Summer Camp Assistant

Position: Summer Camp Assistant

Status: Full-time, Seasonal, Non-exempt

Pay Rate: Starts at $17/hour based on experience

Description: The APA Summer Camp Assistant supports the Summer Camp Director in delivering engaging, safe, and meaningful summer camp experiences for children. This role assists with daily camp activities, camper supervision, humane education programming, and logistics while fostering a positive, fun, and respectful learning environment centered on compassion for animals and people.

• Camp Support & Operations:
  Assist with the daily operations of the APA Summer Camp, including activity setup, cleanup, and transitions between programs. Support the Camp Director with preparation and execution of daily schedules and lesson plans.
• Camper Supervision & Safety:
  Supervise campers during activities, ensuring safety, inclusion, and positive engagement. Maintain accurate headcounts and assist with check-in and check-out procedures. Monitor camper behavior and redirect as needed to maintain a safe, respectful environment. Assist with supervising the volunteer camp counselors.
• Humane Education & Programming:
  Assist with delivering age-appropriate humane education activities that promote empathy, kindness, and understanding of animal welfare. Support interactive lessons, crafts, games, and animal-related educational experiences.
• Behavior Management:
  Reinforce camp rules and expectations in a calm, consistent, and supportive manner. Communicate behavioral concerns or incidents promptly to the Camp Director.
• Animal Interaction Support:
  Assist during supervised animal interactions, modeling appropriate behavior and ensuring safety for campers and animals. Help campers understand animal body language, respectful handling, and shelter animal care concepts as directed by camp leadership.
• Communication & Teamwork:
  Communicate professionally with campers, parents/guardians, volunteers, and APA team members. Assist with addressing parent questions during check-in and check-out, escalating concerns to the Camp Director when appropriate.
• Reporting & Maintenance:
  Report camper concerns, injuries, supply needs, or maintenance issues to the Camp Director promptly. Help maintain clean, organized, and safe camp spaces.
• Adaptability & Professionalism:
  Remain flexible and responsive in a fast-paced environment. Represent APA’s mission, values, and culture positively at all times.

• Commitment and Passion:
  Demonstrated commitment to excellence and a strong passion for the mission and work of the APA.
• Childcare experience:
  Experience working with children in a camp, school or youth program required.
• Physical Requirements:
  
  Ability to perform work in a classroom setting within an animal shelter, including occasional lifting, moving, and carrying of items up to 25 pounds. Must also be able to stand for long periods and walk for distances up to .5 miles when necessary to oversee camp activities and field trips.
• Background Check:
  Due to the nature of working with children, a satisfactory background check will be required to ensure the safety and well-being of all camp participants.

Our Mission
:
At the APA, we bring and keep pets and people together, building connections that strengthen families and communities.

Our Vision
:
Our vision is a compassionate community where pets and people thrive together.

Our Values
: P.E.T.S.

• Partnership:
  We believe pets and people thrive together. By building trust and collaboration with families, neighborhoods, and partner organizations, we create stronger communities, expand access to care, and ensure that pets and people have the resources they need to stay together.
• Empathy:
  We lead with compassion, respect, and understanding in all that we do. Every decision begins with the well-being of pets and people, and we treat each individual—whether a client, colleague, or community partner—with dignity and care.
• Trust:
  We act with transparency, integrity, and accountability. By being clear about our intentions, honest in our actions, and responsible stewards of resources, we earn the confidence of those we serve and inspire trust in the broader community.
• Spark:
  We spark innovation and creativity to advance animal welfare. By embracing new ideas, adapting to emerging needs, and developing forward-thinking solutions, we shape a future where every pet has the chance to thrive in a loving home.

We’re committed to creating an inclusive and comfortable experience for everyone. If you need any accommodations or accessibility support during the hiring process, please email hr.