Summer Camp Counselor

Kids Connection

Job Description

JOB TITLE: Recreational Counselor

___________________________________________________________________________________

DEPARTMENT: Camps and After-School                     EXEMPT: No

REPORTS TO: Extended Day and Camps Director

APPROVED BY: Mary DeLong                DATE: 6/4/2019

POSITION SUMMARY: The Recreational Counselor is responsible for providing a safe and developmentally appropriate Camp and After-School program in accordance with all relevant legislation, policies and procedures.

The Recreational Counselor will be responsible for implementing appropriate learning activities and experiences designated to fulfill student’s potential for intellectual, emotional, physical, and social growth. The lesson plans are developed by the lead counselors, but the counselor must be able to step in to implement the programs as designed. They must ensure the development and safety of these children in accordance with relevant federal, territorial and municipal legislation and policies.  The Recreational Counselor will be respectful of children and parents and ensure that equipment and facilities are clean, safe and well maintained. Failure to provide adequate services may place children at risk. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB: Employees must be able to perform the Essential Functions of the Job, with or without reasonable accommodations.  

Implement a developmentally appropriate program for elementary school aged children:

• That meets the physical, emotional, intellectual and social needs of the children in that program. 

• Ensure equipment and the facility are clean, well maintained and safe at all times

• Implement daily activity plans and run age appropriate projects

• Implement culturally appropriate programs and activities

• Implement and head activities that introduce academic value

• Build children’s self esteem

• Support a classroom and school environment that is both visually stimulating and age appropriate

Supervise children in the After School and Camps

• Ensure children are supervised at all times

• Handle discipline problems and classroom control

• Comfort children

• Establish routines and provide positive guidance

• Follow established policies and procedures including acceptable disciplinary policies

• When on field trips, participate in all activities (and in some cases rides or attractions) that the children participate in.

• Be familiar and always follow emergency procedures

• Provide a safe and secure environment for children to feel comfortable

• Clearly and effectively communicate in a manner that children understand

• Integrate special needs children in a positive and respectful manner

Communicate with parents, staff, and members of the community

• Maintain a positive and friendly communication with all parents and family members

• Maintain a collaborative, professional and positive relationship with all members of the staff

• When off campus, maintain a professional and positive relationship with vendors or other members of the community when representing Kids Connection

• Report any suspected child abuse to supervisor 

• Discuss identified problems and needs with professionals as appropriate

OTHER FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB

• Set up and clean up activities

• Get and put snacks away

• Maintain accident and incident reports

• Attend all staff meetings and department meetings as scheduled by the administration.

• Assemble and walk hot lunches from the elementary school to the preschool if requested

• Cleaning the bathrooms, including toilets, sinks and floors, if needed for messes that occur during the school day

• Provide first aid to children if needed

• Cleaning toys, tables, floors after meal times and projects

• Keep all toys in the classroom clean and organized

• Participate in school family activities such as CityFEST, School Picnic, etc.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES : 

Qualifications

• Changing priorities

• Being interrupted

• Juggling multiple tasks

• Working as part of a team

• Interacting with people from other classrooms

• Meeting deadlines

• Paying attention to detail

• Having to “think on my feet”

• Building rapport with clients/community contacts, etc.

• Dealing with a “fast-paced” environment

• Being respectful to all the constituencies involved in the school

• Skillfully operate Computer, printer, telephone, fax machine, copier, and stereo/music equipment

Knowledge

• Safe and appropriate activities for children

• Relevant legislation, policies and procedures to ensure that children are supervised and safe at all times

Skills

• Team building skills

• Supervisory skills

• Analytical and problem solving skills

• Decision making skills

• Effective communication skills verbal, written and listening

• Stress management skills

• Time management skills

• Teaching skills

Abilities

• Warmth and compassion

• Happy and sunny disposition

• Respectfulness

• Possessing cultural awareness and sensitivity

• Flexibility

• Good planning and organization

• Patience

• Demonstrating sound work ethics

• Consistency and fairness

• Compassion and understanding

• Stay away from gossip and other negative communications

• Ensuring a safe and secure working environment

MINIMUM EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: 

• High school diploma (or GED) preferred

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: 

• Pediatric CPR certification required

• Current Lifescan and pass the licensing requirement with government authorities.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully, with or without reasonable accommodations.

• Kneel to help children

• Squat to help children

• Sit on an office chair up to 6 hours per day

• Sit on the floor or in a child sized chair for up to 6 hours per day

• Use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects and controls such as those on learning toys and writing implements

• Talk and hear in person and on the telephone

• Reach with hands and arms, grasp objects, push/pull file drawers of 10-50 points, twist the upper body, rotate the wrist, and use finger dexterity for writing and using the computer.

• Lift a child up to 50 pounds (i.e. from floor to chair, or floor to play structure) and carry for a distance of 10 to 40 feet.

• Bend to help a child, pick up toys or books, push in chairs, on the floor or at their desks

• Stand for up to 6 hours a day

• Walk for a distance of 10 to 100 feet up to 6 hours per day

• Climb stairs

• Repetitive lifting to arrange for use- learning toys, desks, chairs, tables to accommodate activities

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The essential functions of the job must be performed with or without reasonable accommodations. 

Work is performed with the presence of children the majority of the time.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. There may be a number of activities and situations happening at once, and the employee will have to supervise all children at all times. The employee may experience smells associated with children including those who are ill.

Kids Connection is an at-will employer.  This Job Description does not create a contractual relationship nor does it limit in any way the policy of at-will employment.