Summer Day Camp Counselor - Lead

About the City

Spokane Valley is a city incorporated in 2003, with a current population of over 110,000 located on the eastern border of Washington State in the heart of the Inland Northwest. We pride ourselves on quality neighborhoods and schools, along with strong business and retail centers. Friendly people, natural surroundings and beautiful weather are part of what makes our community a favorite destination.

The Spokane Valley Parks and Recreation Department provides residents and visitors with over 343 acres of unique parks and open areas, a variety of quality recreation programs, community events, Center Place Regional Event Center, a Senior Center, and three outdoor pools operated seasonally. The department strives to support strong community values and improve livability by providing and promoting quality recreation areas, programs, and facilities.

Why join our organization? We are a small hard-working team in the business of building better lives through the power of parks and recreation. Spokane Valley Summer Day Camp is a highly respected program in the area that greatly serves the needs of our communities most precious assets, our youth. The position of Summer Day Camp Lead Counselor comes with a great deal responsibility in creating a quality, safe, organized, engaging program.

Creating a Summer Day Camp program that enhances the quality of life and creates memorable lasting experiences in the life of a child takes an exceptional leader that is a hard worker, experienced, motivated and has a true passion for working with youth. Summer Day Camp works with children ages 6 yrs.

-- 12 yrs. of age, Monday through Friday, 40 hours a week during the summer months. There will be extensive staff training prior to the start of the camp program. Camp runs mid
- June through late August. All staff members are expected to work the full duration of the program. The Day Camp Lead Counselor is also expected to work with the recreation staff facilitating staff training and program planning in the late spring leading up to camp training.

The ideal candidate will have a genuine passion for children. The Summer Day Camp Lead Counselor oversees the day-to-day camp operations. Supervising and guiding of the Day Camp Counselors and the supervision and safety of the participants in the Day Camp Program. Safety and supervision of camp participants are the top focus of this program, followed by FUN. The Lead Counselor needs to be experienced in supervising staff, a supportive leader, a strong communicator, organized, reliable, dependable, and professional.

Primary duties of this position include but are not limited to:

• Responsible for overseeing and facilitating summer day camp staff in the planning, developing and coordination of all summer camp daily activities, weekly calendars, lesson plans, supply requests and field trip coordination.
• Support camp counselors in leading games, activities and crafts and engage with campers daily.
• Serve as a role model to camp participants and camp staff by demonstrating high standards of personal conduct.
• The Lead Counselor must provide the highest level of customer service to the campers and their parents; and address the majority of parent conversations where discipline issues are involved.
• Prevent accidents and injuries, administer First Aid and properly report and document any and all incidents.
• Working through stressful situations utilizing strong communication skills, leadership, teamwork, and patience.
• Prepare, organize, and maintain administrative paperwork as related to summer camp.
• Have the ability to follow all Camp and City policies.