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Behavior Specialist

The Alaska Center
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Trailside Discovery Camp is an award-winning 12-week summer camp for local Alaskans ages 5-14 that offers environmental education and high adventure day programs as well as overnight trips that take campers into Alaska’s wilderness. Behavior Specialists rotate through all groups of campers and assist with managing camper behavior in a group setting. Specialists help maintain a safe and inclusive environment for all.


 

Qualifications:

  • Available for the duration of our summer season
  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Previous experience working with kids in a formal or informal setting, with a preference for candidates who have experience in special education and behavior support
  • Current First Aid/CPR certification (we offer a course during staff training!)
  • Ability to work well with other instructors, managers, and campers ages 5-14
  • Skilled at time management and prioritizing tasks to facilitate the best experience possible for campers 
  • Previous experience in teaching environmental education or high adventure activities
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills 
  • Desire to be a part of a diverse team from different life backgrounds 
  • Self-motivated and passionate about our mission of environmental stewardship
  • Willingness to be flexible and step into Instructor role when scheduling necessitates
  • Committed to reflecting the values of Trailside Discovery Camp and The Alaska Center Education Fund by working towards justice, equity, and inclusion in the world of environmental activism - this includes respecting all aspects of human diversity, including race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, socioeconomic status, age, gender, disability, and sexual orientation


 

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Pursuing or already have a degree in environmental science, education, mental health, or a related field
  • Experience working with youth with neurodivergent/behavioral needs. 
  • Knowledge of Alaskan ecology and local environmental topics
  • A minimum of one year of experience in a childcare, camp, or youth program in a supervisory capacity. 


 

Essential Functions:

  • Candidates should demonstrate proven experience in supporting, guiding, and managing camper or student behavior through positive, developmentally appropriate, and proactive approaches.
  • Arriving on time to the scheduled shift and assisting with check-in or check-out, depending on the shift
  • Working with the Program Manager to prepare program bins for Instructors
  • Assisting Instructors with setting up for and cleaning up from more involved activities
  • Review the weekly behavior conditions report and create a plan of effective support across all camper groups
  • Managing camper behavior in a group setting and being a positive role model for other Instructors
  • Assisting campers in an emergency (fire, evacuation, illness, injury).
  • Communicating effectively with campers, parents, Assistant Instructors, Instructors, and Managers
  • Work with families and camp leadership to provide support to campers with diverse needs. 
  • Working with a diverse clientele from the Anchorage community
  • Possessing strength and endurance required to maintain supervision of campers
  • Appropriately responding to environmental, wildlife, and other natural hazards
  • Attending mandatory staff training and meetings throughout the summer


 

Other Job Responsibilities:

Program

  • Reflecting the values of Trailside Discovery Camp and The Alaska Center by demonstrating environmental stewardship
  • Upholding Alaska Center Education Fund and Trailside Discovery Camp mission and cultural values by exhibiting cross cultural competency 
  • Maintaining the standards of the American Camping Association
  • Planning and delivering environmental education and/or high adventure programs for campers ages 5-14
  • Working with Instructors, Specialists, and Managers to provide high quality education experiences to all Trailside Discovery Camp participants
  • Supervising and ensuring the safety of campers
  • Coordinating with Assistant Instructors, Instructors, Program Managers, and Site Managers
  • Keeping the program binders and program bins intact and well organized


 

Childcare

  • Recognizing and appropriately responding to hazards and emergencies
  • Maintaining American Camping Association standards
  • Encouraging the personal and social development of children
  • Reporting all accidents, significant illnesses, and/or signs of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse to the Camp Director
  • Managing camper behavior and defining clear expectations 
  • Support camper behaviors, to create successful camp environment


 

Records

  • Perform attendance each morning to ensure an accurate group headcount
  • Submit requests in advance to change daily schedule if desired
  • Protect the confidentiality of the participants' records


 

Supervision and Support

  • The Behavior Specialist reports to the Site Manager of their site


 

Attendance

  • Attending staff training
  • Attending all staff meetings
  • Completing the entire length of the summer as agreed upon in contract