In addition to reviewing the job description below, please click here to read a letter to counselor applicants.
RESPONSIBLE TO:
Unit Leader, Therapy Coordinator, Educational Coordinator, Camp Director
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITY:
Cabin Counselors & Roving Counselors are responsible for the overall 24-hour-a-day care, safety, and well-being of the children in your cabin/unit as assigned by the unit leader. The number of campers assigned to a cabin counselor will vary between two and seven, depending on the unit worked in. Roving counselors work with all campers in the unit and are assigned to a cabin group within the unit when a cabin counselor has the day off, or as the need arises. The designation of cabin counselor or roving counselor is made during orientation week by the unit leader & camp administration.
DAILY RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Guide campers in participating safely and successfully in all aspects of camp activities from morning to evening and through the night.
2. Provide a positive, nurturing cabin environment that encourages & motivates children to work toward therapy goals and social/behavioral goals.
3. Guide campers in learning discipline and maintaining appropriate manners, social behavior and interpersonal behavior in relationships with peer and adults.
4. Get campers to and from all meals, sit with them, and be responsible for their behavior at the table.
5. Get campers to and from all scheduled therapy classes (usually one or two daily for most campers).
6. Organize and supervise cabin clean-up. The counselor is responsible for the appearance of his/her cabin at all times.
7. Accompany your group to, and assist with, a daily activity class (Nature, Arts and Crafts, Recreation, or Swimming).
8. Plan and organize alternative recreational and leisure time activities to structure your campers’ free time when they are not in therapy or classes.
9. Accept an assignment of Rest Counsel (1:00-2:30 pm and 9:00-11:00 pm daily); these duties are shared on a rotation basis, each counselor will be assigned two or three weekly.
10. Accompany your group to the planned evening activities.
11. Keep daily logs containing descriptive notes of campers' behavior and progress towards goals.
12. Support the Unit Leader and other counselors in forming and maintaining a cohesive unit.
ONGOING RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Counselors are expected to periodically visit their camper's therapy classes and work with therapists to provide follow through activities where appropriate.
2. Set reasonable short-term goals for each camper. These could be social, behavioral, educational, personal care, or therapy-related goals.
3. Attend and contribute to camper staffings when one of your campers is involved.
4. Write mid-camp and end-of-camp reports on each camper, under the direction of the Unit Leader and Educational Coordinator, to be sent to parents, teachers, health care professionals and referring agencies. (Roving counselors do not write camper reports).
5. Plan a minimum of 2 campouts (in addition to the all-unit campout) and 2 cook-outs for your campers over the course of the summer.
6. Share responsibility for all unit activities, including unit campouts, the unit show, the all-camp unit activity, the Birthday Party, and all other camp functions.
7. The counselor must use discretion and common sense in assuring he/she gets sufficient rest and stays healthy, physically and mentally, to handle long busy days.
8. Other duties may be assigned by the Unit Leader, Therapy Coordinator, Educational Coordinator, or Camp Director.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
1. Must be at least 18 years of age and have completed one year of college or equivalent training.
2. Must be dependable and mature.
3. Must be positive, enthusiastic, and patient with children.
4. Must be able to work independently, but also cooperatively as a member of a team, under the direction of the unit leader.
5. A love for children is a must!
ALL STAFF ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEANING THEIR DEPARTMENTS AND LIVING QUARTERS AT THE BEGINNING OF CAMP, DURING THE SUMMER, AND AT THE END OF CAMP.
Revised 2009
