Tacoma Summer Camp Counselor

Who we are:

The Mountaineers is a community of outdoor recreationists and conservationists founded in 1906 to explore the peaks and waterways of the Pacific Northwest. Today, we have 17,000 members and seven branches in Western Washington, where we deliver most of our outdoor education programming. Thanks to the work of generations of volunteers and our internationally recognized publishing division, we continue to enjoy an outstanding reputation in the fields of outdoor education, recreation, and public lands conservation and advocacy. Our dedicated volunteers and staff get people outside to experience the power of the natural world. We advocate for access and protection of recreational lands so that future generations can enjoy these places too. Our core value of community reflects the belief that a diverse and inclusive outdoors inspires unity, respect, and passion for the places we love. Our 60 staff, divided between our program centers and our nonprofit publishing division, Mountaineers Books, and 2,500+ volunteers work together to achieve our mission to enrich lives by helping people explore, conserve, learn about, and enjoy the lands and waters of the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

Visit www.mountaineers.org to learn more.

About Camp

Tacoma Mountaineers Summer Camp offers 8 weeks of day camp for kids age 6-13, two weeks of teen adventure camp for ages 13-17, and two weeks of overnight camp for kids age 8-14. All weeks will be packed with games and fun, skill building, and outdoor adventure. Day camps consist of rock climbing, rope skills, first aid and navigation training, camp cooking, shelter building, wild animal safety, as well as lots of fun and games. Overnight camps consist of day hikes, wading in lakes and rivers, exploring nature, group cookouts, and fun around the campfire. Teen Adventures include backpacking trips and climbing trips. Most Tacoma staff will have the chance to work at least one week of overnight camp. As a camp staff, we work hard, long days to provide a meaningful experience for each week of camp…and have a lot of fun doing it!

Position Description

Counselors play the most important role in supplying a positive, valuable, safe experience for Mountaineer summer campers. They are directly responsible for the daily supervision of a group of 8-10 campers ranging in age from 6-17. They teach varying outdoor curriculum, including climbing, hiking, first aid, navigation, and safe methods of recreating outdoors. They will work collaboratively with other camp staff to create an inclusive, enthusiastic, and welcoming camp environment.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide a meaningful camp experience, keeping campers happy, healthy, safe, and having fun
• Foster a positive sense of community within the group and seek ways to include all campers
• Facilitate creative outdoor activities using Mountaineers curriculum
• Enthusiastically teach games and activities to group of campers
• Assist in the set up and break down of camp
• Attend weekly staff meeting
• Ensure Mountaineers Youth Policies and Procedures are followed and adhered to at all times
• Be a mentor and role model for Counselors in Training

Minimum Requirements

• Minimum age 18
• High school diploma
• Positive, enthusiastic team player
• Experience working outdoors with youth
• Ability to pass a national criminal background and sex offender check
• Must attend all of staff training on June 15-19
• Ability to work all summer from June 22 - Aug 14

Desired Qualifications

• Climbing and belaying experience
• Hiking experience
• Knowledge of quick games and time fillers to keep campers engaged during transitions
• Summer camp experience, specifically working with 6-13 year olds
• Experience teaching outdoor recreation skills
• Current CPR & First Aid Certification

Cultivating an inclusive staff is central to The Mountaineers focus on advancing equity. Our core values are Adventure, Advocacy, Community, Education, and Volunteerism, and we believe a diverse and inclusive environment inspires unity, respect, and passion for our work and one another. We’re interested in hearing from people who can work with colleagues of varied experience and background. The Mountaineers is an equal-opportunity employer, and candidates from all backgrounds are considered, and as an organization that values equity and inclusion, we highly encourage people of color, women, LGBTQ individuals, and veterans to apply.

Work Environment

This is an on-site role based in Tacoma, WA at The Tacoma Mountaineers Program Center.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to lift/move 20 pounds regularly, and up to 40 pounds occasionally on program days
• Ability to stand for extended periods of time while leading youth
• Ability to hike on uneven and hilly terrain continuously for up to 6 miles, while carrying a backpack up to 35 lbs
• Ability to bend, squat, run, or climb as part of duties leading youth

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This position is for a non-exempt, full-time, seasonal employee. Regular schedule will be 40+ hours a week, including camp hours. Compensation is $21.75/hr. Benefits include membership in The Mountaineers