Job Title: Pathfinders Day Camp Counselor
Dates of Employment: May 12, 2025 - August 15, 2025
Reports To: Day Camp Programs Manager
Housing Available: Yes
Compensation: $550 per week base rate, 10% differential (increase) for Spanish speakers, 3% increase for returning camp staff.
About Keystone Science School
With the outdoors as a backdrop for learning, Keystone Science School inspires curiosity and critical thinking through the lens of science to change lives and strengthen communities. KSS offers a variety of adventure and traditional camp activities within a structured environment designed to allow each camper and participant to understand their potential. In all programs, campers and participants will create lifelong friendships, explore and learn about the natural world, and gain leadership and wilderness skills. For more information go to keystonescienceschool.org
With a staff that cares deeply about social justice and racial justice, we believe that diverse perspectives and backgrounds create a rich work environment and enhance our ability to pursue our mission. We are committed to building an organization with raised consciousness in order to impact how we work with clients, as well as how we work together as a team.
Program Overview and Job Summary
KSS offers day camp programming based out of the KSS campus for local and visiting children grades Kindergarten through 5th. Programming is age specific and full-day, offering educational and recreational activities with weekly science and adventure themes. Each week, campers will participate in hands-on activities, local hikes, arts and crafts, games, leadership, literacy, community building and much more!
Pathfinders is an adventure day camp for middle school aged campers with 3 themes: Rock, Horse, and Water. Pathfinders counselors are responsible for facilitating a wide variety of curricula and activities. Pathfinders counselors are also required to go through KSS’s rock climbing training and must have prior rock climbing experience. Pathfinders counselors are the primary caregiver for each child attending programming, and are responsible for guiding campers in their personal growth and daily living skills.
Main areas of focus:
90% Teaching and facilitation
10% Support staff duties (e.g. facilitation of meals, setup/clean up, transportation, student free time).
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Supervise up to 13 children each day and actively interact with and engage children during KSS programs;
Prepare, and teach age appropriate activities;
Maintain high standards of health and safety, and follow Risk Management policies in all activities;
Oversee the successful execution of logistic and operational tasks for Day Camp programs, which includes but is not limited to: taking photos, check-in/out, etc.;
Drive a 15-passenger van and successfully complete Van Driver Training;
Set up before children arrive and clean up after children depart from program campus;
Maintain storage of all KSS equipment.
Attend all staff meetings and trainings as assigned;
Lead rock climbing program while maintaining all KSS climbing policies and risk management.
Other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities – Minimum Requirements
Have an interest in, respect for, and ability to work with children;
Have an interest in, respect for, and ability to work with people with diverse backgrounds;
Ability to create an inclusive learning environment for students from a wide range of backgrounds;
Experience with risk management practices of the outdoor and environmental education industry;
Ability to be creative, adaptable, and flexible while managing children in a variety of situations;
Strong work ethic and will work until the job is complete;
Motivation to contribute positively to the KSS at-large community;
Multi-task efficiently while managing a high-volume workload in a fast-paced, changing environment;
Superior customer service skills, with the ability to be creative and think 'outside the box';
Ability to work in a busy environment with many distractions.
Required Education, Experience, and Certifications
Candidates will be asked to provide verification of 460 hours of experience working with school-age children;
Current Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and CPR certifications, from an approved vendor, or the ability to obtain before the first day of employment;
Must be able to successfully pass a comprehensive background check;
Age 20+ with an excellent driving record and a valid driver's license.
Pathfinders Counselors will be required to attend the site manager training from May 12th-16th and successfully pass the KSS site manager check-off. Site managers will be the primary person responsible for sport climbing, setting up and cleaning top rope climbs, institutional rappels, managing the crag and, in collaboration with the co-instructor, holding high standards of safety and risk management. Applicants should have a demonstrated history of sport climbing and be confident and knowledgeable to guide outdoor climbing trips for participants ages 5-17. Professional experience and industry specific current certifications are a plus.
Preferred:
Demonstrated awareness of safety practices associated with outdoor climbing crags.
Demonstrated background in working with youth in an outdoor climbing setting.
Teach students basic rock climbing safety and skills.
Ability to properly inspect software and hardware used for outdoor sport climbing.
Familiarity with tying knots and hitches related to sport climbing.
Strong ability to manage groups of youth in climbing situations is a requirement for this position.
Attend in-house required rock climbing training and, after training, demonstrate the ability to safely teach students how to belay, manage a rock top rope climbing site, lead belay, and coach students on fundamentals of climbing.
Equipment familiarity with all aspects of outdoor sport climbing
This includes, but is not limited to:
i. Harnesses
ii. Helmets
iii. Dynamic and static rope
iv. Belay devices
v. Slings and webbing
Quickdraws
Prior experience sport and/or trad climbing 5.8+, ability to lead climb 5.10 and above is preferred
Prior experience leading institutional rock climbing and setting up/cleaning top rope climbs
Familiarity with safe rappel practices.
Familiarity, or ability to learn, basic rescue techniques such as belay transfers.
Familiarity with climbing crags associated with the KSS climbing program is a plus but not required.
Attend in-house required rock climbing training and, after training, demonstrate necessary skills
Climbing certifications such as an SPI are a strong addition to any application.
Work Schedule
This is a full-time, seasonal position. The typical work schedule will require a flexible schedule, including days, nights, and weekends. Counselors should expect to work 60+ hours a week including some evenings and overnights to support day camp meetings and programming. Counselors can expect to be off on weekends other than during staff training.
Travel Expectations
In many situations, KSS will provide transportation to satellite programming locations. However, staff may be asked to use personal vehicles to travel within Summit County. Any travel mileage outside Summit County may be reimbursed.
Physical Requirements
Able to work a majority of the time outside at high altitude in varying conditions including uneven and slick terrain and unpredictable weather and situations.
Physically able to assist participants with recreation equipment during activities.
Able to lift a minimum of 75 lbs. with assistance.
Dexterity, auditory and visual acuity to operate computers and phones or mobile devices.
Auditory and visual acuity to interact with guests, students, clients on a daily basis.
Able to successfully manage multiple, high priority tasks in a fast-paced and oftentimes crowded and noisy
Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands and fingers to feel, handle, or hold objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear. The employee often stands for up to 16 hours per day, but may be required to stand longer in emergency situations. The employee must be able to lift and carry at least 40 pounds for an extended duration. The employee is frequently required to travel for extended periods over rugged terrain. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This position requires the employee to work in close contact with their teammates and children. Staff will be expected to adhere to dynamic health guidance and policy set forth by KSS while working with children during a global pandemic. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but varies seasonally due to programs and staffing on campus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee often works outside and drives vehicles in various weather conditions.
Room and Board
During the summer months KSS houses a large staff so employees can expect multiple roommates and shared living spaces (staff kitchen, bathrooms, showers, laundry, common spaces, etc.). Food is provided for this position, most meals will be eaten with campers, but the kitchen strives to have food options for all staff to meet dietary needs. Housing and food are provided at no additional cost.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Keystone Science School is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a wide variety of backgrounds. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, religion, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.