The Position

The Day & Jr. Day Program Leader will oversee, support, and coach a team of counselors as they lead campers in pre-written theme-based curriculum where children experience camp through the power of play. We provide the training, curriculum & daily camp schedules along with all equipment for a successful camp day but need you to organize the program and bring camp to life with your enthusiasm, dedication and un-matched energy.

Camper ages: 3-6 years old

Activities include: art, story time, swimming, sports and games, music and movement, moon bounce, playground, STEM

Weekly themes include: Animals, superheroes, insects, outer space

Schedule:

• In-season (late June through mid August): 7:30 am – 3:45 pm Monday – Friday
• Pre-season (early June): select weekends for training and site preparation

Compensation:  $18 / hour

What You'll Do

• Bring Camp to Life
• Prepare a team of 8 to 16 counselors to implement pre-written curriculum to groups of up to 130 campers
• Lead morning and afternoon program meetings for all campers, enforce active supervision and Headfirst policies your staff team, and lead by example in hands-on teaching of the program content
• Prepare and review materials bins for upcoming weekly themes, distributing materials to the appropriate areas to ensure projects are easily carried out by your counselor team
• Act as the first responder to any camper behavior management situations and support individual campers and counselors in implementing next steps towards positive behavior growth
• Execute morning and afternoon carpool as a key player, welcoming each family to camp by name with top notch Headfirst-level energy and coordinated carpool procedures

• Nurture Physical, Social & Emotional Safety
• Work directly with campers to support them in their emotional, physical, and social development through hands-on exploration and coach your counselor team in growing their camper management skills

• Communicate Proactively
• Anticipate curricular, facility, or schedule issues before they occur and proactively create solutions to run a smooth program
• Act as the bridge from camp to parents, communicating campers’ successes, celebrations, and growth, through the Site Director or other Leadership Team members

• Be an Active Member of the Camp Team
• Arrive on time, communicate schedule changes promptly, be a loyal and consistent team member who shows up for the campers and your team
• Work directly alongside your Site Director to group campers and create the best experience possible for all
• Coach your team of counselors, providing specific feedback and skill development opportunities

• Represent Headfirst for Families & Facility Partners
• Represent the Headfirst brand daily to families at carpool and to school facility partners throughout the summer by being enthusiastic, hands-on, helpful, and in uniform
• Actively participate in our efforts to take care of our camp facility and lead your team to do the same

• Handle the Curveballs
• Practice resiliency and arrive with a “How Can I Help?” mentality that puts camper experience and team success at the forefront through problem solving and trying new things

About You

Must be at least 20 years old with at least (2) years at an undergraduate institution or equivalent professional experience.

• Experience:
• Majors in education and child development viewed favorably.
• Must be able to:
• Work around small children including, sitting, standing, running, and climbing stairs for the full day.
• Work in hot and outdoor environments while actively supervising campers and participating in dynamic activities for extended periods of time.
• Lift and carry up to 30 pounds occasionally.
• Committed to adhering to Cell-Phone Free policy, powering down and putting away cell phones in a locked pouch for the duration of your shift.

• Required Certification
• First Aid & CPR Certification, or the ability to complete these prior to May 30, 2025.

Headfirst Summer Camps is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity and inclusivity across our Headfirst community, and we strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented groups and those who might need reasonable accommodation to apply.