• For counselors ages 16–17, prior experience at Girl Scout camp as a camper, CIT, WIT, or experience at another summer camp is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Champion a positive, inclusive, caring, safe, and fun camp environment and promote the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
• Serve as a positive role model for youth through language, dress, inclusive conduct, behavior, and attitude.
• Lead and participate in camp programs and administration, including meals, activities, rest, free time, chores, staff training and meetings, planning, preparation, and cleanup.
• Facilitate positive group relationships and address conflict constructively.
• Support camper and staff confidence, responsibility, challenge seeking, teamwork, learning, goal setting, relationship skills, coping strategies, and personal and group success.
• Follow the camp schedule and direct campers and self to assigned locations on time.
• Help care for campsite facilities, equipment, and supplies, and manage resources wisely.
• Follow camp safety standards and emergency procedures and uphold them with others.
• Work independently and as part of a team to meet program and operational needs and address problems.
• Participate in staff training and meetings as requested.
• Lead outdoor activities and other daily camp programming, taking responsibility for assigned activities’ plans, spaces, equipment, and camper engagement.
• For waterfront lifeguard counselor duties, teach swimming and boating on the lake and provide additional program support.
• For waterfront lifeguard leader duties, coordinate lifeguards and oversee waterfront plans, spaces, equipment, and camper engagement.
• For activity counselor leader duties, plan and oversee assigned activities, maintain spaces and equipment, coordinate up to six counselors, and engage campers.
• For activity and photography counselor duties, capture and share camp photos.

Benefits

• Meals when camp is in session.
• On-site housing when applicable and available.
• Paid staff training.
• Paid certifications when applicable.
• Work experience intended to prepare employees for future careers.
• Opportunities to develop personal and professional skills in an outdoor environment.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed