APPLY: After you have read the ad, submit both a resume and cover letter specifying why you might be a great fit for the Camp Counselor at Inspire Behavioral Learning! We are looking for applicants for winter nature camp sessions Dec 19-23 and Dec 26-30 in Oakland, CA. Only applications with cover letters will be considered. You may also apply on our website, where you will find the full job description and Call of the Wild Camps page. We look forward to connecting with you!

Do you love working with children? Do you love the outdoors, nature, and hiking? Are you a word lover with a passion for children's books, reading, and writing? Our Call of the Wild forest camps are a mix of education and recreation for kids in grades K-5 to hike, read, write, explore, learn, and play! We seek an enthusiastic, energetic, dynamic, creative, fun, adaptable, friendly, outgoing and experienced camp counselor who is a communicative and collaborative team player eager to inspire and engage children in learning by doing.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Reliably attend and actively participate in camp counselor training, rain or shine (training is the week of Dec 11 for winter camps)
• Reliably attend outdoor nature camps, rain or shine, 8:30 AM-4:30 PM Dec 19-23 (Monday-Friday) and Dec 26-30 (Monday-Friday) for winter camps
• Punctually attend scheduled work hours, including training, staff meetings, and camp session dates
• Safely lead hikes in the forest up to approximately 6 miles a day for K-5th graders in small groups with a 4:1 or 5:1 student: staff ratio
• Lead outdoor language arts activities for children with nature and wilderness themes, including but not limited to circle time with story time and singing, literary show-and-tell, skits, nature journaling, mapmaking, creative writing, and authoring and illustrating books
• Apply English Language Arts Common Core State Standards to science, such as topics in biology, ecology, zoology, life science, environmental science, outdoor education, environmental stewardship, conservation, preservation, etc., integrating naturalistic observation, exploration, group discussion, games, and relevant children's books and writing activities
• Engage children in outdoor activities that blend recreation and education, such as nature-themed hide and seek and chase games, crafting and playing forest "I Spy" games and scavenger hunts
• Engage children with a fun teaching style and high energy, creativity, adaptability, spontaneity, dynamism, and positivity
• Supervise and facilitate children's rest breaks, snack and lunch breaks, and physical play breaks
• Provide naturalistic executive function teaching across diverse activities
• Implement effective and appropriate teaching and behavior management based on principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA), including prompting, positive reinforcement, and group contingencies of reinforcement based on student preferences and choices
• Facilitate emergent curriculum and child-centered, student-centered, naturalistic, incidental, and play-based teaching and learning opportunities
• Create both structured and naturalistic learning opportunities
• Record accurate, objective incident reports
• Follow all COVID-19 health and safety requirements
• Make sure campers follow safety rules and leave no trace principles
• Follow directions and implement feedback from supervisors
• Interact with students and staff in a kind, caring, respectful, positive, and professional manner
• Perform other duties as assigned

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Education:

• Provide proof of your high school diploma or higher degree
• Provide your academic transcripts (unofficial transcripts are permitted); must be in good standing

Certification and Safety Requirements:

• Provide proof of unexpired CPR and First Aid certification
• Provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination
• Pass a DOJ and FBI background check

Required Experience:

• Minimum 1 year experience as a camp counselor, outdoor educator, recreation leader, or teacher for outdoor education camps, outdoor recreational camps, nature camps, science camps, STEM camps, STEAM camps, literacy camps, after school programs, or equivalent experience
• Minimum 1 year experience working with elementary school age K-5th graders
• Experience working with culturally, linguistically, and developmentally diverse children
• Experience working with students with widely diverse abilities, such as giftedness, typically developing children, children with disabilities (e.g., autism, ADHD, dyslexia, speech and language delays), and English Language Learners (ELL)
• Experience taking initiative leading groups of children
• Experience leading extracurricular enrichment activities for children
• Experience implementing effective and appropriate behavior management for elementary school age children
• Experience with child development and age-appropriate, grade-appropriate, developmentally appropriate activities

Required Skills:

• Ability to hike trails of moderate difficulty on hilly and uneven terrain up to approximately 6 miles a day
• Ability to carry a loaded hiking backpack weighing up to 20% of your body weight for the duration of each camp day
• Fun and engaging teaching style with high energy, creativity, adaptability, spontaneity, dynamism, and positivity
• Kind, caring, compassionate, and patient with learners of all skill levels
• Must demonstrate care for children and a desire to help the whole child learn and grow in enjoyable ways, in addition to language arts and/or biology subject-matter competence
• Command of American English phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics
• Eagerness and openness to continually learn and develop your skill set, no matter how minimal or extensive your experience
• Excellent ability to break concepts down into simple and easy steps
• Excellent time-management and organizational skills
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Punctuality and reliable attendance

Other Requirements:

• Provide proof of a valid California driver license
• Possess your own reliable transportation to Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park in Oakland
• Submit a relevant cover letter specific to the position and company at the time of applying

PERKS AND BENEFITS:

• Have fun teaching kids in the outdoors!
• Paid training
• Rest breaks and off-duty lunch breaks
• Supportive and friendly environment with coaching and mentorship
• Successful hires may be invited to return for additional seasonal camps
• Become part of a company that truly cares about both the employee’s and student’s happiness and success!

LOCATION: Winter camps in Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park in Oakland, CA. Only applicants residing in the East Bay will be considered.

SCHEDULE: 8:30 AM-4:30 PM Dec 19-23 (Monday-Friday) and Dec 26-30 (Monday-Friday). Training is on flexible days the week of Dec 11.

COMPENSATION: $19.00 - $22.00 per hour DOE

CLASSIFICATION: Non-exempt employee for temporary, seasonal work