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Sports & Recreation Leader - Residential Summer Camp Counselor

Highbrook Lodge hires exceptional people to do exceptional work.
 
We are looking for qualified applicants to join our team for our 2020 summer season.
All of our current openings are seasonal (June 14-August 9) and residential – meaning you’ll live on site with us.
 
As a member of the Highbrook Lodge team, you will be instrumental in ensuring that our summer camp (located in Chardon, OH) is providing a safe and enjoyable experience to all. You’ll have fun, laugh, make friends, cultivate skills and learn while making a difference in the lives of our campers.
 
Applicants should be interested in:
  • Working with people who have vision loss or blindness, and other special needs
  • Working in a residential, outdoor and communal setting
  • Serving diverse individuals of all ages (0-99) and abilities
Applicants should be:
  • Emphatic, independent, and problem solvers
  • Team players and willing to be apart of a special, close-knit community
  • Invested in making a difference in the lives of others
  • Positive, tenacious, and fun-loving.
About Highbrook Lodge:
 
Highbrook Lodge has been providing quality summer camp experiences for young people, families, and adults for over 90 years. Since our foundation in 1928 by the Cleveland Sight Center, we’ve envisioned a future where those living with vision loss or blindness feel that they can always come together – summer after summer – to a tranquil and safe place that is bound by a diverse community, enthralling opportunities for play and fun, and an unwavering commitment to empowerment for all.
 
We aim to use our summer camp setting to empower our campers to foster meaningful relationships, increase levels of independence, take risks, and seek adventures within nature.
 
To achieve our mission, we host multiple day, weekend, and week-long sessions over the summer to meet the specific needs, ages, interests, and abilities of our campers. During these sessions we strive to offer many traditional summer camp activities – such as canoeing, archery, arts and crafts, and outdoor camping. Because many of our campers also have special needs in addition to their vision loss and blindness, we work hard to adapt all of our activity offerings so everyone one of our campers can have a safe, interesting, and memorable experience at Highbrook.
 
Our camp is located on a 60+ acre property in Chardon, Ohio -- close to Cleveland and Lake Erie. Highbrook Lodge has accessible facilities; a heated swimming pool; countless trails and sports fields; comfortable sleeping arrangements; and even an outdoor bowling lane! We are owned and operated by the Cleveland Sight Center.
 
This is truly a rewarding job that takes a lot of energy, creativity, flexibility, and patience.
 
Benefits for you:
Behind all of the fun, you’ll develop skills that future employers really want to see on your resume – like strong communication abilities, critical thinking and problem solving; interpersonal and leadership skills; collaboration and teamwork; and creativity.
You’ll also gain invaluable experience working with a diverse population of individuals. We provide internship opportunities, too.
You will be provided with room and board, too – meaning all housing, meals, laundry, and utilities will be covered. You’ll also receive professional development opportunities, certifications, letters of recommendation, and a paycheck!
 
Job Description:
Sports & Recreation Leader / Cabin Counselor
ROOM/BOARD/MEALS/PAY: Room, board, and meals are included in addition to pay.
RESPONSIBLE TO: Leadership Team
BASIC FUNCTION: Responsible for coordination of all sports and recreation related program activities for the 2020 summer camp program. This includes planning, implementing and evaluating goal-based sports and recreation programs that are appropriate to the age and ability level of the campers. Under the supervision of the camp Leadership Team this Leader is also responsible for the immediate safety, care, and well being of all of the campers and/or families assigned to them.
 
In addition, this employee will live-in camper cabins for the duration of the summer and is responsible for carrying out cabin activities; facilitating rest hour and other cabin supervisory duties; assisting campers with daily living and personal care; assisting with cleaning; attending overnight camp-outs; and other duties as assigned.
 
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
  1. Work with individuals of all ages with disabilities in an outdoor setting.
  2. Actively participate, assist or lead all-camp activities, evening programs, campfire programming (camp songs, skits), and camp-outs as directed.
  3. Maintain and follow the daily, robust camp schedule; including attendance at all meals.
  4. Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing, including: preparing reports and evaluations; reading instructions, manuals, and camper information; and participating in staff meetings.
  5. Assist campers (60-300 lbs.) with two-person transfers from a wheelchair to a bed, chair and/or toilet.
  6. Assist campers with personal activities of daily living (toileting, bathing, eating, mobility, dressing, etc.) during assigned cabin time, meals, and overnight as needed.
  7. Lift and carry equipment, supplies and/or camper luggage weighing 50lbs over 30 yards.
  8. Assist campers in the water during swim activities (ability to swim is not essential but is preferred).
  9. Maintain confidentiality of information received about campers.
  10. Honor curfews, schedules, policies, and procedures of Highbrook Lodge.
  11. Help maintain a healthy camp environment through daily camp clean up including sweeping, vacuuming, emptying trash, cleaning toilets, sinks, showers, etc.…
  12. Have the mobility and capacity to independently orientate oneself around campgrounds; possess the ability to provide own signature.
 
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:
  1. Plan, coordinate, and lead goal-based sports and recreation programming as well as other camp activities; work to ensure these programs are appropriate for the camper’s ages and abilities level.
  2. Prepare program plans, written reports, awards, summaries, incident reports, and evaluations of programs and campers.
  3. Inventory and maintain sports equipment and recreation materials in good working order; request more when needed.
  4. Ensure staff and campers know, and follow, safety procedures related to program area.
  5. Maintain clean sports and recreation storage and activity areas, including cleaning areas daily.
  6. Train staff to assist in program area.
  7. Assist campers during out-of-camp field trip activities and vendor-run activities (such as horseback riding).
  8. Sleep outdoors in tents on camper overnight camp-outs and cook over a fire (once a week or less).
  9. Provide emotional and behavioral support for campers as needed. 
  10. Supervise campers in the pool by being in the water with them as directed by the Lifeguard on duty.
  11. Communicate camper information to Supervisors and/or Camp Nurse.
  12. Other duties that will be assigned that are within the scope and responsibility of the position.
Required Skills and Experience:
Minimum 18 years old by the first day of camp.
  1. Education: High school diploma or equivalent. Some college/university experienced preferred. Desired coursework emphasis in recreation, education, social services, rehabilitation, and therapy.
  2. Experience:  Demonstrates the ability to lead and plan age appropriate sports and recreation activities. Ideal candidates will have experience working with people of all ages who have disabilities. Previous planning and facilitation experience is preferred.
  3. General: Individual with a demonstrated experience and interest in camping, recreation and sports. Must demonstrate maturity and responsibility; time management; and organizational skills. Must have the ability to be a self-starter and work as a team. Must demonstrate good judgment; integrity; and strong social and communication skills. Ability to learn and grow in the position through constructive feedback from supervisors. Must be able to live on-site at camp from June-August with minimal time off.
  4. Physical: Ability and stamina to work in a fast paced environment. Ability and stamina to endure long, irregular hours in a position that is both physically and emotionally demanding. Physical ability to ambulate, lift, push wheelchairs, walk long distances, hike, and participate in sports, games, and activities. Exposure to cleaning agents.
  5. Must be able to complete and pass archery certification course (provided by the camp).
  6. Must be able to complete and pass a pre-employment drug screen and FBI fingerprint check.