Seeking Overnight Camp Counselors for Awesome Special Needs Camp in Boston, MA

Overnight Camp Counselors are responsible for the successful administration of Grotonwood’s overnight camping program that serves adults with disabilities and neuro-typical kids age 7-16. The camp counselor provides ongoing support and supervision to the campers and ensure the safety of all those in their care in addition to compliance with all camp policies.

POSITION TYPE/EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK: This is a residential seasonal position. The usual camp work-week is six days on and one day off, including staff meetings, and regular duties. Our summer camp season is nine-weeks long including pre-camp training. The summer camp position is exempt from minimum wage and overtime regulations per State of Massachusetts wage and hour law. Weekend work is required as we begin our week on Sunday at 10am and finish on Friday evening.

This job requires the ability to participate in group prayer, Bible studies, and to support the implementation of a Christian faith-based curriculum in a small and large group setting.

SUMMER CAMP DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide care​​ ​and​ supervision of adults​ ​with​ ​intellectual​ ​and​ ​developmental​ ​disabilities
• Provide personal care as needed, including help with toileting, bathing, dressing, feeding and supporting the needs of wheelchair users or those with reduced mobility.
• Provide care​​ ​and​ supervision for ​neurotypical and neuro-diverse children​ ​of​ ​all​ ​ages​ ​and​ ​backgrounds, including military kids, foster kids, and kids with epilepsy (staff are rotated in and out of both programs)
• Ensure the camp environment contributes to the overall social, emotional and spiritual development of campers
• Create a fun and welcoming environment for campers of all religious backgrounds and gender identities
• Complete before/after-hours duties as assigned by the demands of the program or the camp director
• Adhere​ ​to​ ​program​ ​standards​,​ ​camp​ ​policies​ ​and​ ​procedures including risk​ ​management​ ​policies​ 
• Serve​ ​as​ ​a​ ​Christian​ ​role​ ​model​ ​to​ ​all​ ​those​ ​in​ ​your​ ​care and participate in worship services and group prayer
• Assist campers and staff in emergencies (fire, evacuation, active shooter, illness, or injury)
• Janitorial duties – maintain standards of safety and cleanliness across camp
• Interpersonal skills - build​/maintain​ ​positive​ ​relationships​ ​with​ ​campers​/​staff
• Manage conflict between campers and re-direct challenging behaviors
• Positively de-escalate homesickness and manage incidents of bullying/gossiping
• Support camper participation in daily camp activities like swimming and sports by role modelling expectations

ABOUT GROTONWOOD CAMP & CONFERENCE CENTER: Grotonwood is a Christian camp and retreat center located on Lost Lake in Groton, Massachusetts. Grotonwood has offered day and overnight Summer camps for youth, families, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities since 1956. Our goal is to introduce people to the love of Jesus, and encourage them to grow in relationship with Him. At the heart of this life changing experience is the staff, wonderful humans who want to live out an example of a life changed by Grace. In this context, through fun and fellowship, lives are transformed and hearts are renewed.

EQUITY STATEMENT: Grotonwood actively promotes a culture that is free from bias and injustice. We are committed to removing institutional and systemic barriers that result in oppression and racism. We are and will continue to serve and be accountable to marginalized and underserved communities, and for creating equitable and sustainable programs where social and restorative justice is woven into every facet of our ministries

●  18​ ​years​ ​or​ ​older,​ ​or​ ​high​ ​school​ ​graduate with 1-2 years applicable camp or youth ministry experience

●  Good command of the English language both written and spoken

●  Excellent time​ ​management, proactive, forthcoming with games, icebreakers and behavior redirection

●  Full training is given but experience working with the disabilities population desirable

●  Excellent ​communication,​ ​and​ ​interpersonal​ ​skills​ ​essential for community living

●  Enthusiastic,​ ​resilient character

●  Public speaking skills - ability​ ​to​ ​present curriculum centered on Christian beliefs and/or lead camp activities

●  Ability to pass background check and provide 3x professional references

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB: 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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. This position requires the ability to occasionally lift camp equipment and janitorial products and supplies, up to fifty pounds.