Camp Counselor for Campers with Special Needs, Camp Grossman, Summer Day 2026

STILL HIRING! Do you enjoy the outdoors? Do you like to have fun? Do you have a sense of humor, patience, empathy, and compassion? Are you flexible and adaptable? Would you like to help children with special needs develop a love of summer camp? Come share your passion and skills as a Counselor in one of our many "Pathways" bunks dedicated to campers with special needs. Pathways, the broader inclusion program at Camp Grossman, enables children with a broad range of developmental and/or cognitive disabilities and/or mental health challenges to successfully access Camp Grossman with varying levels of support. Dedicated Pathways 3:1 bunks are for campers needing the extra support afforded by a bunk with a camper to staff ratio of 3:1. As a Pathways Counselor, you will lead small groups of campers in a fun, safe, and engaging environment, striving to create a warm and inclusive camp community where every camper feels valued and confident. Supported by your Unit Head and our dedicated 3:1 Support Advocates, you will help to ensure all campers can successfully access all areas of our incredible camp program - including lakefront swimming, fishing, boating, arts, drama, sports, games, and more -playing a pivotal role in making this a summer campers will always remember. Are you ready to make an impact? Camp Grossman offers Free Bus Transportation from over 30 communities in and around the Greater Boston area, making it easy for you to join our growing team and celebrated program serving special needs campers from all across Greater Boston.

JCC Greater Boston is deeply committed to valuing and celebrating the uniqueness of each constituent. We welcome staff and participants from diverse backgrounds. While being proudly Jewish, we strive in every way to provide an open and welcoming setting for all, irrespective of personal practices, beliefs, or background. We are guided by JCC Greater Boston’s core values - Belonging, Joyfulness, Collaboration, and Transformation - which resonate with many who do not identify as Jewish.  

Primary responsibilities include, and are not limited to:

• Responsible for caring for assigned campers – leading group activities, supporting the group in all activities (sports, drama, climbing wall…), managing both group and individual needs 
• Guiding and supporting campers during both structured and unstructured time
• Ensuring the safety and well-being of campers
• Creating a fun/joyful dynamic 
• Working in partnership with peers and Camp Leadership to provide a happy, safe, and memorable summer for the children
• Discussing camper involvement and concerns about campers with camp leadership
• Daily written communication with each camper's family (with guidance from camp leadership)

  Standard staff expectations include and are not limited to: 

• Actively create a welcoming dynamic that contributes to an environment where everyone is valued and respected
• Actively participate as an essential team member and attend all staff meetings during or after camp as required
• Support JCC Greater Boston’s mission, vision, and values of belonging, joyfulness, collaboration, and transformation, including through role modeling
• Enthusiastically represent the organization, modeling excellence and achievement
• Complete all staff payroll and onboarding on time and before Orientation begins
• Complete all pre-camp asynchronous on-line training modules and attend all pre-camp in-person orientation sessions
• Other duties as assigned 
  
  

This is a great chance to join JCC Greater Boston's respected and valued, people-orientated workplace of diverse community services providers, which is rapidly growing!

JOB DETAILS: We are an outdoor camp, located on beautiful, wooded property in Dover, MA. This is an hourly position, Monday - Friday, for the camp season*. The regular Camp day begins when you arrive at Camp (typically between 8:45 and 9:15) and ends at 4pm. In addition, all Camp Counselors are expected to attend 3 or 4 staff meetings on Monday evenings at JCC Greater Boston. Camp Counselors also work one Sunday Family Day, or 1 or 2 additional evenings and/or overnights (meals provided!) over the course of the summer - depending on their placement in camp. Offering great perks, including JCC Health & Fitness center access, a supportive, vibrant in-person work environment, and a competitive starting pay range of $16 - $19 per hour**. The pay rate offered will ultimately be determined by relevant qualifications, experience and JCC's internal equity.

*The regular camp season begins June 29 and ends August 21 (with the option to also work the following “9th Week” as well). Orientation takes place (in-person and with different hours and no transportation provided) Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, June 24, 25, and 26 and ends with Visiting Day (a pre-camp visit for all campers and families to meet staff) on Sunday, June 28. While we prefer staff who can start Orientation Week and work the entire 8-week regular season, we are happy to consider quality candidates who may have conflicting obligations. Please note that bus transportation is only offered for regular camp days; it is not provided or Orientation, Staff Meetings, Fmaily Days or home from late nights.

** The hourly rates above apply to regular daytime/evening hours. Overnights will be compensated at a flat rate of $75 - $100 per overnight.

About JCC Greater Boston  

Since opening its doors in 1983, JCC Greater Boston has been committed to creating a vibrant, inclusive, diverse community by nurturing meaningful, lasting relationships. Through our network of early learning centers, day camps, regional teen and family programs, health and wellness offerings, and adult arts and ideas classes, JCC Greater Boston provides highly valued connections, learning, and experiences for the Jewish community and friends. 

JCC Greater Boston staff enjoy working in an innovative, friendly, and welcoming environment where their talents and contributions are appreciated. In our recent employee survey, staff rated their direct management and organizational alignment experiences close to 90% positive. If you want to upgrade your working experience and have a better work-life balance, we encourage you to explore becoming part of the JCC team!

To learn more about what makes JCC Greater Boston a wonderful place to work, please visit our careers page at  

JCC Greater Boston is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any individual or group on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or disability. In a continuing effort to maintain and enrich a diverse environment, we actively encourage applications from women and members of underrepresented groups. 

Requirements

Education and Experience:   

• High school graduates* strongly preferred
• Counselors must be 16 years-old and have at least 4-weeks experience supervising children
• Junior Counselors must be 15 years-old and completing at least 10th grade* this year
• Experience with children with special needs is helpful and preferred, but not necessarily required
• Experience working in and/or attending summer camp is a plus 

 *An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted at the JCC’s discretion to meet minimum criteria.

 Skills and Abilities:

• Models maturity and reliability with the ability to stay playful – exhibiting flexibility, patience, empathy, innovative problem solving and collaboration
• Has experience and enjoys working with young children
• Shares Camp’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion
• Models a positive, proactive, and kind approach while concentrating on providing children with a pleasant and safe camp experience
• Possesses ability to manage situations calmly, effectively, and diplomatically
• Has a strong desire to make a difference every single day
• Possesses the ability to work independently and as part of a team, with strong relationship-building skills
• Demonstrates excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to juggle multiple tasks and/or competing priorities
• Must be a self-starter who takes initiative
• Demonstrates a history of superb interpersonal and active listening skills 
  
  

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to work in-person, on-site in Dover, Massachusetts
• Must be able to navigate 70 acres of rugged, uneven and rustic campgrounds independently
• Comfortable working all or most of the day outdoors or inside without air conditioning
• Able to work well in a busy, dynamic and sometimes noisy environment involving multiple tasks and priorities
• Able to lift and carry objects weighing up to 30-40 pounds (boxes of supplies, children’s backpacks etc.)
• Able to sit and kneel; getting down at eye level with children regularly. 

 
ADA Statement: Individuals must possess these criteria for knowledge, skills, and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that the individual can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation and using some other combination of skills and abilities. 

Benefits

In addition to offering rewarding work and great career opportunities within our mission-driven, values-driven, and family-centric environment, JCC Greater Boston proudly offers employees the generous benefits listed below.

JCCGB Perks! Each seasonal employee is eligible for access to JCC Greater Boston's top-class fitness, recreation, and wellness facility in Newton! Seasonal access to the JCC Fitness Center includes:

• Use of the Fitness Center at Leventhal-Sidman JCC during active seasonal employment
• Free or discounted Camp Grossman enrollment for camp employees' children during the weeks worked. Discount prorated based on number of regularly scheduled hours.

  Benefits are subject to review and change by the Organization, and plan documents are the primary determinant. 

 
A Great Place to Work! JCC Greater Boston is consciously evolving as a great place to work! In our recent 2023 employee engagement survey, at least 88% of our staff gave us top ratings on:

• Supportive colleagues
• Team camaraderie
• How their managers treat them
• Individual autonomy
• Knowing what their work contributes to and how it impacts others
• Pride in working for the JCC
• Program and service quality
• Holding ourselves accountable

Our staff and leadership bring experience, excellence, and commitment to everything we offer, and we are dedicated to a culture where all our employees may thrive. Our culture is built on our values, driven by our mission, and nurtured through the expert contributions of our professionals.