Lead Summer Camp Educator

Position Purpose

Purpose is to assist Nature Center Director, Assistant. Director and Program Coordinator in leading the team of camp instructors and teaching camp programs to encourage wonder, curiosity, connection, and excitement for nature while ensuring the health and safety of each participant. Leading a camp classroom successfully requires that the Summer Camp Lead Educator teach curriculum, monitor a room of up to 17 learners ages 6-10 and complete all other responsibilities associated with adhering to the requirements of the facility child care licensure.


Please Note:
This is a variable-hour, non-benefited position. Scheduled to work 40 hours/week for 13 weeks (Start Date 5/20/2024, End Date 8/16/24)

Must be able to work the following dates:
Mandatory Onboarding: May 20th
Summer Camp Training: May 20-31 (no training on May 27)
Required staff meetings - Tuesday afternoons

Job Functions / Scope of Authority

Essential Job Functions:

1. As Lead Summer Camp Instructor, follow curriculum to deliver creative and age-appropriate activities for new themes each week. Themes include Wilderness Skills, Birds, CO Plants and Animals, Pollinators, Science, Water, and Art.

2. Coordinate and lead a team of educators, interns, and volunteers to implement a successful and fluid daily program. Ensure that a spirit of teamwork, flexibility, warmth and openness is embodied daily.

3. Work collaboratively to manage the classroom and lead a group of up to 17 campers through program rotations, free-time activities, games, and daily outdoor nature hikes within Majestic View Park.

4. Provide for the health and safety of campers at all times.

5. Maintain a safe, clean, well-stocked, and organized program area, both inside the classrooms and outside areas.

6. Attend and participate in all designated staff meetings and training sessions.

7. Understand all emergency procedures associated with summer camp.

8. Monitor camper behavior, enforce safety regulations, and follow camp protocol for intervention, reporting, and requesting support as per procedure.

9. Serve as a positive role model for campers, volunteers, and educators and act as a liaison to bring team concerns to camp administrators.

10. Prepare for daily activities by becoming familiar with curriculum, making sample crafts, and understanding activities before program rotations.

11. Assist in daily check-in and check-out, communicate with parents, coworkers, and campers.

12. Manage time for planning and implementation of tasks, as well as managing other staff time (i.e. lunch breaks, start and stop times, etc.)

13. Interact with live animals, outdoor spaces, and biofacts to demonstrate science-based concepts to camp participants.

14. Implement all policies & procedures to meet the State license requirements.

15. Lead the camp team in decision-making and initiative with daily logistics, operations, and communication with leadership.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Classroom management and/or ability to lead groups of children in outdoor settings & and interest in working with children ages 6-10.

• Possess a working knowledge of environmental education and an interest in facilitating an appreciation for and connection to the natural world.

• Excellent teamwork and cooperation skills.

• Possess a detail-oriented mindset with excellent time-management and communication skills.

• Adaptability in an ever-changing camp environment and ability to take initiative and make decisions.

• Ability to perform manual duties associated with the programs and facility: arranging tables, chairs and equipment, leading outdoor activities, cleaning classrooms.

• Basic knowledge and interest in the environment and wildlife.

• Comfortable interacting with school-aged children and parents.

• Enthusiastic, fun, and patient.

• Previous experience working with groups of school-aged children in a camp, school, or child care setting.

Working Environment / Qualifications

Supervision Received:
Works under the direct supervision of the Nature Center Assistant Director.

Minimum Qualifications
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Have at least three (3) months (460 hours) of full-time or equivalent part-time
satisfactory and verifiable experience with school-age children.
- Must clear all background checks upon employment.
- First Aid/CPR/AED Certification or willingness to be certified.
- At least one year's experience working with individuals of different ages and abilities in a leadership capacity.

Preferred Qualification
- Education in environmental fields or previous experience in a similar educational, instructional camp environment a plus. Students welcome!

Vision Mission Values

Vision:

We Dream Big and Deliver

Mission:

We are dedicated to delivering superior services to enhance the lives of everyone in our community.

Values:

Innovation: We excel in creativity, flexibility and the use of best practices while valuing diverse backgrounds, ideas and perspectives.

Passion: We are a high performing, inclusive team inspiring each other to pursue excellence.

Opportunity: We value our diversity, embrace possibilities, face challenges, persevere and take action to deliver quality results