Specialty Camp Counselor - Summer 2026 at Southern… · Kingston

Description

Camp Lincoln is now hiring for the 2026 camp season (June-Aug)!!

Working at Camp Lincoln will be one of the most life-impacting jobs of your life! Embarking in a summer at Camp Lincoln is much more than a job; you will build lasting friendships, make a difference in kids’ lives, develop critical personal and professional skills that will be assets in your future career, and you will make memories that’ll last a life time. Our staff team has a rich history of being a welcoming and positive community, where we encourage all to be their authentic selves - Join our team for an unforgettable summer!

POSITION SUMMARY:

Effectively lead and participate in the Camp Lincoln community. Specialty Camp Counselor are models of leadership who lead by example, follow the staff pledge and live in accordance with the Core Values – Honesty, Caring, Respect and Responsibility.

Specialty Camp Counselors are able to take advantage of opportunities that safely enrich the lives of their campers while on-site and off-site. They are specifically responsible for a group of campers and making sure they are gaining an experience that is enriching and in line with program goals and expectations. Specialty Camp Counselors are responsible for working with their Unite Leader to acquire necessary supplies and maintaining an appropriate inventory of supplies for successful program delivery. If going off-site, Specialty Camp Counselor are responsible for maintaining their vehicles with an appropriate level of understanding and communicating quickly any issues that may develop and follow-through to make sure safety is priority.

Specialty Camp Counselors seek every opportunity to create a safe community that is free of bullying and ridicule. Camp is a place for personal growth, leadership development and community enhancement for all participants. Every camper’s self-confidence is enhanced because of the leadership and example set by their counselor through games, fair dispute resolution, consistent expectations, friendship building and positive reinforcement.

CORE COMPETENTCIES:

• Mission, Values and Behavior:
• Understands and models The Y’s mission and values
• Develops and embraces a shared vision
• Focus on creating positive social & community change through the development of meaningful programs and services
• Models the mission and values of The Y in all written and verbal interactions with peers, co-workers, staff, members and the community

Relationship Building:

• Deliberate in establishing positive relationships with internal and external members and partners
• Connect relationship building to all that you do at The Y
• Makes members and community needs paramount and does everything in his/her power to engage and partner with members and community to exceed expectations
• Create a team atmosphere by identifying common goals, sharing information encouraging cooperation and keeping others informed of decisions impacting others
• Makes member and community needs paramount and does everything in his/her power to engage and partner with members and community to exceed expectations

Professional Approach and Positive Outlook:

• Applies positive “can-do” approach to work, accepts full responsibility for own actions and responds openly and appropriately to people of different backgrounds
• Uses a variety of clear and consistent communication methods to keep all informed and responds to internal and external requests in a timely and appropriate fashion
• Responds openly & appropriately to people of different backgrounds & abilities
• Foster a healthy, safe work environment
• Ability to see the “big picture”, long term focus in decision making
• Responds in a timely & appropriate fashion to camper, parent, co-worker and supervisor requests

Leadership:

• Motivates others to achieve results and provides clear and timely direction to others
• Takes initiative, maximizes productivity, is proactive on the job and consistently leads efforts to positive results.
• Provide staff, co-workers and volunteers with feedback, coaching, guidance and support.
• Encourages, supports and models curiosity, creativity, innovation and calculated risk-taking of others.
• Models healthy behaviors
• Values other people regardless of differences and takes an active role in promoting practices that support diversity, inclusion and cultural competence.
• When appropriate, assists co-staff members in constructing development plans to enhance their capabilities & eliminate performance deficiencies.
• When appropriate, identifies & delegates tasks to co-staff members constructively and specifically for the purposes of building their skills.

Risk Management

• Adhere to policies related to boundaries with consumers.
• Attend required abuse risk management training.
• Adhere to procedures related to managing high-risk activities and supervising consumers.
• Report suspicious or inappropriate behaviors and policy violations.
• Follow mandated abuse reporting requirements.
• Other duties as assigned.
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PROFESSIONALISM:

• Appear every day cleanly dressed, well groomed and prompt.
• Maintain confidentiality when shared pertinent information.
• Express yourself in a mature manner that is fun, responsible and appropriate for the age group being served.
• Be tolerant of individual needs by expressing patience, understanding and compassion.
• Lead by example how to respect other people, Camp Lincoln property and other’s property.
• Manage and organize time to gain the best result everyday and through the summer.

SAFETY / HEALTH CONSCIOUS:

• Understand and follow the camp rules and standards. Effectively teach them to participants and help them understand the importance of safety through understanding.
• At all times, use good judgment and common sense when making decisions and leading groups.
• Model safe behavior on and off-site.
• Protect the physical and mental safety of campers through intervention, adherence, and rule / policy enforcement and understanding.
• Do your part in cleaning camp to limit health concerns and easily identify possible concerns
• Immediately report safety &/or health concerns to Unit Leader.

TEAM PLAYER:

• Exhibit service with a smile all day, every day. Even when presented with challenges, meet them with a positive attitude.
• Have a positive attitude and lead with it.
• Complete assigned tasks with enthusiasm, gusto and pride.
• Acknowledge differences and work with fellow staff members to embrace diversity.
• Be prompt to all aspect of camp.

YMCA LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES:

Mission Advancement: Accepts and demonstrates the Y’s values. Demonstrates a desire to serve others and fulfill community needs. Recruits volunteers and builds effective, supportive working relationships with them. Supports fundraising.

Collaboration: Works effectively with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions, and perceptions. Builds rapports and relates well to others. Seeks first to understand the other person’s point of view and remains calm in challenging situations. Listens for understanding and meaning; speaks and writes effectively.

Operational Effectiveness: Makes sound judgements, and transfers learning from one situation to another. Embraces new approaches and discovers ideas to create a better member experience. Establishes goals, clarifies tasks, plans work, and actively participate sin meetings. Follows budgeting policies and procedures, and reports all financial irregularities immediately. Strives to meet or exceed goas and deliver a high-value experience for members.

Personal Growth: Pursues self-development that enhances job performance. Demonstrates an oneness to change, and seeks opportunities in the change process. Accurately assess personal feelings, strengths, and limitations and how they impact relationships. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology.

Requirements

• Successfully embrace Camp Lincoln’s spirit and follow the Core Values – Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility.

• Must be able to communicate in a professional manner.

• Must have a positive attitude, be able to multi-task, and manage priorities.

• Obtain New Staff Orientation within 30 days of hire, including child abuse prevention and blood-borne pathogen training.

• Agree to state criminal background checks.

• Maintain updated certifications of the job (CPR and First Aid/AED).

• Must sign the Voluntary Disclosure statement.

• Must sign and demonstrate the Southern District YMCA Code of Conduct.

• Must sign and abide by The Y’s Personnel Policy.

• Must be at least 16 years old before starting.

• Must attend all summer staff meetings (first Thursday evenings of our two week sessions) and Family Nights (second Thursday evenings of our two week sessions).

• Be eager and willing to work with campers 5 – 15 years old and effectively communicate needs to appropriate supervisors.

TFAH requires its employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and to wear a facemask while on the premises at all times unless alone in a private office, in compliance with current federal and local government directives and guidance. In accordance with applicable law, TFAH will consider potential reasonable accommodations to the COVID-19 vaccination requirement or mask requirement for a bona fide medical reason or because of a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance.

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls, reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.