Unit Leader

Camp DeWitt (day camp in Hillsborough Township, NJ), The OVAL (day camp in Maplewood, NJ), or Camp Hoover (sleepaway camp in Newton, NJ).

Responsibilities:

• The role of the Unit Leader is to lead and supervise a group of campers and unit staff within a unit/program area. They are responsible for developing, implementing, reviewing, and evaluating a weekly activity plan for a group of girls to provide a diverse camp program experience.
• Guide activities and experiences in the unit through girl-adult planning, with an emphasis on session and program theme, and the Girl Scout program.
• Develop, implement, and review weekly activity plan for unit, coordinate unit activities with other camp units.
• Supervise and guide all aspects of the unit’s activities at camp and on off-site trips while ensuring girl/adult supervisory ratios are maintained at all times.
• Supervise unit staff, directing and guiding them in their work, and conduct unit staff performance reviews.
• Act as a role model, lead, guide, and participate with a positive outlook, interact with campers and promote participation.
• Actively engage campers in activities, including hikes, games, skits, songs, etc., as part of the camp experience.
• Assume initial responsibility for health and safety of campers, report all accidents/illnesses to Health Supervisor/Assistant.
• Keep accurate records, ensure the health and safety of campers and ensure camper’s allergy plans are followed.
• Enforce safety rules, programming standards, and personnel policies when necessary and appropriate.
• Report appropriate concerns and/or problems to the administrative staff.
• Actively work to promote team building with all staff, provide support and encouragement, and help to staff to develop their leadership style.

Qualifications:

• Emotional resiliency (handles stressful situations appropriately) and cognitive abilities (mental skills necessary) to carry out job responsibilities.
• Capacity to work in a variety of situations, including and not limited to, loud, large group settings, with high energy, both indoors and outdoors.
• Ability to establish and maintain appropriate professional relationships.
• Ability to maintain the privacy of information that may be shared with them regarding the campers in their care.
• Interpersonal skills to interact effectively with individuals and groups respecting social and cultural diversity and to maintain appropriate boundaries.
• Physical endurance to be on one’s feet walking, bending, twisting, reaching above head, carrying items; being physically active for 4 continuous hours, the ability to walk up hills, and the ability to run or walk fast 1/8 of a mile without stopping.
• Ability to read, write, understand and follow printed instructions in English.
• Ability to work in a variety of outside weather conditions – heat, cold, humidity, wind, precipitation, lake and/or pool water, wooded areas and environmental factors associated with the outdoors.
• Personal skills, certifications, and experience to perform responsibilities in position(s) applied and/or hired for.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Attentiveness to details to equipment and facilities to ensure utilization, proper care, and maintenance is adhered to.
• Ability to lift and carry at least 20 pounds.

Additional Duties:

• Overall cleaning, daily kapers, organization of supplies, cleaning of bathrooms/latrines/port-a-johns, movement of equipment/supplies.
• Clerical or office work, including but not limited to record keeping and inventory.
• Duties that benefit the overall camp program before, during and after the season.
• Duties with the overall goal of leaving the site better than found.

Emergency and Safety Requirements:

• Ability to assist campers and staff in an emergency (fire, evacuation, illness, injury).
• Possess strength and endurance required to maintain constant supervision of campers.
• Ability to observe camper behavior, assess its appropriateness, and apply appropriate behavior-management techniques.
• Possess visual and auditory ability to identify and respond to environmental and other hazards related to the camp program/program area.
• Ability to communicate with parents as needed.
• Ability to physically demonstrate techniques in camp program/activity/program area assigned.
• Ability to stand, stoop, kneel, crouch, walk, reach, use hands/fingers (dexterity) and lift up to 10 pounds.
• Ability to work in heat and frequently lift up to 25 pounds.
• Dexterity and coordination to operate program, sport, janitorial, and/or kitchen equipment safely.