Waterfront Lifeguard

Girl Scouts of Colorado•Woodland Park, CO

2d•$480 - $530•Onsite

About The Position

The Waterfront Lifeguard works as part of a waterfront staff team at a Girl Scouts of Colorado camp in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The role implements waterfront programming according to camp-wide goals, policies, and procedures, and supports property, hospitality, operations, programs, health, and cabin teams as needed. A key purpose of the position is to provide high-quality service to members, guests, and visitors. The lifeguard plans, instructs, supervises, and helps maintain waterfront activities and equipment, including swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding. The role also supports camper wellbeing and supervision, staff orientation and competence, program scheduling and administration, emergency response, and camp operations. The position is seasonal, full-time, and onsite, with a stated date range of May–August 2026 (exact dates to be determined). Staff are required to live onsite in shared housing.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED and at least one year of college or equivalent work experience.
Current certification or willingness to obtain Lifeguard Certification, First Aid/CPR, Child Abuse Mandated Reporter, Universal Standard Precautions, and Medication Administration certifications.
Proven waterfront skills, including swimming and watercraft.
At least 2 years of experience in waterfront areas and safe practices involving swimming, boating, and working near water.
Proven ability to assess a swimmer’s ability.
Ability to run programs 6–8 hours daily, 6–7 days per week.
Ability to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Ability and willingness to develop and facilitate innovative, engaging programs in an informal outdoor setting.
Must be at least 18 years old.
Must pass a criminal background check acceptable to GSCO standards.
Must be willing to work nontraditional hours, including evenings, weekends, extended overnight periods, and extended work hours up to 22 hours per day.
Must be willing to be on call at all times for health, emergencies, camper supervision, and program implementation.
Must live onsite in shared housing.
Must be able to walk or hike extensively, more than 2 miles per day, over uneven and unpaved terrain.
Must be able to carry, lift, and/or transfer at least 75 pounds.
Must be able to hear, listen, see, sit, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, bend, use hands and fingers to handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, and balance.
Must have interpersonal skills to work tactfully and congenially with people with a range of moods and behaviors.

Nice To Haves

Experience or desire to work with children.
Experience working in an outdoor program and/or camp setting.

Responsibilities

Plan, lifeguard, and supervise waterfront activities with a team of 2–3 waterfront staff, including swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding.
Instruct and supervise waterfront activities for groups of varying sizes, ensuring safety and adapting activities to participants’ needs.
Assist the Program Director with daily upkeep and equipment and property logs.
Maintain the cleanliness and organization of waterfront equipment and areas.
Help manage program supplies and equipment, including storage, maintenance, cleanliness, and use.
Provide or support emergency procedures during incidents on and off site.
Provide or support health and wellness practices.
Assist and provide coverage to other operational and program staff as needed, including cabin, health, site, kitchen, and housekeeping staff.
Act in loco parentis during waterfront activities or when assigned, guiding campers during overnight camp sessions.
Support and counsel campers in daily living, camp activities, and peer relationships.
Train and orient staff in the proper use of specialized areas and materials and in program delivery.
Verify staff competence before assigning them to waterfront activities or supervisory roles, and monitor their performance throughout the season.
Manage administrative responsibilities in a timely, independent, and detail-oriented manner.
Help develop and review daily, weekly, and activity schedules in cooperation with other staff and in line with camp programming, camper planning, and camp goals.
Provide and participate in camper and staff feedback forms as needed for camp planning.
Participate in regular staff meetings and training for planning, communication, resolving issues, and carrying out assignments.
Coordinate and communicate schedules to campers and staff as needed.
Conduct ongoing observations to ensure leadership goals and program delivery are positive and appropriate.
Use digital systems, including Slack, Instagram, and Facebook.
Protect confidential information about staff, volunteers, and campers.
Follow policies and standards established by the American Camping Association, Girl Scouts Safety Activity Checkpoints, Colorado Department of Health and Human Services, and other relevant certifying organizations.
Support Girl Scouts of Colorado’s pluralism and diversity commitments and contribute to positive relationships across diverse racial, ethnic, and social groups.
Occasionally assist with other tasks in keeping with Girl Scouts of Colorado’s philosophy.