Summer Day Camp Counselor 2025 - McCormick YMCA

Ymcachicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

Join a vibrant community as a Summer Day Camp Counselor, where you can inspire and lead children through fun and educational activities. This role offers a unique opportunity to develop your leadership skills while ensuring a safe and engaging environment for campers. As a professional role model, you'll guide youth in various recreational activities, from arts and crafts to nature hikes, all while fostering a sense of community and belonging. If you have a passion for working with kids and enjoy the outdoors, this role is perfect for you. Experience the joy of making a difference in children's lives this summer at the YMCA!

Qualifications

• Passion for working with diverse youth and excellent communication skills.
• Ability to establish constructive relationships and serve as a positive role model.

Responsibilities

• Lead recreational activities and ensure campers' safety and engagement.
• Promote YMCA values and provide excellent customer service.

Skills

Leadership Skills

Communication Skills

Creativity

Childcare Experience

Teamwork

Education

High School Diploma

Job description

Summer Day Camp Counselor 2025 - McCormick YMCA

Job Category: Day Camp

Requisition Number: SUMME004611

Posted: January 16, 2025

Employment Type: Part-Time

Location: McCormick YMCA, 1834 N Lawndale, Chicago, IL 60647, USA

Pay: Starts at $17.90 per hour, Monday-Friday schedule

Join us for the experience of a lifetime! The YMCA is hiring Summer Day Camp Counselors for 2025. At the Y, we create an exciting, safe camp environment for kids and staff to have an unforgettable summer. While campers are taking part in unique experiences and adventures, our Summer Day Camp Counselors are developing leadership skills and confidence while making lasting friendships and memories.

The Summer Day Camp Counselor serves as a professional role model for our campers by leading through example and guiding campers through recreational activities that teach life skills, encourage healthy and safe behaviors, and create a positive camper experience. The Summer Camp Counselor ensures that each youth has adequate supervision, including ensuring that no youth is unsupervised at any time.

As a Summer Day Camp Counselor, you are responsible for:

• Promoting the YMCA, providing excellent customer service, and creating an outstanding camper experience for children, parents, and families.
• Leading recreational activities with campers, including but not limited to arts and crafts, sports, social recreation, nature hikes, archery, and other games and hobbies.
• Instructing campers using various teaching methods and modifying activities as needed to ensure that campers of all ages and experience levels are engaged.
• Teaching socially acceptable behaviors to campers by serving as a role model and using age-appropriate positive reinforcement and behavior management strategies.
• Communicating consistently with supervisors, team leaders, unit leaders, and other team members to ensure everyone is kept abreast of camp activities and schedule.
• Supporting camp activities as assigned by the supervisor, including any specialty camp activities.
• Ensuring the physical and emotional health and safety of campers by being safety conscious, following all established YMCA standards, and critically evaluating situations for potential risks.
• Ensuring compliance with established rules and regulations to ensure safety.
• Monitoring campers and counselors and providing corrective coaching and intervention as necessary.
• Setting up facilities and/or equipment for activities and storing equipment appropriately after use while keeping camp facilities clean at all times.

What do you need to be a Summer Day Camp Counselor?

• A commitment to and a passion for working with diverse youth.
• Enjoy being outdoors, are creative, and are not afraid to work and play hard.
• Experience in camping, childcare, education, recreation, sports, or related fields is a plus but not required.
• You must be 18 years of age or older by the start of camp.
• Excellent verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly and concisely present ideas and concepts and tailor communication to multiple audiences.
• Passion for working with diverse youth and the ability to provide high-quality instruction using age-appropriate practices.
• Proven ability to establish constructive relationships and interact as a positive role model.
• A continuous learner who leverages opportunities for learning and applies new knowledge and skills.
• Meets physical qualifications required as outlined in the job description.
• The YMCA will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities.

Child Abuse Prevention: Supports the YMCA’s commitment to child abuse prevention by:

• Reporting any items that may provide a health or safety hazard to staff, members, or guests to your supervisor.
• Following all policies and procedures related to keeping children safe in our facilities and programs, including those related to the monitoring and supervision of children.
• Reporting any suspicious behavior and violations of policy and procedures to your supervisor.
• Completing all child abuse prevention training as required.