Qualifications
- Background in early childhood development, college degree or equivalent life experience.
- Previous experience in a camp or school setting is strongly preferred.
- Proven interest in working with preschool-age children.
- Good health and physical stamina.
- Emotionally mature, responsible, punctual, team player and willing to work hard.
- Ability to take direction from Camp Directors.
- The desire and ability to motivate and excite campers in order to have a great time.
- Ability to maintain a calm manner in stressful and/or emergency situations.
The Head Counselor is a liaison between the group counselors and the Fours Camp Director. Work with 2 to 3 group counselors to provide supervision, and to ensure the physical and emotional safety of a group of 15-20 campers, ages 4 years. REPORT TO: FOURS Camp Director and Director of Summer Programs.
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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. Typically the Head Counselors stay in their home-base classroom to welcome arriving campers.
- Be available to work every day of the scheduled camp season or contracted weeks.
- Communicate with the FOURS Camp Director regularly/daily.
- Order/purchase any materials necessary for the group, with the prior approval of the FOURS Director or Camp Director.
- Provide guidance, supervision, and leadership to a group of campers. Encourage success for each counselor and camper. Nurture each camper’s development of social skills and self-esteem.
- Recognize and respond to opportunities for problem solving in the group. Maintain a cohesive group of campers, and keep the group on schedule by getting them to and from activities on time.
- Ensure that the daily camper attendance information is recorded and reported to the Fours Camp Director.
- Report any missing items (essentials that campers need each day at camp) such as sneakers, bathing suits, towels, and lunches to the Director, as early as possible, so that she can place a call home.
- Supervise campers while following the camp schedule. Actively participate with campers in all activities. Promote camper participation in all activities. Respond to any special requests by the Activity Heads.
- Participate in staff training, 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.
- Know where campers are at all times. Stay with assigned campers at ALL times unless on a scheduled break. Work to ensure that each camper feels safe and included.
- Directly supervise changing 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. One counselor from each group must act as a ‘pool lookout’ during swim times. ‘Lookouts’ take campers to the bathroom or nurse.
- Sit and eat with campers at snack and lunch times. Campers bring their own lunch. 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. Fours campers, that are not signed up for Extended Afternoons on Tues & Thurs, will be dismissed at 1:00 p.m.
- Be responsible for filling out a daily group log (before the conclusion of the day), and keeping open communication with the Director about camper progress and any problems that may arise.
- Look over Counselor Notes that are handed out to groups each Monday. Be aware of the health and well being of your assigned campers, 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 once a day after the camper’s lunch. Assigned group counselors will apply sunscreen to the child’s face, neck, shoulders and lower arms only.
- If applicable, plan and prepare for group activity periods in the daily schedule.
- Take, and stay with campers, 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 DAYS:
- Assist and participate with campers during special event days.
- Attend the 2 scheduled Family Nights. Meet and greet campers and their families, assist with the ice cream/cake station, help the Sports Activity Heads lead field games, 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.
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
