Best Practices, CPR Certification, Childcare, Communication Skills, Community Relations, Community Support, Employee Orientation, First Aid, Leadership, Mentoring, Organizational Skills, Regulations, Safety/Work Safety, Team Lead/Manager, Team Player, Training/Teaching
Looking for a fun and rewarding way to spend your summer? Join River Friends Day Camp as a Lead Counselor, where you'll help create an engaging, active, and welcoming environment for children, aged 2 years-old. Every day is a new adventure. If you have a passion for working with children and want to be part of a dynamic, energetic team, this is the perfect role for you! We're looking for responsible, enthusiastic team players who love working with kids-especially future educators and childcare professionals. Must be 21 or older for this position. If you're ready to make a meaningful impact while having a blast at camp, apply today! The connections you build here will last a lifetime.Overview
The Lead Counselor is the primary caregiver and guide for a small group of campers, ensuring their safety, emotional well-being, and engagement throughout the camp day. Lead Counselors create joyful, connected group experiences by building meaningful relationships, fostering community, and supporting campers during all activities and transitions.
Key Responsibilities
- • Lead a small group of campers from activity to activity, ensuring safety and supervision at all times.
- • Build caring, supportive relationships with each camper and create a welcoming group environment.
- • Model positive behavior, emotional regulation, and enthusiastic participation.
- • Actively support and participate in activities led by specialists and Activity Coordinators.
- • Actively engage campers in developmentally appropriate play and activities while on the playground, field, or in classrooms.
- • Communicate camper needs and successes to Division Heads and the Camp Director.
- • Ensure campers' basic needs-including hydration, sunscreen, and restroom breaks, diapering-are met consistently.
- • Collaborate with, mentor, and model best practices for Assistant Counselors in the group.
- • Proactively manage behavior with empathy, structure, and positive guidance.
- • Monitor health and safety concerns and immediately report incidents to leadership.
- • Collaborate with Division Head to partner with parents, when appropriate, to support camper success and belonging.
- • Participate in daily swim time by getting in the water and actively supervising campers during all swim lessons.
- • Participate in all required training and development opportunities preceding and during camp, including orientation, staff meetings and Parent Nights.
Relationships & Supervision
Reports to: Division Head and Camp Director Mentors: Assistant Counselors within assigned group Collaborates with: Specialists, Activity Coordinator, Camp Director, Aquatics Staff, and other Counselors
Qualifications & Requirements
- • Experience working with young children in a school, camp, or recreational setting.
- • Strong leadership and communication skills.
- • Ability to manage group dynamics with a positive, calm presence.
- • Understanding of childhood development and best practices in supervision.
- • Must be able to confidently swim and actively supervise campers in the water.
- • CPR/First Aid certification preferred.
Hours: Daily Monday through Friday 8:15am- 12:15pm during the camp season
Salary: $3,431 for the season
Camp Dates: June 29- August 21, 2026 (no camp on July 3)
Orientation Dates:
- June 15, 7-8pm: Zoom Orientation
- June 19, 9am-4pm: Orientation
- June 20, 9am-4pm: Orientation
- June 27, 9am-4pm: Orientation and Room Set-Up
- June 28, 9am-12pm: Camper/Parent Orientation
Link to Apply: https://shamesjcc.campmanagement.com/p/staff/login_m.php
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Jewish Community Center on the Hudson Inc.