Tanglewood summer positions - Focus leader: Positions filled for 2013
As a focus leader your role is similar to that of a camp counselor, with the additional responsibility of planning and leading a focus each morning. These are educational activity sessions for (usually) 2 hours per day, lasting 5 days, and you will have a co-leader to help.
We provide a curriculum framework for you to work from and can provide activity ideas and write-ups from previous focus leaders. The most important thing is that you have a passion for the theme of you focus, so don’t be intimidated if you’ve never done anything like this before — help & support is available. Yes, juggling the role of counselor and planning a focus can be challenging, but at the end of the day you’ll get out everything you put in and more.
As a counselor you will spend nearly all of your time around campers, so it’s really important you have a real interest in working with children. The campers are, after all, the reason for us all being there in the summer: our summers revolve around the campers, and they must be your priority. You will be living in a single-room cabin with another counselor and up to 8 campers. This means both that you will not have much by way of privacy and may be called upon in the middle of the night by your campers … and still be expected to be cheerful in the morning!
In addition to leading a focus in the morning, you will also lead activities in the afternoon. We give a lot of freedom in the activities you lead, so long as they have some educational value and are safe. Share your skills knowledge and passions. Activities can be arty, nature-based, sporty or musical, the choice is yours. Support and guidance is available throughout the summer and our staff training program provides lots of ideas, skills and time to plan.
Qualifications
- Flexible, creative, team player, appreciate the natural world
- Self-motivated, able to both lead and follow
- Completed 2nd year of college with equivalent experience in teaching area
- Previous camp or related experience working with youth
- Ability to lead groups outdoors over various terrain
- First Aid and basic life support certification (CPR)
- Preferred: lifeguard certification
Requirements for Hiring
- Complete health screening and required background checks
Dates & Compensation
- June 12 to August 17, 2013 (.59 weeks, including 1 week of staff training); 1-3 weekends of work required
- Compensation: $200-$215/week base salary (pre-tax); room and board; bonus for life guard certification ($20/week) and returning staff ($15/week)
- Some positions may qualify for an AmeriCorps Education Award
Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer
