Job Title: Discovery Overnight Camp Counselor 

Dates of Employment: May 22, 2023 – August 13, 2023

Expected Schedule: 6+ days per week

Reports To: Program Managers; Assistant Managers

Housing Available: Yes (staff are required to live on campus)

Number of Positions Available: 16

Compensation: $550 per week base rate, 10% boost for Spanish speakers, 3% boost for returning camp staff.

At Keystone Science School, we believe that the power of inspiring curiosity and critical thinking, through the lens of science, changes lives and strengthens communities.

Located in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Keystone Science School’s historic campus serves as base camp for our diverse suite of inquiry-based learning programs. We combine hands-on science education with outdoor adventure to create engaging experiences for our students. At KSS, we change lives, we bring fun and laughter to everything we do, we care about each other and those we serve, we strive for excellence, we offer competitive compensation and generous benefits, and we are committed to serving students from diverse backgrounds. We’re proud to be Summit County’s #1 Best Non-Profit and #2 Best Place to Work (2019)! Visit KeystoneScienceSchool.org to learn more!

Program Overview and Job Summary

KSS offers a range of programs that balance hands-on science activities, field-based exploration, and adventure programming. Curriculum themes include but are not limited to: environmental science (aquatic ecology, forest ecology, earth science, snow studies, winter ecology, weather and climate), leadership, community building, STEM, outdoor skills, and health. Keystone Science School’s Overnight Camp programs combine weekly curriculum themes with traditional summer activities like hiking, camping, songs, skits, archery, and more! Students stay overnight in dorms or canvas tents.

Discovery Camp Counselors work with the Overnight program. This position is responsible for teaching and facilitating a wide variety of summer program activities. This position is the primary caregiver for each child. They are also responsible for guiding children in their personal growth and daily living skills. It is the responsibility of Discovery Overnight Camp Counselors to be completely familiar with the daily schedule and their camper’s individual and group needs. Due to the residential nature of the Discovery Camp program, Discovery Camp Counselors can expect to workdays up to 16 hours or longer.

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

• Plan, prepare, and teach age appropriate activities;
• Maintain quality programming;
• Oversee up to 13 children in a field group;
• Oversee up to 13 children on one overnight camping trip and challenge hike session;
• Oversee and support a wide variety of KSS programs and activities, which includes but is not limited to: camper choice activities/freeplay, evening programming, special events, the end of season celebration, etc.;
• Oversee and maintain high standards of health and safety, and follow Risk Management policies in all activities;
• Actively interact with and engage children during KSS programs;
• Participate as a mentor in the Counselor Assistant Program (CAP), including but not limited to, providing learning opportunities, constructive feedback and writing final letters and evaluations to each overseen CAP
• Provide an electronics-aware experience for all children and enforce an electronics-aware environment with counselors;
• Set up before children arrive and clean up after children depart from KSS campus;
• Maintain storage of all KSS equipment, including teaching materials, gear, keys, toys, etc.;
• Attend all staff meetings as assigned;
• Live with other counselors;
• Support overnight camping packing sessions;
• Support meetings and go over rules and guidelines of resident life in the cabins;
• Lead and support the “Candle Chat” program each night;
• Candidates age 20+ with a minimum of 4 years driving experience will be required to participate in and pass Van Driver Training, and they will be required to drive a 15-passenger van;
• Abide by and uphold the policies and procedures set forth by KSS;
• 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.

Preferred Skill Sets

• Ability to communicate verbally and teach in Spanish.
• Age 20+ with an excellent driving record and a valid driver’s license;
• Proficiency with Google Drive and CampSite camp management software.

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 Demands of this Position

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.

Accommodations

Housing and food are provided at no additional cost. A housing deposit may be collected.

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.