The JCC Ranch Camp is not just the Denver JCC’s overnight summer camp, it’s also one of the best places to work during the summer. As a staff member, Ranch Camp will become your home away from home as you work to create a community where people can thrive. You’re a hero to your campers; you have the chance to do something you really care about and have a whole lot of fun doing it. Your experience as a staff member is just as important to us as our campers’ experience. That being said: We’re here to serve kids and make sure they are in the safest environment possible while having the time of their lives.
First and foremost, all our staff are madrichim or counselors.
All Cabin Staff Responsibilities
Take care of your campers by prioritizing their physical, social, and emotional health, safety, and well-being.
Work as a team with your co-staff to make sure every day runs smoothly and to the schedule, and complete daily camper notes.
Create a community that you want to be a part of and that you want campers to be a part of.
Include everyone and make sure everyone is included.
Jump into the camp life: ride horses, swim, camp, play games, sing songs, roast s’mores, be ready to do everything the campers do!
Know where your campers are and what they are doing all the time.
Care for the campers and manage camper behaviors using the tools you learn in Staff Orientation week (We’ll go over positive behavior management techniques, enforcing appropriate safety policies, emergency procedures, camp rules, and more.)
Be flexible and adaptable because things change quickly at camp. You have to be able to roll with it.
Live in a bunk with your co-staff and your campers.
Fill out daily Camper Bunk Notes to track campers’ physical and emotional health, cabin social dynamics, and overall camper wellbeing.
And other duties and responsibilities as assigned: you might need to make your campers’ dreams of a beach themed ice-cream campfire song session come true or become your favorite legendary Pokémon for an evening program.
But our staff aren’t just counselors. We want you to do what matters to you while you’re at camp.
Want to spend your summer outside, exploring the back country of Colorado and climbing mountains? We have a job for you. Does spending the morning playing soccer and the afternoon creating art make your heart happy? We have a job for you. Want to design a rocket that can make grilled cheese, but also land on Mars? We probably have a job for you, let’s talk.
Sports and Aquatics Program Staff Responsibilities
Create and run multiple programs each day for campers of all ages in your specialty areas (court sports, field sports, and pool) that are safe, fun, and memorable.
Document the programming you create for other staff members to use in the future.
Work with the program team to create and run engaging staff and all-camp programming.
As a member of the Sports and Aquatics Program Staff Team, you’ll facilitate and support everything that happens in our sports and aquatics camp programs (court sports, field sports, and pool) from the organization of materials to creating sports tournaments to teaching kids about sportsmanship to running fun pool games
As a lifeguard, you are responsible for the safety of campers and staff at the pool, both through safety briefing and through enforcement of policy.
Lifeguards also help with cleanup and management of pool and the surrounding area and management of pool chemical logs.
Specialize in one branch of Traditional programming and hold additional responsibility for the quality, facilitation, and upkeep of that area (Court Sports, Field Sports, or Aquatics).
If you have previous camp experience, as a Program Area Lead, you’ll also have the opportunity to step into additional leadership roles and responsibilities including, but not limited to:
Help develop programming for staff, such as Onegs, staff appreciation, or other events
Help develop all-camp programming, such as evening programs or special days
Work with the SIT (Staff in Training) program as a mentor
Finally, all staff must be able to attend staff orientations and be available to live at camp for the summer season. While we prefer staff to work for the entire summer, we understand if you can’t and encourage you to apply if you can work at least 5 – 6 weeks of our summer season. In addition, Sports and Aquatics staff may be required to complete a 7 hour online portion of lifeguard training prior to the practical course during Staff Orientation.
Physical Demands and Working Environment
Physical Demands: This job requires the incumbent to have operative auditory and visual functioning. Employee must also be able to walk upwards of two (2) miles each day, including use of stairs and uneven terrain. Employee may also stand, sit in chairs or on the ground, run, and swim. Employee may lift or body block campers when necessary. Employee must also be able to perform the duties of a lifeguard.
Work Environment: Working conditions may include being in indoor, often time’s loud spaces and spending extended time outdoors under the sun. Must have the ability to work in a hectic, sometimes stressful environment while maintaining the standard of care.
Qualifications and Requirements:
Basic Qualifications:
Must be at least 18 years of age or 17 and graduated from high school
One year experience in a child care setting or a vested interest in working in a professional child care setting
One year experience teaching or leading sports activities in a child care or school setting
Satisfactorily fulfill requirements for employment at the Staenberg-Loup JCC, including: background screening, three references, documentation, and compliance with CDHS law
Must be high-energy, enthusiastic, creative, and open-minded!
Preferred Qualifications:
One year experience in a camp environment
Current CPR and First Aid certification
Current Lifeguard Certificate (training provided as needed)
Completed some college coursework or hold high school diploma (GED) or equivalent experience
Benefits Overview:
This is a seasonal job and is therefore ineligible for benefits.
Please 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.