Camp Counselor On-Call

About the Organization

Founded as separate organizations in 1948, Jewish Long Beach and the Barbara and Ray Alpert JCC (AJCC) are the newly merged single agency serving the functions of a Jewish community center, Jewish federation, and Jewish community foundation for the Long Beach and west Orange County areas. Jewish Long Beach and the AJCC administer a wide variety of programs and services, rooted in Jewish values but open to all, including early childhood education, summer camp, and after-school programs, adult education, services for seniors, leadership development, fitness and wellness programs, advocacy, and much more. Jewish Long Beach also awards nearly $500,000 in grants annually to a variety of nonprofit agencies throughout the Long Beach area and overseas. The organization owns and operates an eight-acre multi-use campus in east Long Beach, has an annual operating budget of approximately $7 million, and manages approximately $35 million in philanthropic assets.
 

Summary

This is a temporary position in the Youth Department of Jewish Long Beach and Alpert Jewish Community Center. The Camp Counselor is responsible for the health and safety of the children in his/her care, continuing the Guidelines of the Jewish Long Beach and Alpert JCC Youth Program, and to propagate a positive experience for campers allowing them to grow emotionally and developmentally.
 

Essential Duties

• Guide campers in positive group experiences, which may include planning a full range of activities for groups during the camp day. Setting up weekly group schedules with the Youth Department Associate and Youth Programs Coordinator.
• Helping to plan programs/activities to ensure pro-active and productive time for the campers.
•  Mandatory attendance at staff training and any supplemental staff trainings as assigned.
•  Attendance at all weekly staff meetings (if assigned) as well as any other conditional supervisory conferences.
•  Maintenance of all camp facilities and surrounding areas, fiscal responsibility to Youth Programs Coordinator, and assumed responsibility in program areas as assigned.
•  Lead or support various camp activities even when not the assigned lead for a program. This may consist of standing next to the song leader during morning circle or asking co-counselors how to best facilitate their program.
•  Supervision of all campers in group, accountable for attendance, health supervision, and safety of all campers in group. Accountable to the Youth Department Associate and the Youth Programs Coordinator for all information concerning campers.
•  Maintains the highest quality of courtesy, friendliness and service excellence toward members, visitors and other staff. Retains said qualities and acts as a representative of the Alpert Jewish Community Center in and out of building.
•  Reacts to change productively and handles other essential tasks as assigned. General responsibilities of all Alpert Jewish Community Center staff include participation in staff meetings, display of courtesy towards current and prospective members, participation in programs or events as required and other staff team functions.
•  Camp Counselors are also responsible for their own behavior as a role model. Language, attire, and behavior will be consistent and appropriate to JCC standards.
•  Other duties as assigned.

Behavioral Expectations

•  Clearly communicate the “mission,” ensuring everyone works toward the same goals.
•  Create a positive environment where two-way communication, accountability, and strong trust are established.
•  Promote teamwork and respect, both internally between staff as well as in community-facing contexts with donors, volunteers, members, and other stakeholders.
•  Demonstrate the ability to respond with a high degree of responsiveness to the needs and requests of others, internally and externally. Understand the impact of their work on others.
•  Deal constructively with conflict and focus on the situation, issue or behavior and not on the person by diffusing situations before conflicts arise, resolving conflicts directly and actively promoting and gaining cooperation from others.
•  Accurately provide and receive information in oral and written communications.
•  Consistently provide ideas, opinions, or information in an articulate, professional way.
•  Actively listen to others and demonstrate understanding of other points of view.
•  Willingness and ability to adjust to changing conditions or priorities.
•  Take the initiative to identify and act on problems, and lead by example. Consistently make decisions that resolve problems and act decisively when necessary.

Education and/or Experience

Must have a high school diploma or equivalent.

Language Skills

Excellence in customer service requires the ability to deal effectively with people in a variety of situations in person and in writing. Ability to communicate in English effectively with campers, counselors, members and other JCC employees. Ability to read and interpret English language documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to transfer said knowledge to campers as needed.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
 

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the Camp Counselor is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. This person is required to stand and move about the entire building and grounds. The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. This person will also need to be active in a swimming pool setting, passing a minimum swimming competency test.