Support Specialist, New Country Day Camp

New Country Day Camp is an open-tent community that celebrates and sustains joyful, outdoor summer experiences where all can thrive. We maintain a proud legacy as a Jewish camp comprised of a multicultural community, representing and celebrating the heartbeat of NYC. We build meaningful connections with ourselves, each other, and the natural world around us through innovative programming that is rooted in Jewish tradition and guided by universal values. 

New Country Day Camp is an 8-week, outdoor summer camp for campers in kindergarten-8th grade. NCDC operates M-F, 8am-5pm, and provides transportation for staff and campers to and from our campgrounds on Staten Island via multiple locations throughout Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. NCDC is a neurodiverse camp community, and all staff members are responsible for supporting neurodivergent and neurotypical campers and staff to have successful summers.

We are seeking Support Specialists for New Country Day Camp.  Support Specialists are enthusiastic, highly motivated, creative, and responsible role models who are directly responsible for the well-being of campers with a special eye toward our campers with additional social/emotional/behavioral/mental health needs (includes diagnosis or autism spectrum disorder, ADD/ADHD, mood or anxiety disorders, sensory processing issues, etc.) at New Country Day Camp from June 29th to August 14

Daily rate for this position is $130.00

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Attend all days of staff orientation before camp, evenings beginning the week of June 12th
• Attend all days of camp and after camp staff meetings during the summer
• Learn about assigned campers who need additional support and help carry out their plan for success throughout the summer
• Communicate regularly with Support Supervisor about the campers progress and challenges, and with Division Head about daily schedule and responsibilities
• Work harmoniously with group counselors to support campers
• Maintain standards of camp conduct, behavior management protocols, and inclusion.
• When working with campers and fellow staff, uphold and implement NCDC camp values (Personal   Growth, Empathy, Respect, and Passion)

Camp Activities

• Assume responsibility for the physical and mental health and safety of campers
• Follow COVID-19 safety protocols and implement COVID-19 procedures at all times
• Actively participates in all camp activities
• Provide quality supervision at all times (e.g. on the bus, in locker rooms during changing periods, during lunch, throughout swim periods and all transitional periods)
• Assist Bus Captains with camper needs on the bus ride to and from camp
• Encourage all campers to do their best & be their on-site daily support system 
• Focus on social dynamics & friendship building of assigned camper group
• Be a supportive partner for campers with disabilities or atypical support needs to anticipate/identify when they might need additional support, and proactively engage them using supportive strategies from a strengths-based perspective 
• Write weekly progress reports to families of assigned campers

QUALIFICATIONS

• Availability to attend all days of camp from June 29 to August 14 and pre-camp orientation starting in mid-June required
• Currently pursuing an education in Social Work, Special Education, or any related fields,  Bachelor’s Degree a plus
• Demonstrated interest and experience in working with children who have disabilities or atypical support needs
• Patience and willingness to learn about different disabilities or atypical support needs and ways to support campers who might need additional support 
• Willingness to learn about and participate in Jewish culture and traditions
• Friendly, warm, active and genuinely enjoys working in an outdoor camp setting
• Excellent communication skills
• Collaborative, flexible, with the ability to work in a fast-paced, sometimes stressful environment 
• Previous experience working with children from diverse cultural and social backgrounds
• Experience working in a camp setting is a plus

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.  

Educational Alliance is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, marital status, disability status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. 

For further information about Educational Alliance, please visit https://edalliance.org