Camp Independence Summer 2025 Overnight Camp Counselor

YMCA Camp Independence is now hiring Overnight Camp Counselors for the 2025 Summer Camp Season!

YMCA Camp Independence is a special place for children and young adults with spina bifida and other neurological disabilities. The camp program is designed to teach life skills, foster independence, build confidence, teach leadership and increase self-esteem.

Located near Fox Lake in northern Illinois, Camp Independence offers one-week residential camp sessions in the summer and weekend retreats from September through April.

The Overnight 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 Overnight Camp Counselor ensures that each youth has adequate supervision including ensuring that no youth is unsupervised at any time.

Pay range starts at $840 bi-weekly, housing & meals provided

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.
  
  
• 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.
  
  

Scope of Responsibilities

Camper Experience

• Promotes the YMCA and provides outstanding customer service by creating an outstanding camper experience for children, parents and families.
• Leads recreational activities with campers, including but not limited to, arts and crafts, sports, social recreation, songfests, nature hikes, archery, and other games and hobbies. Instructs campers using various teaching methods and modifies activities as needed to ensure that campers of all ages and experience levels are engaged.
• Teaches socially acceptable behaviors to campers by serving as a role model and by using age-appropriate positive reinforcement and behavior management strategies.
• Communicates consistently with supervisor, team leader, unit leader 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.

Camp Safety

• 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.
• Sets up facilities and/or equipment for activities and stores equipment appropriately after use. Immediately notifies Program Director of any broken or unsafe equipment or if more resources/equipment are needed.
• Works to keep camp facilities clean at all times

Requirements and Qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years of age by the first day of camp
• Must have prior experience working with youth; previous experience in a camp setting strongly preferred
• Relevant specialty experience for positions supporting specialty camps
• Commitment to, and passion for, the YMCA of Metro Chicago's mission
• 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. Ability to observe camper behavior and apply appropriate behavior management techniques.
• 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
• Demonstrates evidence of YMCA Y Team competencies in previous experience or practice
• Meets physical qualifications required as outlined in job description. The YMCA will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities.

Child Abuse Prevention - Supports the commitment of the YMCA 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.

Detail Oriented - Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well
Team Player - Works well as a member of a group
Leader - Inspires teammates to follow them
Enthusiastic - Shows intense and eager enjoyment and interest

Ability to Make an Impact - Inspired to perform well by the ability to contribute to the success of a project or the organization
Growth Opportunities - Inspired to perform well by the chance to take on more responsibility