Summer Day Camp Counselor 2025 - South Side YMCA

YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking organization as a Summer Camp Counselor and make a lasting impact on children's lives. This role offers an exciting opportunity to lead recreational activities, promote healthy behaviors, and create unforgettable experiences for campers. With a focus on teamwork and personal growth, you'll develop leadership skills while enjoying a supportive and inclusive work environment. The YMCA values its staff as its greatest asset, providing competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for continuous learning. If you're passionate about working with youth and want to help shape their future, this is the perfect opportunity for you!

Benefits

Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance

Paid Time Off

Flexible Work Hours

403(b) Plan with Company Contributions

Continuous Learning Opportunities

Diversity and Inclusion Support

Discounts on Programs

Employee Assistance Programs

Qualifications

• Passion for working with diverse youth and ability to provide high-quality instruction.
• Excellent verbal communication skills to present ideas clearly.

Responsibilities

• Lead recreational activities and ensure a positive camper experience.
• Promote the YMCA and provide excellent customer service.

Skills

Verbal Communication

Leadership

Creativity

Teamwork

Education

High School Diploma

Job description

Description

Lead the Fun, Shape the Future: Be a Summer Camp Counselor! 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 in unique experiences and adventures, our Summer Day Camp Counselors are developing leadership skills and confidence while making lasting friendships and memories.

Pay starts at $17.90 per hour, Monday-Friday schedule

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.

Our staff is the Y's greatest asset. Our teams provide valuable skills, knowledge, and passion that is essential to the contribution and positive impact in our communities, which is why we offer Y employees numerous perks and benefits, including:

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  We offer salaries that reflect your skills, experience, and the value you bring to our team.
  
  


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  Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans for eligible employees, along with access to wellness programs, mental health resources, and a family gym membership.
  
  


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  Generous paid time off (PTO), including paid holidays. We also offer flexible work hours to help you balance your personal and professional life.
  
  


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  403(b) plan with company contributions after 2 years of service to help you plan for your future.
  
  


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  Opportunities for continuous learning through workshops and training programs.
  
  


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  A supportive work environment that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and respected.
  
  


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  Discounts on programs, employee assistance programs, and company-sponsored events.
  
  

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

• Promote the YMCA, provide excellent customer service and create an outstanding camper experience for children, parents and families.


• Lead recreational activities with campers, including but not limited to arts and crafts, sports, social recreation, nature hikes, archery, and other games and hobbies


• Instruct campers using various teaching methods and modifies activities as needed to ensure that campers of all ages and experience levels are engaged


• Teach socially acceptable behaviors to campers by serving as a role model and by using age-appropriate positive reinforcement and behavior management strategies


• Communicate consistently with supervisors, team leaders, unit leaders and other team members to ensure everyone is kept abreast of camp activities and schedule


• Supports camp activities as assigned by supervisor, including any specialty camp activities


• Ensures 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


• Ensures compliance with established rules and regulations to ensure safety


• Monitors campers and counselors and provides corrective coaching and intervention as necessary


• Set-up facilities and/or equipment for activities and stores equipment appropriately after use and work to keep 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 not afraid to work and play hard


• Your experience in camping, childcare, education, recreation, sports or related is a plus but not required


• You will 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 ability to provide a high-quality of instruction using age-appropriate practices


• Proven ability to establish constructive relationships and interact as a positive role model


• Continuous learner who leverages opportunities for learning and applies new knowledge and skills


• Meets physical qualifications required as outlined in 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 violation of policy and procedures to your supervisor


• Completing all child abuse prevention training as required

Qualifications

Behaviors

Team Player - Works well as a member of a group
Leader - Inspires teammates to follow them
Enthusiastic - Shows intense and eager enjoyment and interest

Motivations

Self-Starter - Inspired to perform without outside help
Flexibility - Inspired to perform well when granted the ability to set your own schedule and goals
Ability to Make an Impact - Inspired to perform well by the ability to contribute to the success of a project or the organization

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.