Camp Shai is the JCC in Denver’s premier Jewish Day Camp serving children entering Kindergarten through 6th grade. Individuals of all backgrounds, faiths, and families are welcome. At Camp Shai, we offer a little something for everyone with a variety of engaging and fun activities. From sports to theater to engineering, our campers are building their skills, bolstering their confidence, and creating magical summer camp memories. At Camp Shai, we place an emphasis in our programming on the universal values of kindness (chesed), respect (kavod), community (kehillah), courage (ometz lev), and good attitude (ruach).
Camp is the perfect environment for campers to develop their skills outside of the classroom and build their confidence – and yours too! Your work will make a difference in supporting campers to improve their ability to make and maintain friendships, increase their confidence to try new activities, and create a safe space for everyone to be themselves, campers and staff alike. Being a staff member at camp helps you to gain the skills you want from an internship in a concrete, hands-on, and fun way!
We are seeking individuals for the Junior Counselor role that are adaptable, goal-oriented, and excited to work in a fast-paced and fun environment where everyone is welcome. Junior Counselors will work directly with their counselor team to support campers each day as they transition through their camp activities, develop positive relationships with campers, and will contribute to a positive camp culture where campers and staff feel safe and part of a community.
Our Ideal Candidate
- You are passionate about working with kids and creating a welcoming, creative, and fun environment that celebrates learning and growth.
- You are flexible and excited by challenges that require creative problem-solving and determination.
- You enjoy working in a dynamic environment and are ready to bring that camp energy this summer, whether you are dancing across the stage in a silly costume or face painting with campers during downtime.
- You want to grow your skillset, and you are ready to both give and receive feedback.
- You are a team player that relishes opportunities to collaborate with your colleagues.
- You exercise patience and empathy when dealing with others and exude positivity.
Role and Responsibilities
- Support your co-counselors with camper care and supervision; prioritizing the physical, social, and emotional health, safety, and well-being of each individual camper
- Contribute to and participate in all activities at camp including, but not limited to, swimming, specialist activities, camp-wide community rituals, traditions, and programs
- Ensure that inclusive practices are being implemented to make camp accessible for all campers as prescribed by Camp Shai’s inclusion team
- Support and supervise campers during Camp Shai’s extended care hours on a weekly rotation
- Manage camper behaviors using positive behavior management techniques, enforcing appropriate safety policies, emergency procedures, and camp rules
- Facilitate age-appropriate activities for camper groups.
- Responsible for ensuring that health and safety guidelines and expectations around cleaning, sanitization, and risk mitigation as outlined by current JCC and Camp Shai policies are followed
- Participate in weekly staff meetings either before or after camp hours as determined by Camp Director
- Perform other related duties as assigned by Camp Leadership
Basic Qualifications
Qualifications and Education Requirements
- Must be at least 17 years of age
- Must obtain First Aid & CPR certifications before the start date of camp. Opportunity for certification will be made available through the JCC prior to Staff Orientation. Certifications must be conducted by a Division of Early Care and Learning approved training vendor.
- Must be able to fulfill requirements for employment at the Staenberg-Loup JCC, including background screening, three professional references, documentation, and compliance with CDHS (Colorado Department of Human Services) law
Preferred Qualifications
- Previous experience working with school-aged children in either a school or camp environment
Physical Demands and Working Environment
- Physical Demands: This job requires personnel to have operative auditory and visual functioning. Employees must also be able to walk upwards of two (2) miles each day, including use of stairs and uneven terrain. Employees may also stand, sit in chairs or on the ground, run, and swim. Mental requirements include, but are not limited to, the ability to concentrate, effectively cope with stress, adapt to, and stay alert in a professional environment, as well as an ability to problem solve and de-escalate crisis situations and challenging behaviors. Reasonable accommodation may be granted for qualified applicants.
- Work Environment: Working conditions may include being in indoor, open classroom spaces and spending extended time outdoors under the sun.
Additional Notes
Advantages of Working at Camp Shai
- Comprehensive One-Week Orientation Before Camp (June 2nd – June 6th, 2025)
- Support and Mentorship from Camp Leadership Team
- Ongoing Professional Development and Individualized Performance Feedback
- Fitness & Aquatics Membership During Time of Employment
- Involvement in a Fun-Loving Community of Camp Professionals
Benefits Overview
This is a seasonal job and is ineligible for benefits.
Note: This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive statement of every duty and responsibility which will ever be required of an employee in this position; however, the employee will be held responsible for all duties assigned.
The Jewish Community Center values diversity and inclusiveness and is an equal opportunity employer.
