CAMP ALLEGHENY - JOB DESCRIPTION
SENIOR COUNSELOR
General Responsibility: To identify camper needs and to carry out camp programs.
Responsible to the Camp Directors; directly supervised by a Lead Counselor, under the direction of the Assistant Camp Director
Minimum Qualifications:
1. Desire and ability to work with children outdoors.
2. Committed Christian with a desire to share your experience with others.
3. Totally committed on an emotional, spiritual, and intellectual level to the objectives of the camp and the children in your care.
4. Ability to relate to one's peer group.
5. Ability to accept supervision and guidance.
6. Ability to assist in teaching an activity.
7. Good character, integrity, and adaptability.
8. Enthusiasm, sense of humor, patience, and self-control.
9. First year college student or 18 years of age and a high school graduate.
Specific Responsibilities:
1. Learn the likes/dislikes of each camper.
2. Learn the names of each camper in your care by the end of the first day.
3. Prepare and lead activities for opening day that make campers feel welcome, help them to adjust to their new home, and facilitate their ability to make friends.
4. Help campers unpack and make sure each has all basic necessities for clothing and personal hygiene. Report any problems to the Lead Counselor immediately.
5. Review cabins rules with campers on opening day.
6. Instruct campers in emergency procedures such as fires, storms, and missing campers on opening day.
7. Prepare and lead devotions with your cabin side each night, based on the theme of the day using materials provided.
8. Ensure that all campers shower every day and wear fresh clothes, as possible.
9. Ensure that all campers awake on time and wear clothing appropriate to the day’s activities.
10. Ensure that camper receive any daily medications and treat camper injuries following camp procedures.
11. Teach cleaning techniques to campers and assign them specific responsibilities during daily cabin clean-up time.
12. Participate with campers during all activities, including those that are messy or wet. This includes getting in the pool during anytime the campers are at the pool.
13. Encourage campers to participate and try new things.
14. Celebrate camper successes and encourage campers to try again when they fail.
15. Prepare and lead a counselor-directed-activity each day, in partnership with your co-counselor.
16. Recognize and take advantage of teachable moments every day.
17. Sit with and be attentive to campers during meals.
18. Lead campers in grace before each meal and teach proper table manners.
19. Lead your cabin in cleaning up after canteen time.
20. Serve as a look-out when on duty at the pool on a rotating basis.
21. Teach at least one special clubs or badge class utilizing the skills listed on your camp application. If you do not volunteer, a club or badge class will be assigned to you.
22. Help campers plan their participation in village-wide or camp-wide programs, special events, and activities.
23. Sit lane duty on a rotating basis. You must remain on the front porch of your cabin.
24. Sleep-out with your cabin as assigned.
25. Use unstructured times to engage campers in meaningful conversation.
26. Be proactive in managing camper behavior following materials received during orientation.
27. Recognize and respond to opportunities for problem solving in the group.
28. Look for ways to enable each camper to experience success during camp.
29. Provide opportunities for discussion of individual or group problems or concerns.
30. Help each participant meet the goals established by the camp for camper development.
31. Carry first aid kit at all times and ensure that it is properly stocked.
32. Carry out established rules in enforcing camp safety regulations.
33. Set a good example for campers and others including cleanliness, punctuality, sharing clean-up and chores, sportsmanship, and table manners.
34. Prepare camper evaluations each session and camper survey as assigned.
35. Encourage respect for personal property, camp equipment, and facilities.
36. Encourage individuality and creativity in campers.
37. Help participants develop a sense of fair play, accepting both winning and losing graciously.
38. Encourage understanding and sensitivity to the natural environment.
Staff Responsibilities:
1. Prepare for, and actively participate in, staff training.
2. Manage personal time off in accordance with camp policy.
3. Clean living area daily.
4. Desire to be a team player.
5. Check your mail and read posted flyers on a daily basis for camp information updates
6. Committed to the growth of campers spiritually, physically, educationally, emotionally, and socially.
7. Encourage respect for individuals and their differences.
8. Attend weekly staff Bible studies. This takes place during afternoon or evening free time one day per session.
9. Attend Sunday morning staff worship.
10. Be a constructive member of the staff contributing in every way possible to the health, harmony, and happiness of the Camp Allegheny family.
11. Pray that each camper will come to know Christ as Savior.
12. Agree to voice criticisms to your Lead Counselor first.
13. To be in accord with camp aims and policies being loyal to camp at all times.
14. Evaluate current season and make suggestions for following season.
15. Assist where needed for the benefit of the campers and the smooth operation of camp.
Essential Responsibilities:
1. Ability to participate fully in the total camp program.
2. Ability to communicate and work with groups participating (various age and skill levels,) and provide necessary instruction to campers.
3. Ability to observe camper behavior, assess its appropriateness, enforce appropriate safety regulations, and emergency procedures, and apply appropriate behavior-management techniques.
4. Visual and auditory abilities to identify and respond to environmental and other hazards related to the activity.
5. Possess the strength and endurance required to maintain constant supervision of campers.
6. Cognitive and communicative abilities to plan and conduct activities (i.e. clubs, badge classes, rainy-day activities, etc.) that achieve camper development objectives.
7. Ability to assist campers in emergency (fire, evacuation, illness, or injury).
These are not the only duties to be performed. Some duties may be reassigned and other duties may be assigned as required.
Salvation Army Mission Statement
The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.