Summer Camp Counselor
Summer Camp Counselor
Urban Adamah is an educational farm and community center in Berkeley, California that integrates the practices of Jewish tradition, mindfulness, sustainable agriculture, and social justice to build loving, just, and sustainable communities. We provide training programs, educational workshops, and community celebrations for more than 10,000 visitors annually.
Every summer, Urban Adamah offers an outdoor summer camp for kids ages 3–14. Summer Camp features hands-on projects and activities exploring themes that integrate nature-connection, crafts, farming, community-building, and Jewish values. Camp Urban Adamah is designed to create a space for children to thrive and express their natural curiosity and passion, all within a vibrant, loving, and inclusive Jewish community.
About The Role
Camp Urban Adamah relies on an experienced and talented group of counselors to create loving, inspiring, memorable, and transformative experiences for children. Our counselors ensure that children of different ages can have wonderful experiences both as part of a large group, and in smaller age-based groups.
All counselors are required to attend staff training on June 5–7, 10am-3pm. Camp will include 5 sessions: Session 1 (June 9–20), Session 2 (June 23–July 3), Session 3 (July 7–25), and Session 4 (July 28–August 8), Session 5 (August 11–15). There is no camp on July 4, and counselors will have off that day.
Counselors may work for less than all 4 sessions, however, priority will be given to applicants who can work all 4 sessions. There will also be the opportunity to help with post-camp clean-up from August 12-13 for additional pay, though this additional work is not guaranteed.
RESPOSIBILITIES
- Group Leader: Counselors are responsible for co-leading a chavura, or group, of up to 10-15 children during the camp day (9:00 – 3:00pm) with another counselor. Counselors have the support of their co-counselors and the Camp Manager, as well as an intern and CIT, when applicable. Counselors set the tone of the group through team-building games, fun beginning-of-day and end-of-day rituals, listening circles and more. Counselors are in charge of time and group management for their chavura group and for setting and upholding standards of safety and respect within the group.
- Camp Support: Counselors are responsible for daily set-up and clean-up (in general and after specific activities) as well as other tasks related to camp operations on an as-needed basis. Our younger campers may also need help changing their clothes and using the bathroom (no diaper-changing). We appreciate an overall spirit of flexibility and enthusiasm!
- Safety: All counselors ensure that camp is a safe environment for children, as well as other staff. Counselors make sure that all children are accounted for and within their specified locations from drop-off to pick-up time. Counselors keep a birds-eye-view of potential hazards around the farm, help children use tools safely, are available to administer basic first aid, and support emergency protocols and procedures.
- Program/Activity Leader: Counselors help facilitate activities throughout the program. Activities include typical farm tasks such as planting, harvesting, tending to garden beds, and caring for animals; and creative projects involving the arts, music, dance, and drama. In most cases, counselors are not usually responsible for creating their own programmatic activities, but they provide a critical role in either supporting our summer specialists in leading activities, or at times, leading pre-designed activities.
- Other Responsibilities: Camp Urban Adamah has a small staff. Counselors will be asked to support camp in a variety of ways as needed. This may include song-leading, facilitation of camp-wide opening and closing circle, talent shows. Counselors are encouraged to bring their own creativity to camp. Counselors are expected to lend a hand when needed, which may involve stepping up and/or working with your supervisor to meet unexpected needs.
About You
We are open to applicants with varying levels and types of experience, provided that the applicant displays the skills required to successfully execute the job described above.
COMPETENCIES AND STRENGTHS
You might be a good fit if you:
- You have a love of children and relevant experience working with children and in camp environments
- You like being outside for most of the day, helping children learn about farming and nature
- You are enthusiastic, creative, and sometimes even a little silly
- You are receptive to feedback and taking direction
- You demonstrate patience, compassion and understanding while maintaining strong boundaries and communicating clear expectations
- You are flexible and are generally willing to try new things
- You engage children with respect and model awe, compassion, and curiosity
- You are excited about collaborating with colleagues and maintaining a positive work environment
- You have a desire to explore and share Jewish environmental wisdom and spirituality (Jewish background / knowledge is not necessary)
- You are a creative problem solver and are adaptable in the presence of strong emotions and/or needs
- You can navigate urgent situations, identifying and tending to physical and emotional safety priorities
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE POSITION
The physical demands listed below are representative of those that must be met by an employee in this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable people with disabilities.
- Reading, hearing, and speaking in English
- Use of hands, fingers, and feet to set up and run program materials and group activities
- Standing and walking for several hours, as well as sitting, squatting, crawling, climbing, and occasionally lifting up to 30 lbs.
- Comfort with animals, including goats, chickens, and rabbits
Additional Details
DATES & TIMES
Required On-Site Staff Training & Site Setup: June 4th, 5th and 6th, 10:00 - 3:00 pm
- It’s imperative we have staff on-site to review the procedures in-person at camp.
Camp: Session 1 (June 9-20), Session 2 (June 23-July 3rd), Session 3 (July 7-25), and Session 4 (July 28-August 8), Session 5 (August 11 - 15)
- The camp day is from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, which includes the camper hours (9:00 am - 3:00 pm) and set-up, clean-up, daily debrief, and prep time. Staff time includes a 30-minute mid-day break.
COMPENSATION
This is a full-time, temporary position that pays $21 per hour for new counselors and $22 per hour for returning counselors. Staff training will also be compensated. This is a temporary seasonal position that conforms to the legal requirements of such positions; as such it does not include any benefits.
SUPERVISION
Counselors are supervised by the Camp and Educational Programs Manager.
Application Details
We deeply value the diversity of insight, perspective, and experience brought by people from diverse backgrounds. This includes Black, Indigenous, Latino, and Asian people, LGBTQ, and gender non-conforming people, and people with disabilities, Black Jews, Jews of Color, Sephardi and Mizrachi Jews. We also welcome applications from people of diverse religious, spiritual, and cultural backgrounds. We affirmatively seek to advance the principles of equal employment opportunity.
APPLICATION SUBMISSION INCLUDES:
Resume, two professional references, and answers to two questions. Bullet pointed lists are welcome as responses to the short questions, if preferred by the applicant (max 200 words for each).
- Please share how you personally relate to Urban Adamah’s mission and why you want to work at our Summer Camp.
- Please describe your experience in working with children aged 3–14.
All applications are due by March 1, 2024 and will be considered on a rolling basis until all positions are filled. If you have any questions about applying please contact the Camp and Educational Programs Manager, Zev Bennett at zev@urbanadamah.org