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Senior Camp Counselor

YMCA Alexandria | Alexandria, VA

Posted Date 2/20/2025
Description
FIND YOUR PLACE AT THE Y…  BE A CAMP SENIOR COUNSELOR THIS SUMMER.

Summer camp…adventure, friends, and fun. The Y invites you to join us for an amazing summer that is so much more than a job.

Position: Senior Camp Counselor       Salary Range: $15.00-17.50

The YMCA of Metropolitan Washington is currently hiring Summer Senior Camp Counselors. Working at the Y, you will create exciting and impactful experiences for children, build connections with your peers and Y professionals, expand your leadership skills, and have fun! This is a seasonal position for the months of June through August 2025 with mandatory training starting May 2025. 
 
Some of the exciting things you will do as a Senior Camp Counselor:
  • Create a place for campers to have fun, learn, explore, and make new friends
  • Provide leadership, enthusiasm, and heart to the camp program 
  • Oversee several groups of campers with assistance from counselors and junior counselors
  • Oversee the Counselor in Training Program
  • Implement the daily camp program in accordance with the overall camp program and curriculum schedule
  • Deliver the daily and weekly program plan ensuring that they fit the campers needs and interests
  • Mentor campers to help them adjust to camp life and to each other
  • Responsible for the safety of the campers
  • Support a safe and healthy environment for all campers
  • Interact with the campers at all times, participating in activities alongside the campers
  • Assist with and participate in all camp-wide activities and special events
  • Support the program goals of the Y
  • Participate in staff trainings and meetings as required
What you need to be a Senior Camp Counselor:
  • Be able to work from the week before camp begins for training to the end of the final week of the season
  • High school graduate
  • 18 years of age
  • Willing to participate in and obtain CPR and First Aid Certification
  • Clear the local jurisdiction requirements for criminal background and/or fingerprinting
  • Meet the county/state licensing requirements
  • Prior supervisory experience in a day camp setting and two season’s experience as a counselor
  • Skilled in teaching a variety of crafts, songs, stories, games, sports, aquatics and related camp activities
  • Able to effectively communicate with children and parents
  • Understand and be committed to working with diverse population and to Y character development
Physical requirements:
  • Must be able to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time
  • Must be physically active to play games and sports with the children
  • Must be able to pick-up at least 35 pounds
  • Must have visual acuity to observe all children
  • Documentation of physical examination and TB skin test
We offer the following benefits: 
  • Competitive compensation 
  • Free Y membership
  • 403(b) savings plan
  • Exciting and collaborative work environment
  • Ability to work with creative, talented and diverse individuals!
The YMCA of Metropolitan Washington is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. 

Basic Function and Scope of Responsibility: 

  • Oversees several groups of campers with assistance from other counselors or junior counselors 

  • Provides leadership to the heart of the day camp program 

  • Directs the CIT program  

 

Supervisory Responsibility: 

¨ No Supervisory responsibility   

X Provides guidance, leadership, or training to other employees (no direct supervision)  

¨ Directly responsible for supervising non-exempt, clerical, or office administration personnel 

¨ Directly responsible for supervising exempt, professional, or technical employees 

¨ Directly responsible for supervising supervisory/managerial employees 

 

Organizational Structure: 

Job title to which this position reports: Camp Director or Assistant Camp Director 

Job titles directly reporting to this position: None 

Job titles indirectly reporting to this position: None 

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:  

  • Implements and supervises the planned activities of the daily camp program in accordance with the overall camp program and curriculum schedule 

  • Effectively delivers the daily and weekly program plan ensuring that they fit the campers needs and interests 

  • Guides and works with a group of children to help them adjust to camp life and to each other 

  • Provides opportunities for interaction among the campers and teaches the values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility 

  • Ensures that all supplies and  program needs are available at the time necessary for the campers and ensures that the camp site is clean and neat when activities are over 

  • Attends all staff trainings, staff meetings and participates in Family events and activities 

  • Responsible for the safety of the campers; conducts hourly head counts throughout the day and in accordance with the Day Camp Policy 

  • Ensures there is a written weekly plan in place that has been pre-approved by Camp Director 

  • Interacts with the children at all times, taking part in each activity in which the children are involved. 

  • Encourages respect for personal property, camp equipment and facilitie 

  • Maintains effective communications and interaction with parents 

  • Other duties as required 

 

Customer Service Standards: 

Staff Engagement: 

  • I will greet all children with a smile and by name 

  • I will provide ongoing feedback on the child’s progress and development 

  • I will be proactive and responsive to parents needs when concerns occur with their child. 

Facility Excellence: 

  • I will provide a safe and clean environment for all kids 

  • I will be knowledgeable about the other service area programs and offerings. 

Show: 

  • I will be proactive and responsive to parents needs when concerns occur with their child 

  • I will build lasting positive relationships with parents and their kids 

 

Education, Certification, Skills, and Experience: 

  • High school diploma 

  • Must be 18 years of age 

  • Some college education 

  • Current CPR and First Aid Certification 

  • Documentation of physical examination and TB skin test 

  • Clear the local jurisdiction requirements for criminal background and/or fingerprinting 

  • Must meet the county/state licensing requirements 

  • May be required to hold valid commercial driver’s license and a safe driving record  

  • Must have prior supervisory experience in a day camp setting and two season’s experience as a counselor 

  • Must be skilled and/or certified in teaching crafts, songs, stories, games, sports, aquatics and other related camp activities 

  • Must be able to effectively communicate with children and parents 

  • Must understand and be committed to working with diverse population and to YMCA character development 

  • Complete Training for: 

  • Blood Borne Pathogens 

  • Facility Orientation 

  • Child Care Policy/Prevention of child abuse 

  • Day Camp Policies 

  • Staff/Parent Handbook 

  • Camp Curriculum 

  • Emergency Procedures 

* The YMCA requires that all camp staff attend a minimum of 21 hours of training prior to the start of summer camp and that it be documented in personnel files. 

 

YMCA Leadership Certification: 

N/A 

 

Working Conditions: 

  • Must be able to work from the week before camp begins for training to the end of the final week of the season 

  • Must be able to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time 

  • Must be physically active to play games and sports with the children 

  • Must be able to pick-up at least 35 pounds 

  • Must have visual acuity to observe all children 
Salary15.00 - 17.50 Hour
Job Type
Seasonal

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