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staff camp counselor

Join Our Team

Here’s the truth—working at Terp Quest Summer Day Camp is hard. It’s not a vacation, nor is it just a job. Ask most of our former day camp counselors and they will tell you working here is one of the most challenging things they’ve ever done. They will also tell you every moment was completely worth it! Nearly all of our counselors return for a second, or third, or fourth, or fifth summer. 

As day camp staff, you have the opportunity to positively impact campers' lives and to help them create lasting memories.


Employment Details

  • Applications Open: January 17th
  • Applications Close: February 16th
  • Interviews held: February 26th-March 15th
  • Decisions made by: March 29th
  • Training Week (required): Week of June 17th
    • Along with an additional day to be announced for CPR/AED/FA certification and Water Safety review
  • Camp: June 24 - August 2 (off July 4&5 and weekends)

Group Counselors must be 18+ years old and in college or have graduated college and will work with all camp groups throughout the summer. Counselors are the primary caregivers for each camper. Please note this position is primarily located in the Eppley Recreation Center on the College Park Campus of the University of Maryland.  

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Guide a group through their daily camp experience. 

Specific duties: 

  • Monitor the health and safety of campers
  • Supervise campers as they move through scheduled daily activities 
  • Organize and lead games and activities 
  • Promote safe participation and exploration 
  • Enforce camp rules
  • Manage behavior problems 
  • Prepare facilities for daily activities
  • Cleanup facilities at day’s end 
  • Assist with planning of weekly and daily activities and camp program evaluation 
  • Supervise extended care activities as scheduled

QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates must...

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Be working toward or have completed a bachelor’s degree
  • Have work or volunteer experience working with elementary school aged children 
  • Demonstrate enthusiasm for helping children explore participation in varied recreational activities and an ability to relate to children of diverse backgrounds
  • Demonstrate reliability and work ethic
  • Complete a state and federal criminal background check. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience working with children in a in a camp or recreational setting
  • Majoring in education, sport and leisure studies, social work, sport management, or similar field
  • Ability to relate to people of all ages and diverse backgrounds
  • Be conscientious and dedicated

BENEFITS

  • Leadership and professional development 
  • Convenient, on-campus location
  • Competitive pay
  • Fun and professional working environment
  • Daytime only working hours
  • No weekend work

WORKING CONDITIONS

  • Work with groups of up to 10 elementary school age children
  • Some light maintenance including trash disposal, sweeping or mopping
  • Active in and out of doors, sometimes in high heat or humidity
  • Actively engaged with campers in an aquatic environment daily

EXPECTATIONS

  • Sign a criminal record disclosure form and get fingerprinted
  • Be successfully vetted by Child Protective Services for the State of Maryland
  • Follow department safety and risk management practices
  • Follow department policies and procedures
  • Attend pre-camp training
  • Successfully complete all required certification trainings
  • Available at least 47 hours, weekdays between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
  • Must attend all training dates and work all 6 weeks of camp.

PAY: Competitive salary based on education and experience for all training and weeks of camp.

University Recreation & Wellness has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich the current culturally inclusive environment. 

Junior Counselors must be 16-18 years old and will work with all camp groups throughout the summer. Junior Counselors will not be primary caregivers of campers but support Day Camp Counselors. Please note this position is primarily located in the Eppley Recreation Center on the College Park Campus of the University of Maryland.   RESPONSIBILITIESAssist Day Camp Counselors with a group through their daily camp experience. Specific duties: 

  • Assist in monitoring the health and safety of campers
  • Assist in supervising campers as they move through scheduled daily activities 
  • Organize and lead games and activities 
  • Promote safe participation and exploration 
  • Enforce camp rules
  • Prepare facilities for daily activities
  • Cleanup facilities at day’s end 
  • Assist with planning of weekly and daily activities and camp program evaluation

QUALIFICATIONSCandidates must...

  • Be at least 16 years old
  • Currently enrolled in high school
  • Have work or volunteer experience working with elementary school aged children 
  • Demonstrate enthusiasm for helping children explore participation in varied recreational activities and an ability to relate to children of diverse backgrounds
  • Demonstrate reliability and work ethic
  • Complete a state and federal criminal background check. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience working with children in a in a camp or recreational setting
  • Ability to relate to people of all ages and diverse backgrounds
  • Be conscientious and dedicated

BENEFITS

  • Leadership and professional development 
  • Competitive pay
  • Fun and professional working environment
  • Daytime only working hours
  • No weekend work

WORKING CONDITIONS

  • Work with 1 Day Camp Counselor and groups of up to 10 elementary school age children 
  • Some light maintenance including trash disposal, sweeping or mopping
  • Active in and out of doors, sometimes in high heat or humidity
  • Actively engaged with campers in an aquatic environment daily

EXPECTATIONS

  • Sign a criminal record disclosure form and get fingerprinted
  • Be successfully vetted by Child Protective Services for the State of Maryland
  • Follow department safety and risk management practices
  • Follow department policies and procedures
  • Attend pre-camp training
  • Successfully complete all required certification trainings
  • Available weekdays between the hours of 7:45 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
  • Must attend all training dates and work all 6 weeks of camp.

PAY: Competitive salary based on education and experience for all training and weeks of camp.

University Recreation & Wellness has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich the current culturally inclusive environment.  

The Terp Quest Arts and Crafts Specialist is responsible for the provision of all art-based camp activities, employing a variety of mediums to ensure a varied experience to participants. This person will be a good steward of Camp resources and creative in the planning and implementation of an art program for children ages 6 - 12 with the support of Terp Quest Summer Day Camp Counselors and Counselors in Training. 

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Planning, organization of and implementation of daily craft activities for all ages.
  • Plan a variety of projects that are age group appropriate and also relate to the week’s theme
  • Manage a class 20 - 25 participants 4 - 6 times per day, M - F
  • Prepare supplies and facility prior to each activity
  • Maintain a clean and safe art room
  • Provide care and prevent loss of art supplies
  • Maintain an accurate inventory of all supplies
  • When not teaching or preparing for an art activity, join an assigned camp group to assist counselors
  • Compliance with department regulations and state certifications.
  • Assistance in general maintenance of assigned area, safety and security of participants.
  • Other duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • May be currently working in an elementary school-aged classroom setting as an art instructor
  • Have completed a bachelor’s degree in Art or Art Education.
  • Have work or volunteer experience working with children ages 6 to 12 (working with children in an art education setting is preferred).
  • Demonstrated enthusiasm for helping children explore participation utilizing a variety of artistic mediums and forms.
  • Must possess the ability to relate to children of diverse backgrounds
  • Demonstrated reliability and work ethic

BENEFITS

  • Leadership and professional development in the classroom setting 
  • Convenient, on-campus location
  • Competitive pay
  • Fun and professional working environment
  • Daytime only working hours
  • No weekend work

WORKING CONDITIONS

  • Majority of time will be spent in an air conditioned classroom
  • Significant standing and walking
  • Some light maintenance including classroom clean-up, trash disposal, sweeping or mopping
  • Active in and out of doors, sometimes in high heat or humidity
  • Actively engaged with campers in an aquatic environment daily

EXPECTATIONS

  • Follow department safety and risk management practices
  • Follow department policies and procedures
  • Attend pre-camp training
  • University Recreation and Wellness requires a state and federal criminal background check to be performed on all new camp staff hires. Hired must sign a criminal record disclosure form and will be fingerprinted
  • All Terp Quest employees must be successfully vetted by Child Protective Services for the State of Maryland
  • Successfully complete all required certification trainings
  • Meet all responsibilities as associated with the position
  • Available at least 47 hours, weekdays between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
  • Must attend all training dates and work all 6 weeks of camp.

PAY: Competitive salary based on education and experience for all training and weeks of camp.

University Recreation & Wellness has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich the current culturally inclusive environment. 

more information coming soon! 

The goal of the program is to have a group of Counselors in Training (CITs)and guide them with knowledge and experience into their adolescent years. The CIT’s will be expected to have an increased level of maturity, responsibility, and willingness to grow. Some typical duties they will perform are:

- Weekly CIT meetings to learn new skills,
- Assignments correlated to our topic of the week,
- Assist counselors with group maintenance,
- All leading up to a "takeover" where they will plan out a day and execute it with our assistance

 

**Cost for program varies by week. To join our CIT team, register for our camp following these instructions.  


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