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Head Counselor - 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 (early June -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:
Head Counselor
ROOM/MEALS/PAY: Room, board and meals are included in addition to pay (when located at camp).
 
RESPONSIBLE TO:  Camp Manager and Assistant Camp Manager
POSITIONS SUPERVISED: Program Staff / Counselors, Campers, and others as assigned.
BASIC FUNCTION:  Under the immediate supervision of the Camp Manager and the Assistant Camp Manager, provide leadership and guidance to all program and cabin staff members to ensure a cohesive and functioning camp community. In this position, the primary focus will be to manage relationships (staff to camper, staff to staff) while serving as an integral member of the Camp Leadership Team and will therefore also be responsible for: serving as a role model to all staff; planning and carrying out trainings, coaching meetings, program activities, schedules, and overall camp programs as assigned; and assisting with the overall direction and implementation of all camp operations. 
*This is a residential position that requires you to live at Highbrook Lodge (Chardon, Ohio) from June 8th to August 14.
 
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
  1. Assist in pre-camp prep work – which may require working from Cleveland Sight Center location with an earlier start date.
  2. Work with individuals of all ages with disabilities in an outdoor setting.
  3. Train and supervise staff and campers as directed.
  4. Work to provide program and cabin staff with management, guidance, and support by modeling positive and appropriate behaviors.
  5. Work to build strong relationships with all camp community members in order to assist others with their own relationship building, risk management, team work abilities, and morale.
  6. Have a thorough understanding of the risk management protocol and where/when to use it.
  7. Actively participate, assist or lead all-camp activities, evening programs, campfire programming (camp songs, skits), and camp-outs as directed.
  8. Maintain and follow the daily, robust camp schedule; including attendance at all meals.
  9. Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing, including: preparing reports and evaluations; reading instructions, manuals, and camper information; and participating in staff meetings.
  10. Assist campers (60-300 lbs.) with two-person transfers from a wheelchair to a bed, chair and/or toilet.
  11. Assist campers with personal activities of daily living (toileting, bathing, eating, mobility, dressing, etc.) during assigned cabin time, meals, and overnight as needed.
  12. Lift and carry equipment, supplies and/or camper luggage weighing 50lbs over 30 yards.
  13. Assist campers in the water during swim activities (ability to swim is not essential but is preferred).
  14. Maintain confidentiality of information received about campers.
  15. Honor curfews, schedules, policies, and procedures of Highbrook Lodge.
  16. Help maintain a healthy camp environment through daily camp clean up including sweeping, vacuuming, emptying trash, cleaning toilets, sinks, showers, etc.…
  17. Have the mobility and capacity to independently orientate oneself around campgrounds; possess the ability to provide own signature.
  18. Drive agency vehicles as needed – must be 21 years or older.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:
  1. Assist in pre-camp prep work including camper registration, program planning, staff training prep, paperwork, data entry, phone calls, emails, etc…
  2. Assist with the coordination of all staff schedules and cabin assignments. 
  3. Work to provide a nurturing, safe, and fun environment for all staff and campers (emotionally and physically) throughout programming.
  4. Execute daily cabin checks for campers and weekly cabin inspections for cabin staff members to mitigate risks, ensure cleanliness, safety, organization, and compliance.
  5. Act as a mentor to seasonal staff and serve as a liaison between seasonal staff and the Camp Leadership team.
  6. Respond to, report, and document all safety incidents according to camp protocol.
  7. Hold counselors responsible for being hygienic, punctual, and providing thorough camper reports and documentation as requested.
  8. Lead difficult conversations with seasonal staff as needed and provide constructive feedback.
  9. Deliver staff appreciation initiatives that encourage and promote positive attitudes.
  10. Assist in promoting and maintaining camp’s approach to service delivery.
  11. Assist with supervising staff, including providing written and oral observation and feedback. When necessary, may be required to fulfill job responsibilities of subordinates.
  12. Prepare necessary written reports and statistics on staff as needed.
  13. Meet with Camp Manager and/or Assistant Camp Manager daily to report on program and personnel. Work with Camp Ranger on facility needs as directed.
  14. Prepare and lead various training and instructional activities for staff.
  15. Assist staff, as needed, with the behavioral, medical and personal care needs of campers.
  16. Assist with daily camper and staff attendance and daily charting notes on campers.
  17. Assist in dining room routines as needed.
  18. Prepare camper reports as assigned. Ensure staff is completing detailed camper reports as well.
  19. Assist with camper check in and check out.
  20. Drive agency vehicles on field trips, store runs, camper transportation & other times as needed.
  21. Assist on field trips, as assigned. If on trip, serve as the Trip Leader.
  22. Assist in general office duty tasks such as paperwork, data entry, and email/phone call needs.
  23. Rotate morning, evening, and over-night on-call duties with other members of the Leadership Team.
  24. Assist staff in maintaining a safe, healthy and clean environment, including helping in cleaning.
  25. Assist in American Camp Association accreditation process as directed.
  26. Perform other duties and tasks as assigned.
Required Skills and Experience:
Minimum 21 years of age
  1. Education: 1-4 years of undergraduate college/university experience, preferably with coursework emphasis in recreation, human services, rehabilitation, health, education, or special education; or equivalent in previous camp experience. Either have, or have the ability to obtain, First Aid, CPR and AED certification, Blood borne Pathogens certification, Anaphylaxis and Epinephrine Auto-Injector certification, Archery Instructor Certification, and other certifications as directed.
  2. Experience: Demonstration of previous camping experience. Prior experience leading programming to groups is preferred. Prior experience with children, adults, seniors, and special needs populations. Prior experience in a leadership or supervisory role desired.
  3. Skills: Demonstrated skill and experience in camp-related program activities (i.e., music, crafts, nature, sports and rec, outdoor living). Maturity, patience, integrity, self-starter, and good judgment and social skills in working with people. Must have a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record. Computer proficiency required, including proficiency in using all Microsoft/Google products, email, Internet, social media platforms and more.
  4. General: Be able to work May-August and live at camp from June-August with minimal time off.
  5. Physical: Works long irregular hours, physical ability to ambulate, push a wheelchair, walk long distances, sit for long periods, lift, hike, drive a vehicle, participate in sports, games, and activities, ability to carry out emergency needs and/or procedures.