Qualifications
Support Counselors should have interest and experience working with youth with special needs, and may be in an undergraduate or graduate program for psychology, social work, or a related field.
- College Student or College Graduate
- Previous experience in a camp or school setting is strongly preferred.
- Good health and physical stamina.
- Emotionally mature, responsible, and punctual. Team player and willing to work hard.
- Ability to take direction from Camp Directors.
- Ability to maintain a calm manner in stressful and/or emergency situations.
- Ability to create positive, effective relationships with campers and staff.
- Accepting of differences in others.
Support counselors are assigned 1:1 with a camper. A support counselor's duties may vary with the needs of the camper being served. Support Counselors play an important role in ensuring that a camper is participating in a safe and supportive environment. Support Counselors foster positive, trusting relationships with a camper, improve camp climate, model positive behavior, and send positive messages to campers.
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RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Submit required paperwork: Application,3 Recommendations,Health History and Insurance Card,Emergency Info Card,Physician’s Form,Contract,W4,I9 w/ 2 form of ID,Disclosure Form,CORI,SORI,and Certifications.
- Check-in each morning at 7:50 a.m., read the Morning Notes, and then report to assigned arrival duties by 8:00 a.m.
- Be available to work every day of the scheduled camp season or contracted weeks.
- Report any missing items (essentials that campers need each day at camp) such as sneakers, bathing suits, towels, and lunches to one of the Directors, as early as possible, so that they can place a call home.
- Supervise assigned camper 1:1, while following the camp schedule. Actively participate with the camper in all activities. Promote camper participation in all activities.
- Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement.
- Confer with Directors to develop individual camper plans that are designed to promote a camper’s social development.
- Participate in staff training, complete the online portion of the staff training (if applicable), and attend all other staff meetings as scheduled (usually once per week).
- Read the Tenacre Staff Manual, and follow the policies and procedures outlined within.
- Maintain a positive attitude while serving as a good role model to campers in personal language, appearance, manners, and health habits.
- Stay with assigned camper at ALL times unless on a scheduled break. Work to ensure that the camper feels safe and included.
- Directly supervise locker/changing rooms before and after swim. Counselors are not responsible for swim instruction. Check locker/cubby areas, at least weekly, to verify camper projects are sent home.
- Start break time when all campers have been admitted to the pool by the pool staff, and end break time when the pool staff dismisses the group from the pool. Be responsible for taking assigned camper to the bathroom or nurse if the Pool Director requests.
- Sit and eat with camper at snack and lunch times. Snack is provided by the camp. Refrigeration is provided if you bring your own lunch, or you may purchase lunch at your own expense, from local sub shops that the Camp places orders with each day. Be sensitive to individual camper allergy issues. Tenacre Day Camp is a peanut/nut aware camp.
- Participate in daily camper arrival and dismissal.
- Be responsible for filling out a daily group log (before the conclusion of the day), and keeping open communication with the directors about camper progress and any problems that may arise.
- Look over Counselor Notes that are handed out to groups each week. Be aware of the health and well being of your assigned camper, such as allergies, fears, homesickness, asthma, and physical limitations. Because Tenacre is not a special needs camp, all campers are able to participate in the camp activities following the schedule.
- Wear appropriate clothing, which includes staff ID tag, sneakers, socks, t-shirt with sleeves (no tank tops and must be long enough to cover midsection), and appropriate length shorts. All clothing must be in good repair (no rips or tears), and cannot advertise alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, or other inappropriate emblems, symbols or logos. Each staff member will be given a Tenacre t-shirt at the beginning of the camp season that must be worn on the first day of each week (MONDAYS), at the Family Evening, and at the June Meet & Greet.
- Supervise playground after lunch and apply sunscreen. Sunscreen is kept in the Health Office and is applied twice a day. Group counselors will apply sunscreen to the child’s face, neck, shoulders and lower arms only.
- If applicable, plan and prepare for group choice periods in the daily schedule.
- Take, and stay with camper, when brought to the Nurse. Refer all camper and staff injuries, insect stings, or illnesses, no matter how seemingly minor, to the nurse immediately.
- Be prepared to participate in all kinds of weather, wearing appropriate clothing. Plan, prepare and participate in age appropriate activities for rainy days.
SPECIAL EVENTS & THEME DAYS:
- Assist and participate with camper during special events and theme days: July Cookout, Sports Tournament, Olympics Day, Kids Wanna Rock, etc. All staff are expected to participate in performances & talent shows!
- Attend the scheduled Family Evenings. Meet and greet campers and their families, and be willing to assist in other ways as needed.
- Assist with camp clean up on the last day. Campers are dismissed at 12 noon, and all staff work together to pack up and move supplies to designated areas from 12:30 until 4pm. Lunch will be provided to the staff.
CELL PHONE USAGE:
- We have a “No Cell Phone” policy at Tenacre Day Camp. Staff are not allowed to use cell phones unless you are on a scheduled break and away from your campers. Talking and texting are prohibited. Your cell phone must be stowed away.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS:
- The employee works in outside weather conditions and may be exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, summer heat and environmental allergens. Most inside rooms are air conditioned. The noise level ranges from quiet to moderately loud. The employee must not have medical ailments that would interfere with performance of duty as described, and have the capacity to handle stressful situations. The employee may have to function in situations where campers might present atypical behaviors.
Tenacre Country Day School
78 Benvenue Street, Wellesley, MA 02482
P. 781-235-2282 F. 781-237-7057
Summer Programs 781-235-3238
