Aquatics 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, 2020 - August 9, 2020) 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:
Aquatic Leader / Cabin Counselor
ROOM/BOARD/MEALS/PAY: Room, board and meals are included in addition to pay.
RESPONSIBLE TO: Leadership Team, Aquatic Supervisor & Camp Ranger (Certified Pool Operator)
POSITIONS SUPERVISED: Lifeguards
BASIC FUNCTION: Responsible for the general supervision and guarding of all pool and/or waterfront activities (i.e. – fishing, canoeing). In addition, this position is responsible for assisting in the management of aquatics staff and also the physical operation of aquatic facilities/equipment. This includes cleaning the pool and documenting pool chemical levels. This staff member is also responsible for all aspects of aquatic related field trips.
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:
- Work with individuals of all ages with disabilities in an outdoor setting.
- Assist in training & supervising lifeguards and general staff while at aquatic programming.
- Serve as a pool and waterfront lifeguard and complete all related duties.
- Assist in maintaining the physical facilities and equipment used in aquatic programming, including cleaning the pool and managing pool chemical levels.
- Manage all aquatic-related field trips, including driving vans as assigned.
- Communicate verbally and in writing, prepare reports and evaluations, read instructions, manuals and camper information, complete daily pool/waterfront logs, read and interpret pool chemical readings, and participate in staff meetings.
- Provide surveillance during aquatic activities to help prevent and manage injuries.
- Provide rescues, first aid, CPR & other emergency services as needed based on certification/training.
- Lift and carry canoes, equipment, supplies and/or camper luggage weighing 50lbs over 30 yards.
- Assist campers (60-300 lbs.) with two-person transfers from a wheelchair to a bed, chair and/or toilet.
- Assist campers with personal activities of daily living (toileting, bathing, eating, mobility, dressing, etc.) during assigned cabin time, meals, and overnight as needed.
- Honor curfews, schedules, policies, and procedures of Highbrook Lodge.
- Help maintain a healthy camp environment through daily camp clean up including sweeping, vacuuming, emptying trash, cleaning toilets, sinks, showers, etc.…
- Maintain and follow the daily, robust camp schedule; including attendance at all meals.
- Have the mobility and capacity to independently orientate oneself around campgrounds; possess the ability to provide own signature.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Assist in training and supervising lifeguards to include written and oral observation and feedback. When necessary, may be required to fulfill job responsibilities of other aquatic staff.
- Assist in training and continual education of general staff on responsibilities at aquatic programs.
- Serve as pool and/or waterfront lifeguard during assigned activities. Supervise per camp policies and certification. Complete all required lifeguard duties as instructed.
- Maintain knowledge of, and adhere to, camp specific aquatic procedures and policies. Ensure all policies are also followed by campers, volunteers and staff.
- Manage all aquatic-related field trips, including serving as the Field Trip Leader as assigned. Requires ability to drive camp vehicles and/or camp truck with canoe trailer.
- Prep pool for cleaning. Vacuum and clean pool and pool deck as directed. Record daily pool chemical readings. Report concerns to Aquatic Supervisor immediately.
- Maintain all aquatic and rescue equipment; report concerns to Camp Ranger immediately.
- Create/prepare program plans, written reports, awards, summaries, incident reports, evaluations of programs and campers and all necessary pool/waterfront logs as directed.
- Create, plan, and lead aquatic related activities as directed.
- Maintain a healthy camp environment through daily camp clean up including sweeping, vacuuming, emptying trash, cleaning toilets, sinks, showers, etc.…
- Actively participate, assist or lead all-camp activities, non-aquatic field trips, evening programs, campfire programming (camp songs, skits), and camp-outs (cook over fire) as directed.
- Provide emotional and behavioral support for campers as needed.
- Communicate camper information to Supervisors and/or Camp Nurse.
- Other duties that will be assigned that are within the scope and responsibility of the position.
Required Skills and Experience
Minimum 21 years old by first day of camp.
- Education & Certification: High school diploma or equivalent; or college/university experience. Current Waterfront Skills Lifeguard Certification (with accompanying pool lifeguard, first aid/CPR/AED certification) by an approved national certifying body. Additional small water craft training required (provided by camp). Must be able to meet Cleveland Sight Center driving requirements.
- Experience: Previous experience working as both a pool and waterfront Lifeguard required. Experience in aquatic facility care and pool chemical reading preferred. Demonstration of previous experience working with individuals with disabilities. Experience driving large vehicles required.
- General: 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 and integrity; 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.
- Physical: Ability and stamina to work in a fast paced environment and endure long, irregular hours in a position that is both physically and emotionally demanding. Physical ability to perform lifeguard duties including daily exposure to the sun, sit or stand for long periods, perform aquatic rescues, visually and audibly identify and respond to emergencies related to the aquatic environment. Must be able to ambulate, lift, push wheelchairs, walk long distances, hike, and participate in activities. Exposure to cleaning agent and pool chemicals.
- Must be able to pass a pre-employment drug screen and FBI finger print check.