Volunteer Cabin Counselor

About the Position

Job Title: Volunteer Camp Counselor Department: Camp Marshall Immediate Supervisor: Summer Program Director Sessions we need volunteers for include: *Volunteers arrive early to get moved in and receive supplemental training.

Sessions we need volunteers for include:

Grace Camp: Friday June 21 - 28th, 2024 (Students arrive on June 23th)

Family Camp One: Saturday June 29 - 5, 2024 (Families arrive on June 30th)

Jr. Middler Camp: Friday July 5 - July 12, 2024 (Students arrive on July 7th)

Family Camp Two: Friday July 14 - July 19th, 2024 (Families arrive on Sunday July 14th)

Senior High Camp: Friday July 19th - July 26th, 2024 (Students arrive on July 21st)

Volunteer Camp Counselor Job Description Job Description Summary

Community: Camp Marshall is a community experience where all staff are with each other for an entire summer. Each week the staff will see a new group of campers, while concurrently, a deeper community will form among the staff. While each staff person has a role or specialty area, such as Cabin Counselor, the larger role is one of everyone doing their part by living in community. It is that “intentionality of life together” where you might find yourself helping in the kitchen, campfire and or evening programming. Counselors directly supervise campers and are responsible to lead groups of campers in daily camp activities. Counselors lead and motivate campers, and facilitate safe group interactions to foster campers’ social, spiritual, physical, and intellectual growth. Responsibilities include creating a strong and safe cabin community, giving attention to the needs of individual campers, supporting program staff in teaching activities during the day including, but not limited to, archery, arts & crafts, fishing, challenge course activities, water sports, field games, hiking, music, and possible overnight camping trips off site and serving as a positive role model for campers. Counselors help to lead Bible Studies and small group reflection with campers during each camp session and will help to lead worship at least once during each camp session. As a Cabin Counselor, you will work with other counselors and program staff assigned to your group to help craft a weekly schedule, including day camps, for the campers/families you are assigned. Working in concert with different program specialists, such as Arts and Crafts, Waterfront or Media seek to foster the development of Christian Community while providing “context” for our life in Christ through programs. Cabin Counselors will oversee daily engagement with their campers, upkeep of camp facilities, and cabin devotional practices. Outreach Programs: At the end of the season, the focus switches to functioning as a Day Camp Counselor in various locations around the diocese. The purpose of our Day Camps is to partner with local congregations in conducting an Outreach Program in a local setting. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Planning & Preparation: During Staff Training you will learn: 1) Goals and objectives of Camp Marshall, the Camp Commission and program design. 2) Learn American Camp Association (ACA) standards that relate to work at camp. 3) Summer program weeks and program design. 4) Begin developing a vision for the delivery of a program that is age appropriate and allows for participation at different skill levels. *Over the course of the summer we will be working with children and families. Class sizes may range from 12 – 20 people. (program staff will be working with you) 5) Become familiar with Camp Marshall’s web platform. The ability to create content, write blogs, post social posts to share the camps story is essential. 6) Inventory: Become familiar with inventory in different program areas of camp. Assist Program Specialists develop a list and items needed for the season. Staff Training: Specific training goals: 1) Successful completion of staff training: This includes being certified in First Aid/CPR, AED card. (This can be obtained during staff training), and Safe Church Training. 2) Program Skills Training: Areas include, but are not limited to waterfront, Archery, Challenge Course, Arts and Crafts and Media 3) Inventory skills of other staff: Spend time with all the staff and learn what skills they have. It is quite possible there will be others on staff who have the skills to lead an activity. *This work may greatly influence goal setting. 4) Participate in Goal Setting for the summer: Working with Directors, Program Specialists, and Counselors to help set the tone for the summer. 5) Learn the characteristics of different age groups. 6) Learn the Discipline model for camp. 7) Learn about camper evaluations. 8) Learn how to lead campfire on assigned nights. 9) Willingness to fill in for other staff situations arise. 10) Work with a small group of counseling staff. Specific Responsibilities during program weeks: 1) Develop a personal relationship with each member of your cabin group. Get to know them and be available at all times for their various needs. Socially interact with them. Be familiar with what’s going on in their lives. 2) Check the schedule and make copies to hang in your cabin. Make sure your campers know when they are scheduled to do something and make sure your campers on time. 3) Help each cabin participant meet the goals established by Camp Marshall for our campers. 4) Supervise all aspects of assigned campers’ days, including wake-up, clean up, meals, rest time, evening activities, preparing for bed, overnight, and after-hours duties as assigned. 5) Recognize and respond to opportunities for problem solving in your cabin group. 6) Help staff/volunteers/Clergy when needed. 7) Help lead worship, program activities, camp songs, skits, and cabin devotions as assigned. 8) Take an active role in leading campers in activities and exercise visible leadership to model for campers. 9) Support campers, counseling staff and volunteers as they engage in leading activities at camp. 10) Offer daily check-in opportunities for your campers. 11) Supervise and participate in cabin clean up, KP, meal hosting and bathroom duties as assigned. 12) Be able to lead, facilitate, and create small groups in working with Bible studies. 13) Lead campfire on assigned nights. 14) Model for and support counselors as they facilitate a nightly check-in and devotion time with their cabin. 15) Round up your campers at lights out and remain with them until wake-up. 16) Perform other duties as occasionally assigned by the director. 17) Inform the Program Director or their designee of any camper or staff problems, concerns, or issues. 18) Be aware of your counseling limitations and speak with the director(s) or their designee if you have any concerns or questions about those limits. General Summer Program: 1. In general, the ratio of Cabin Counselors to Campers is one to six. 2. Cabin Counselors work with three other counselors in their team who will be supervising up to 25 students (when youth camps) or up to half of the programming for family camps. 3. Cabin Counselors participate in a variety of leadership roles. 4. In addition to supervising campers, Cabin Counselors participate in; helping build weekly schedules, running program areas, assisting other counselors/volunteers in working with campers through discipline issues. If needed Cabin Counselors will jump into another cabin to cover for a counselor who is sick or unable to perform their duties. 5. Identify and help resolve conflicts as they arise with campers.

Requirements

Minimum Skills: JOB QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. COMPLETE ALL NECESSARY STEPS IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS: This includes but is not limited to; (See camp policies for complete list on the web page). 1. A complete job application with references. 2. Signed contract or “letter of agreement” 3. A complete criminal background and sex offender registry check 4. Be fully vaccinated for COVID 19 prior to arriving at Camp. 5. Have read and signed the “Summer Staff Information” and agree to the terms, which are outlined. SUPPORT THE MISSION OF CAMP MARSHALL: 1. Encourage spiritual development in people of all ages; lead staff and campers in forming a community of faith and worship. 2. Communicate professionally and effectively with guests, staff, and members of the diocese, orally and in writing. EDUCATION and or EXPERIENCE 1. Be over 18 years of age during the summer camp season for which you are applying. 2. Minimum High School Graduate or GED. 3. Desire and ability to work with children outdoors. 4. Current certifications in CPR, First Aid, AED, and Challenge Course or willingness to obtain during staff training. 5. Current certification as an American Red Cross Lifeguard or willingness to obtain during staff training. 6. Current USA Level 1 Archery Instructor / or equivalent experience and or willing to obtain during staff training. 7. Food Handlers Permit and Safe Church training or willingness to obtain during staff training. 8. Experience as a camp counselor. Comfortable and able to lead large groups and teach a variety of activities. 9. Willingness to encourage physical, emotional, and spiritual growth and positive character development. 10. Willing and able to live within a close camp community six days a week. 11. Possesses integrity, maturity, adaptability, and excellent communication skills 12. Ability to plan, carry out, and evaluate camp programs. 13. Ability to work with little or no supervision. Self-motivated. REASONING Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions. 1. Manage time and prioritize goals without regular supervision. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 1. The person hired for this position must be able to: a. physically walk around the 27-acre site of Camp Marshall. Physical aspects of the job include the ability to hear, see, and respond to emergencies as they arise on the campsite. 2. Willingness to live in a camp setting and work irregular hours delivering camp programs in a rustic facility, operate with daily exposure to varying weather conditions. 3. Willingness and ability to participate fully in program areas of camp to include, but not limited to; Arts and Crafts, Digital Media, Waterfront, Kayaking, Stand Up Paddle boarding, Music, Field Games, Archery and Gaga Ball. 4. Willingness to participate in Day Camps that are held in various parts of the Dioceses of Montana, live in housing provided by local congregations, and adapt to the day camp schedules when on the road. WORK ENVIRONMENT 1. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all the responsibilities, skills, duties, functions of this job. While this job description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job, work schedule, and or to require that other different tasks be performed when circumstances change (e.g., emergencies, changes in personnel, workloads, equipment breakdowns for example). 2. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

About Camp Marshall

Mission of Camp Marshall: We are a vital part of the body of Christ, a Church which is loving, growing, vibrant, relevant, and effective. We extend the love of Christ through the sacraments, relationships, and our communities. Camp Marshall is a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Montana. Reflecting the basic principles of the Christian Faith. Camp Marshall provides quality programs and facilities that promote positive character development and provide opportunities to encounter God. All people in the employ of the camp are expected to be familiar with and supportive of the basic polity and practice of The Episcopal Church. Further employment privileges and responsibilities are found in the policy and procedures manual provided each employee.