Youth Empowerment Professional
The American Youth Foundation dares people to discover and celebrate the very best in themselves and others, inspires them to explore diverse perspectives and complex challenges, and emboldens them to live courageously, engaging their full capacity.
We are a 100 year old nonprofit organization that is focused on empowering youth voices. We aim to offer equitable access to outdoor, experiential adventures. We seek to amplify youth voices as they recognize their own agency, articulate their ideas, and act with bold purpose throughout their lives. Our site at Miniwanca, located along the shores of Lake Michigan, serves over 2,200 youth each year through our school programs, National Leadership Conference, and summer camp.
All of our employees are labeled “Youth Empowerment Professionals”, because the work you will do with us equips you with the knowledge and experience to support young people unleashing their best into the world. After you settle into our beautiful 360 acres of sand dunes and towering forests, you will undergo weeks of staff training covering everything you can think of. From understanding broad topics like child development and behavior, social emotional learning, and group dynamics to the practical applications of how to deal with homesickness, how to run an interest group activity, and learning tons of silly games and songs, you will become an expert in creating a fun, inclusive environment for kids from all backgrounds. You will get hours of hands-on experience and be responsible for the health, safety, and well-being of the campers in your care. With each year of experience, you have opportunities for added certifications, responsibilities, financial bonuses, and professional growth.
In addition, you are part of an intentionally diverse community. Our communities are joy-filled, optimistic, hopeful places where each person is encouraged to explore through play and express their own authentic spirit. We aspire to create spaces where all people are included and feel a sense of belonging. In these thriving program communities, diverse perspectives provide a foundation to build greater understanding and foster equity. You will form friendships and mentorships with your colleagues that go deeper than many other relationships. When your job is to laugh, play, and be silly, you can't help but connect with those around you and form authentic relationships.
We have positions in a variety of areas of camp, including cabin leaders, trip leaders, waterfront specialists, logistics specialists, drivers, media, health team, facilities, food program, and department coordinators. For more information on our specific jobs, visit our website at https://ayf.com/about-ayf/work-at-miniwanca/. When you're ready to apply, visit miniwanca.campbrainstaff.com.