Lead Camp Counselor

An exciting opportunity to join the team of a progressive YMCA located in vibrant Somerset County, New Jersey. The Greater Somerset County YMCA (GSCY) is one of the nation’s leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. With a 150‑year history, GSCY serves over 30,000 individuals across seven locations and supports 100 full‑time and 950 part‑time employees with operating revenues of $22+ million. Position Summary Camp Timber at Bridgewater YMCA – June 22nd to August 28th 2026. Lead Camp Counselor responsible for supervising a group of children, creating a safe and nurturing environment, and fostering positive relationships with campers, parents, and camp staff. Essential Functions Keeps campers and counselors focused and engaged in camp activities. Assists Specialists during activity periods. Consistently greets campers with enthusiasm and treats them with respect. Develops positive relationships with member families and learns why they attend the Y. Communicates daily happenings and incidents to parents/guardians of campers. Responds promptly to campers’ needs. Assists Specialists and all camp staff in carrying out themes, special events, trips, and all camp activities. Encourages campers’ youth development progress. Maintains camp cleanliness. Works cooperatively with all camp staff while planning and executing camp activities. Performs all responsibilities with enthusiasm and commitment, going above and beyond for campers. Uses redirection to appropriate activities when needed and applies positive reinforcement. Teaches and instills the Four Core Values of the YMCA: Caring, Respect, Honesty & Responsibility. Maintains the group backpack, including binder, camper sheets, necessary medications off‑site, and first‑aid kit. Handles all behavior, medical, and other incidents within their group, seeking assistance from camp leadership as necessary. Acts on any other duties requested by the supervisor. Safety Attends regular staff meetings scheduled by supervisor. Obtains and completes all required trainings. Upholds camp safety standards, maintains constant face counts, and understands risk management and disaster policies. Maintains group control and facilitates lunch‑time activities. Follows all Association Aquatics Policy Guidelines. Assumes designated assignments for aquatic activities and expedites arrival and departure from the pool. Adheres to YMCA, ACA, and NJ Licensing standards to maintain ACA accreditation. Secures and submits all accident reports. Reports all immediate concerns to Camp Director or nearest supervisor. Supports bus counselors in ensuring safety and fun activities on the bus, leading songs, stories, and games. Other Duties Maintains a professional demeanor as a representative of the YMCA. Wears Camp T‑shirt daily. Exhibits a positive attitude, responsibility, and self‑motivation; is punctual and reliable. Creates a nurturing learning environment to instill youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Upholds GSCY’s "More Quality At The Y" principles at all times. Qualifications High school student or equivalent. Previous experience working with children, preferably in a day camp setting, with a minimum of two prior camp seasons. Interest preferred in one or more of the following areas: outdoor living, archery, boating, camping, songs/music, skits, sports, aquatics, recreational games. At least 18 years of age. CPR, First Aid, AED certifications and Child Abuse Prevention training within 30 days of hire date. Previous experience with diverse populations preferred. Work Environment & Physical Demands Requires reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Requires sufficient strength, agility, and mobility to supervise program activities in varied indoor and outdoor locations. Ability to work in environments subject to extreme heat and humidity. Ability to respond to emergencies and administer CPR and First Aid. Ability to plan, lead, and participate in a range of activities in outdoor/indoor settings. YMCA Competencies (Leader) Mission Advancement: Demonstrates Hunger for community service, recruitment of volunteers, and support for fundraising. Collaboration: Works effectively with diverse people, builds rapport, remains calm in challenges, and communicates effectively. Operational Effectiveness: Makes sound judgments, seeks new ideas for better member experience, goal setting, budget adherence, and timely reporting. Personal Growth: Pursues self‑development, embraces change, and maintains up‑to‑date knowledge and skills in technology. Benefits Of Working Part‑time At GSCY Include FREE individual membership access to any YMCA in the nation. 10% discount on most programming at Greater Somerset County YMCA. Access to the Y Retirement Fund from day one of employment. Opportunities for professional development, mentoring, growth, and promotion throughout the YMCA movement. Supportive and inclusive community for all backgrounds with Employee Resource Networks. Greater Somerset County YMCA is a drug‑free work environment. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information who share our values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility. #J-18808-Ljbffr Greater Somerset County YMCA