Summer Camp Early Childhood Specialist (NY & NJ)

TURN YOUR SUMMER INTO SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY – BECOME A SEASONAL EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIALIST WITH KIDS IN THE GAME!

Empower Staff, Inspire Campers, and Build a Summer That Matters.

Kids in the Game provides unforgettable day camp experiences for hundreds of New York children across Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and now Westchester & Jersey City! When you join the Kids in the Game summer camp leadership cohort, you’ll be part of a dynamic team of Camp Directors, Assistant Directors, and 275+ coaches running outstanding programming at our 13 summer day camps. 

THE KIDS IN THE GAME SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCE

Kids in the Game camps are where sports, creativity, and community come together to shape confident, compassionate, and connected kids. Every summer, our camps across New York City, Westchester & Jersey City bring together diverse groups of children to explore new sports, build friendships, develop positive social skills, and learn how to be part of a team. Our camps offer kids a uniquely designed blend of sports and games, arts and crafts, STEM enrichment, field trips, swim activities, theme weeks, and all-camp special events to make every week the highlight of a child's summer.

Each day is fueled by energy, laughter, and belonging. Our team of camp leaders, specialists, and counselors create an environment where every child feels seen, supported, and inspired to try something new. We believe camp is more than a summer activity — it’s a place where kids discover who they are and who they can become.

As a Certified B Corporation, we're also on a mission to positively impact the lives of all of our stakeholders - campers, families, staff, community members, and our partners. We’re looking for Early Childhood Specialists who want to be positive role models, build emotional intelligence, boost confidence, create inclusive communities, and help bring high-quality camp experiences to kids across NYC, Westchester and Jersey City.

Your Leadership Can Change the Game — Join Kids in the Game This Summer.

EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIALIST ROLE & KEY TASKS

As an Early Childhood Specialist, you will report to the Programming Assistant Director, Early Childhood Division Leader, and Camp Leadership Team and work collaboratively with counselors and fellow specialists to deliver daily programming for Pre-K and Kindergarten campers (ages 3–5). You are responsible for leading structured activity periods across creative movement, art, STEM, and gross motor play, supporting counselors with classroom and behavior management, and ensuring a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environment throughout the camp day.

This role is highly hands-on, routine-driven, and leadership-focused, requiring strong communication, organization, patience, and a deep understanding of early childhood development and youth-centered care.

We currently have 12 New York based camp locations and 1 Jersey City camp location. The sites and addresses are:

• Westchester & The Bronx:
• Westchester-Crestwood - 465 Westchester Ave, Tuckahoe, NY 10707
• Riverdale - 3120 Corlear Ave, Bronx, NY 10463
• Manhattan:
• Inwood - 532 W 215th St, New York, NY 10034
• Upper West Side - 147 W 70th St, NY, NY 10023
• West Village - 272 W 10th St, New York, NY 10014
• Chelsea - 259 10th Ave, New York, NY 10001
• Upper East Side (Carnegie Hill)- 980 Park Ave, New York, NY 10028
• Upper East Side (Lenox Hill) - 132 E 78th St, New York, NY 10075
• East Village - 215 E 6th St New York, NY 10003
• Brooklyn:
• Park Slope - 588 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215
• Greenpoint - 100 Dobbin St, Brooklyn, NY 11222
• Fort Greene - 39 Adelphi St, Brooklyn, NY 11205
• Jersey City:
• 118 Ferry St. Jersey City, NJ 07307

You must be able to arrive by 7:45am daily via public transportation or personal transportation (car) and stay on-site until 4:15pm daily (and until 5:30pm twice per week to support after care activities).

The Early Childhood Specialist's responsibilities include:

Ambassadorship, Core Values & Camp Culture

• Positivity: You bring warmth, consistency, and enthusiasm to each camp day, helping young campers feel excited, secure, and ready to explore. You use praise, encouragement, and positive reinforcement to build confidence, support independence, and celebrate effort. Your calm, upbeat presence helps create a joyful early childhood environment where campers feel safe to try new activities and routines.
• Empathy: You demonstrate patience, compassion, and emotional awareness when working with young children who are still developing communication, self-regulation, and social skills. You listen closely to campers’ verbal and nonverbal cues and respond with care, reassurance, and understanding. You recognize that big emotions are part of early childhood development and support campers through transitions, frustration, separation anxiety, and peer interactions with empathy and consistency.
• Commitment: You show up prepared, punctual, and dependable for all camp days, trainings, and responsibilities. You fully engage in required pre-summer virtual and on-site trainings and consistently apply early childhood best practices throughout the summer. You follow daily routines, lesson plans, safety procedures, and behavior management systems, and you communicate promptly with camp leadership about camper needs, behavioral concerns, or safety issues — knowing that no concern is too small when working with young children.
• Ambition: You seek opportunities to grow as an early childhood educator and youth development professional. You are open to feedback, coaching, and collaboration, and you bring creativity and intention to your lesson planning and activity design. You continuously look for ways to improve engagement, adapt activities for developmental readiness, and create meaningful learning moments — striving to make each day supportive, enriching, and fun for every camper.
• Inclusivity: You create a welcoming and inclusive environment where all young campers feel seen, supported, and valued. You adapt activities, routines, and expectations to meet a wide range of developmental stages, abilities, learning styles, and needs. You model inclusive language, gentle guidance, and respectful interactions, reinforcing that every child belongs and can succeed within the camp community.

Activity Leadership & Instruction

• Lead 45-minute early childhood activity periods throughout the camp day
• Provide structured, age-appropriate instruction for Pre-K and Kindergarten campers (ages 3–5)
• Prepare and facilitate activities across:
• Creative movement and gross motor play
• Art and sensory-based projects
• Early STEM exploration and hands-on learning
• Group games adapted specifically for early childhood development
• Modify activities to support varying developmental levels, attention spans, and abilities
• Align daily activities with weekly camp themes and early childhood curriculum goals
• Support smooth transitions between activities, routines, and environments

Camper Engagement & Youth Development

• Foster social-emotional development, independence, and confidence in young campers
• Support the development of fine and gross motor skills, communication, and cooperation
• Encourage curiosity, creativity, and positive peer interactions
• Help campers learn routines, expectations, and appropriate behavior through positive reinforcement
• Celebrate camper milestones, progress, and participation

Team Collaboration & Support

• Work closely with counselors to support classroom management and daily routines
• Help counselors implement consistent behavior management strategies and positive reinforcement systems
• Communicate clearly with Camp Directors, Assistant Directors, and Early Childhood leadership regarding camper needs, behavior, or safety concerns
• Support all-camp events, theme days, and transitions as appropriate for early childhood groups
• Contribute positively to staff collaboration, morale, and team culture

Safety, Supervision & Organization

• Prioritize camper safety at all times by following Department of Health regulations and camp safety protocols
• Maintain constant supervision of young campers during activities, transitions, bathroom breaks, meals, and outdoor play
  Set up, maintain, and clean early childhood activity areas and materials daily
• Ensure all materials, equipment, and environments are developmentally appropriate and safe
• Identify and respond to behavioral, emotional, or safety concerns promptly and calmly
• Communicate incidents or concerns to leadership and assist with documentation as directed

SEASONAL WORK EXPECTATIONS & SUMMER SCHEDULE

Pre-Summer Work Expectations & Schedule:

• Part-time participation in virtual and in-person trainings during May and June
• Required attendance at:
• Virtual trainings (starting early June)
• Specialist trainings (in person and virtual)
• Three on-site training days the week before camp begins
• In-person field day training
• Training attendance is mandatory and paid upon completion

Summer Camp Schedule

• Dates: Late June through August (7–8 weeks depending on location)
• Hours: Monday–Friday, approximately 7:45 AM – 4:15 PM
• Support at least two days per week of aftercare (until approximately 5:30 PM)
• Work Environment: Full-time, in-person at assigned camp location
• Camp Size: 30–100+ campers with 10–30+ staff members

Requirements

Our ideal Early Childhood Specialist candidate:

• A candidate who is truly Amazing with children!
• Being DOE or DOH fingerprinted is a plus
• Up to date Physical and TB test documentation will be required before starting
• You must pass a NY State run background check
• Being CPR, First Aid and AED certified is a plus
• Patience: The ability to adapt to work easily with people who have different personalities, backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles and learning styles — simultaneously — is critical.
• Must have strong interpersonal skills to relate to the younger children at program
• Creativity: It is crucial to knowing how to make the curriculum engaging and how to adapt to varying styles of learning among students
• 2+ years experience working with 2 to 5 year olds
• Gross motor skills knowledge for younger age groups
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Strong classroom management and behavior management skill set

Physical Requirements & Active Coaching Expectations

At Kids in the Game, our coaches are active, engaged, and present with kids—on the playground, in the gym, and out in the community. The physical requirements below reflect the essential functions of our coaching roles and the dynamic environments in which our programs take place. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities in performing these essential functions.

Physical activity levels may vary by coaching placement (recess, PE, after school, or summer camp), but all roles involve active supervision, movement, and hands-on engagement with children.

Active supervision & physical requirements include:

1. Ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time, including during outdoor activities, playground supervision, gym classes, or park-based programming.
2. Ability to walk to and from nearby program locations or parks, sometimes several blocks, while supervising children.
3. Ability to bend, kneel, crouch, and reach to engage with children at their level, assist with activities, or provide support as needed.
4. Ability to climb stairs in school buildings or community facilities.
5. Ability to lift and carry up to 25–40 pounds, including sports equipment, activity supplies, or personal belongings (weight may vary by role).
6. Ability to participate in active games and movement-based activities, including running, jumping, throwing, and demonstrating basic sports skills.
7. Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions, including heat, cold, or light rain, depending on program needs.
8. Ability to maintain visual and auditory awareness to supervise children effectively and ensure safety in active environments.

Benefits

WHY WORK WITH KIDS IN THE GAME

At Kids in the Game, you can expect to be welcomed into an engaging and spirited environment that emphasizes the importance of teamwork, open communication, and collaboration. We are proud to foster an inclusive environment where our team members feel respected by and connected to one another. We value the unique experiences, perspectives, and passions of our employees, and we look forward to adding dynamic personalities to our team. We are AMBITIOUS. POSITIVE, COMMITTED, INCLUSIVE, and EMPATHETIC.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: 

We are committed to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment for all of our interns and employees. We recruit candidates from across the city, state, and country, from all cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. We have developed partnerships with organizations that allow us to target our hiring practices to include chronically discriminated against or low-income groups, and improve their access to high-quality employment opportunities.

SEASONAL COMPENSATION STRUCTURE

This is a part-time, seasonal position based in New York City. Early Childhood Specialists must be available to participate in pre-summer trainings (virtual and on-site) to complete pre-summer work expectations. Early Childhood Specialists must be available to work full summer camp hours from late June to the end of August.

Pre Summer Compensation - $375

• $150 for virtual trainings
• $150 for all 3 on-site training days
• $75 for an in-person field day in June
• Training attendance is mandatory; you will only be paid for the trainings that you attend / complete on time.
• You must complete all virtual and in-person training. 

Note: Individual pay rates are based on camp enrollment (number of campers per week) and prior years of experience in similar roles and prior sports-related experience. 

• Pay Schedule: Biweekly salary payments from late June - August 2026
• Riverdale, Inwood, UES Carnegie Hill, Yorkville, East Village, West Village, Park Slope, Greenpoint, Fort Greene, and Jersey City will run for 8 weeks
• Westchester-Crestwood and UWS camp locations will run for 7 weeks
• Total salary range based on 8 weeks of summer camp:
• $650 to $800 per week 
• 8 week camp salary range (without the training stipend)
• $5,200 to $6,400

• Total salary range based on 7 weeks of summer camp:
• $650 to $800 per week 
• 7 week camp salary range (without the training stipend)
• $4,550 to $5,600