Head Counselor

**Head Counsellor - Junior Camp**

**Employment Dates: June 17 - August 24, 2025 - Seasonal Contract, Full-Time**

**Salary Band: Senior Management - $750-$900+/Week, commensurate with experience**

**Benefits: Private accommodation, all meals, free laundry facilities, transportation (including on select camp-wide days-off)**

**Reports to: Executive Director**

**Environment & Location: Sparrow Lake Camp - Severn Bridge, ON**

Situated on 125 Acres of lake front land on Sparrow Lake, approximately 90 minutes north of Toronto, between Orillia and Gravenhurst. Sparrow Lake Camp is. One of the oldest overnight summer camps in Canada. Since 1912, we have been providing children and their families with the opportunity to have fun, gain independence, and strengthen their connections with each other and the world around them.

**Position requirements**:

- Currently enrolled in, or graduated from a program focusing on childhood education or wellness (Social Work, ECE, CYC, B Ed, M Ed, etc.)
- Experience working with children in a camp, educational, or therapeutic setting.
- Experience in leadership and community building.
- A demonstrated understanding ofrestorative practices, social and emotional learning, and youth recreation.
- Must submit a Police Reference Check
- Most have a current standard first aid certificate as of the first day of camp.

**Purpose**: To ensure that our Camp Counsellors have the tools and support they require as they build a fun, engaging, and safe community in each of the Junior (6-11years) cabins.

**Position Responsibilities**:
The Head Counsellor is responsible for:

- Supporting Cabin Counsellors in their roles, including providing coaching and feedback
- Working directly with campers who require extra support as required
- Supporting Inclusion Counsellors in their roles as they work 1:1 with campers who require close support
- Assisting in preparing for and organizing all aspects of a daily cabin program for all campers including daily scheduling, special days and meals, evening programs, etc.
- Work with the Director to plan and facilitate staff training sessions - both during pre-camp and in-service training throughout the summer.
- Working with all members of the staff to facilitate program development.
- Communicating daily with Counselling staff and facilitating regular staff meetings.
- Working with the resource staff, as required, to ensure organized scheduling of campers.
- Assisting the leadership team in defining and maintaining camp policies and procedures.
- Occasional driving as required, if properly licensed. Including taking campers to appointments, picking up supplies, etc.
- Submitting a program report by the end of summer.
- Acting as an exemplary role model and professional camp staff when interacting with all staff, campers, parents and visitors.
- Meets additional staff expectations, as assigned.

**Inclusion at Sparrow Lake Camp**:
The camp is owned by the United Church of Canada, and encourages campers and staff of all faith backgrounds, economic statuses, cultural and racial origins, gender expressions, and other ways of being to gather in community to have a fun, friendship-filled, and safe summer away from the confines of home. There is no directive of religious adherence or conversion, and the camp does not engage in religious instruction, or use religious language; while at the same time being fully respectful of the philosophies and beliefs of our valued families.

As we continue along our path towards greater levels of inclusion, our camp is doing work to create a stronger support system for campers with exceptionalities, and for those whose social development has been affected by environmental factors such as the recent pandemic. At this time, the camp is not yet fully accessible to those with mobility issues, and we work with families to build inclusion plans for campers who might need additional support to make the most from then camp experience.
- To apply, please use the Camp Staff Application on our website.
- Successful applicants will be contacted by January 10, 2025

**Job Type**: Seasonal
Contract length: 2.5 months

Pay: $750.00-$950.00 per week

**Benefits**:

- Casual dress
- Commuter benefits
- Company events
- Discounted or free food
- Housing allowance
- On-site childcare
- On-site parking
- Relocation assistance

Ability to commute/relocate:

- Severn Bridge, ON: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

**Education**:

- Secondary School (preferred)

**Experience**:

- Childcare: 1 year (preferred)

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 2025-01-08
Expected start date: 2025-06-17