Job Description
Lead the Fun, Shape the Future: Be a Summer Camp Counselor! Join us for the experience of a lifetime - the YMCA is hiring Summer Day Camp Counselors for 2025! At the Y, we create an exciting, safe camp environment for kids and staff to have an unforgettable summer. While campers are taking part in in unique experiences and adventures, our
Summer Day Camp Counselors are developing leadership skills and confidence while making lasting friendships and memories.
Pay starts at $17.90 per hour, Monday-Friday schedule The Summer Day Camp Counselor serves as a professional role model for our campers by leading through example and guiding campers through recreational activities that teach life skills, encourage healthy and safe behaviors and create a positive camper experience. The Summer Camp Counselor ensures that each youth has adequate supervision including ensuring that no youth is unsupervised at any time.
Our staff is the Y's greatest asset. Our teams provide valuable skills, knowledge, and passion that is essential to the contribution and positive impact in our communities, which is why we offer Y employees numerous perks and benefits, including: - We offer salaries that reflect your skills, experience, and the value you bring to our team.
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans for eligible employees, along with access to wellness programs, mental health resources, and a family gym membership.
- Generous paid time off (PTO), including paid holidays. We also offer flexible work hours to help you balance your personal and professional life.
- 403(b) plan with company contributions after 2 years of service to help you plan for your future.
- Opportunities for continuous learning through workshops and training programs.
- A supportive work environment that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and respected.
- Discounts on programs, employee assistance programs, and company-sponsored events.
As a Summer Day Camp Counselor, you are responsible to: - Promote the YMCA, provide excellent customer service and create an outstanding camper experience for children, parents and families.
- Lead recreational activities with campers, including but not limited to arts and crafts, sports, social recreation, nature hikes, archery, and other games and hobbies
- Instruct campers using various teaching methods and modifies activities as needed to ensure that campers of all ages and experience levels are engaged
- Teach socially acceptable behaviors to campers by serving as a role model and by using age-appropriate positive reinforcement and behavior management strategies
- Communicate consistently with supervisors, team leaders, unit leaders and other team members to ensure everyone is kept abreast of camp activities and schedule
- Supports camp activities as assigned by supervisor, including any specialty camp activities
- Ensures the physical and emotional health and safety of campers by being safety conscious, following all established YMCA standards and critically evaluating situations for potential risks
- Ensures compliance with established rules and regulations to ensure safety
- Monitors campers and counselors and provides corrective coaching and intervention as necessary
- Set-up facilities and/or equipment for activities and stores equipment appropriately after use and work to keep camp facilities clean at all times
What do you need to be a Summer Day Camp Counselor? - A commitment to and a passion for working with diverse youth
- Enjoy being outdoors, are creative and not afraid to work and play hard
- Your experience in camping, childcare, education, recreation, sports or related is a plus but not required
- You will be 18 years of age or older by the start of camp
- Excellent verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly and concisely present ideas and concepts and tailor communication to multiple audiences
- Passion for working with diverse youth and ability to provide a high-quality of instruction using age-appropriate practices
- Proven ability to establish constructive relationships and interact as a positive role model
- Continuous learner who leverages opportunities for learning and applies new knowledge and skills
- Meets physical qualifications required as outlined in job description
- The YMCA will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities
Child Abuse Prevention - Supports the YMCA's commitment to child abuse prevention by:
- Reporting any items that may provide a health or safety hazard to staff, members or guests to your supervisor
- Following all policies and procedures related to keeping children safe in our facilities and programs, including those related to the monitoring and supervision of children
- Reporting any suspicious behavior and violation of policy and procedures to your supervisor
- Completing all child abuse prevention training as required
YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago
Job Tags
Hourly pay, Holiday work, Summer work, Outdoor, Flexible hours, Monday to Friday,