TASC Staff

JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF DENVER

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The JCC Ranch Camp is the Denver JCC’s overnight summer camp and a highly regarded place to work during the summer. As a staff member, Ranch Camp becomes a home away from home, fostering a community where individuals can thrive. Staff are seen as heroes to their campers, engaging in meaningful work while having fun. The primary focus is on serving children, ensuring their safety and providing them with an enjoyable experience. All staff members primarily function as madrichim or counselors. The role requires living at the camp for the duration of the summer season. While working for the entire summer is preferred, applications are encouraged from those who can commit to at least 5-6 weeks of the summer season. Staff are also encouraged to pursue their personal interests while at camp, whether it involves outdoor exploration, sports, art, or innovative projects.

Requirements

Must have a valid driver's license and ability to transport campers using company vehicles as needed.
Prior experience in a childcare setting or a vested interest in working in a professional childcare setting.
Bachelor’s degree or degree in progress in outdoor education, psychology, social work, education, or other related field or equivalent experience.
Personal experience in the backcountry with backpacking skills and knowledge of camper equipment.
Ability to use SatPhone and Spot Device.
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!
Must be 21 to drive 15 passenger Turtle Top Bus.
Ability to attend staff orientations and be available to live at camp for the summer season (at least 5 – 6 weeks).

Nice To Haves

One year of previous experience in a camp environment.
Current Wilderness First Responder certificate (training provided if needed).
First Aid and CPR Certifications (training provided if needed).
One year experience with group facilitation of teenagers with the ability to instill confidence in and lead others.

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.
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/platform tent 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.
And other duties and responsibilities as assigned: you might need to make your campers’ dreams of a beach themed ice-cream campfire song session come true or become your favorite legendary Pokémon for an evening program.
As a madrichim, you will work as a team with co-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 on the trip and at camp- 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 on the trail including helping to facilitate personal care routines, providing programmatic adaptations, guiding transitions, providing sensory breaks, mediating conflict resolution, and implement universal supports daily and tier 2 supports as needed.
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.
Help manage crisis intervention with campers as needed, such as major dysregulation, emotional/mental health struggles, and sensory overload.
As a guide on TASC trips, you will assist in leading a 10-day trip (6 - 7 days of backpacking and 3 – 4 days of whitewater rafting, climbing, and other outdoor adventure activities) with a group of up to 12 campers and 2 co-staff.
You will build campers’ backcountry camping, survival, and personal skills, bond the group of campers together and give them the tools they need to be self-sufficient while camping.
Assist is assessing trip intensity and adjusting in real time to fit camper needs.
Facilitate meal preparation in the backcountry allowing campers to learn how to cook breakfast, lunch, and dinner while on the trail and camping.
Drive 15 passenger Turtle Top Bus (must be 21).
Assist with issuing and return of gear to ensure gear is in good repair.
Ensure camper safety through conscientious decision making.
Work with your Unit heads and co-staff to create multiple programs each day for campers on and off the trail that are safe, fun, and memorable.
Run the programs while on the trail.
From recognizing something like hiking their first 14er or a negative social interaction between campers, you always know what’s happening in their bunk. Nothing slips through the cracks.
Attend staff orientations and be available to live at camp for the summer season.