Activity Specialist, Camp Grossman

Are you looking to make a difference in a child’s life and create unforgettable summer experiences?  Camp Grossman is looking for Specialists to lead various camp activities including arts, music, sports, dance, cooking, mountain biking, climbing, boating, fishing, jewelry-making, knitting, gymnastics, rock climbing, ropes, and more; we are always open to discussing new activity ideas based on the skills and interest of our potential staff, so let’s talk! This full-time, on-site summer role is perfect for enthusiastic, compassionate individuals who love working with kids and are passionate about their specialty area.   As an Activity Specialist, you will lead fun, safe, and engaging activities, to help create a warm and inclusive camp community where every camper feels valued and confident.  Guided by our Program Director, you will play a key role in making this a summer campers will always remember.  Are you ready to make an impact? Join us for an incredible experience. 

JCC Greater Boston is deeply committed to valuing and celebrating the uniqueness of each constituent. We welcome staff and participants from diverse backgrounds. While being proudly Jewish, we strive in every way to provide an open and welcoming setting for all, irrespective of personal practices, beliefs, or background. We are guided by JCC Greater Boston’s core values - Belonging, Joyfulness, Collaboration, and Transformation - which resonate with many who do not identify as Jewish. 

Primary responsibilities include, and are not limited to:  

• Plan and lead creative, safe and engaging age-appropriate activities for all assigned campers with varying interest levels and abilities:  

• Organize, manage and maintain all equipment and supplies, regularly monitoring to ensure proper working order and safety 

• Coordinate with the program director to order and restock supplies during summer operations, and complete end-of-season inventories for off- season ordering 

• Join all staff in the parking lot in the morning and afternoon to welcome the safe arrival and departure of campers. 

• Role will also include planning and leading an activity, or help with a cookout, one or two evenings (after regular camp hours) throughout the course of the summer 

 
Standard staff expectations include and are not limited to: 

• Actively create a welcoming dynamic that contributes to an environment where everyone is valued and respected  

• Actively participate as an essential team member and attend all staff meetings during or after camp as required 

• Support JCC Greater Boston’s mission, vision, and values of belonging, joyfulness, collaboration, and transformation, including through role modeling  

• Enthusiastically represent the organization, modeling excellence and achievement  

• Complete all staff payroll and onboarding on time and before Orientation begins. 

• Complete all pre-camp asynchronous on-line training modules and attend all pre-camp in-person orientation sessions. 

• Other duties as assigned 
  

Supervisory Responsibilities:  Some specialists may be assigned an assistant (or assistants) in which case supervisory responsibilities include, and are not limited to:   

• Provide on-going direction, guidance, mentorship, feedback and supervision of assistant(s) as needed to facilitate their assistance of Specialist   

• Create/facilitate an environment where employees can achieve individual goals  

• Build and maintain a positive working relationship to achieve desired outcomes and the ongoing professional growth of the direct report    

• Write and conduct a mid-summer evaluation of assistant, identifying key areas of growth with concrete suggestions for how to improve  

• Write and conduct an end-of-summer evaluation of assistant including a recommendation for re-hire  

• Uphold the policies of the organization and align work with the overall mission, vision and strategic objectives of the JCC; report to the Program Director any related issues.   
  

This is a great chance to join JCC Greater Boston's respected and valued, people-orientated workplace of diverse community services providers, which is rapidly growing!   
 

JOB DETAILS: We are an outdoor camp, located at Hale Reservation in Dover, MA.  Orientation takes place the week of June 16th and ends with Visiting Day (a pre-camp visit for all campers and families to meet staff) on Sunday, June 22. The regular camp season begins June 23 and ends August 15 (with the option to work the following “9th Week” for additional pay). The camp day runs from 8:15 AM - 4:15 PM, Monday through Friday, with 3 or 4 staff meetings on various Monday afternoons and/or evenings. Activity Specialists also work 1 or 2 additional evenings (dinner provided!) over the course of the summer- either running their activity or assisting with a family night or cookout, depending on their position in camp. While we prefer staff who can start Orientation Week and work the entire regular season, we are happy to consider quality candidates who may have conflicting obligations. 
 
This is a seasonal exempt full-time position, generally working 8-hour days, 5 days per week, for 8 weeks (plus the orientation week before), with the option to work an additional 9th week for extra pay. Offering great perks, including JCC Health & Fitness center access, a supportive, vibrant in-person work environment, and a competitive starting pay rate of [$16.00 – $20.00] per hour. The pay rate offered will ultimately be determined by relevant qualifications, experience and JCC's internal equity.

About JCC Greater Boston 

Since opening its doors in 1983, JCC Greater Boston has been committed to creating a vibrant, inclusive, diverse community by nurturing meaningful, lasting relationships. Through our network of early learning centers, day camps, regional teen and family programs, health and wellness offerings, and adult arts and ideas classes, JCC Greater Boston provides highly valued connections, learning, and experiences for the Jewish community and friends. 

JCC Greater Boston staff enjoy working in an innovative, friendly, and welcoming environment where their talents and contributions are appreciated. In our recent employee survey, staff rated their direct management and organizational alignment experiences close to 90% positive. If you want to upgrade your working experience and have a better work-life balance, we encourage you to explore becoming part of the JCC team! 

To learn more about what makes JCC Greater Boston a wonderful place to work, please visit our careers page at https://www.bostonjcc.org/careers/ 

JCC Greater Boston is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any individual or group on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or disability. In a continuing effort to maintain and enrich a diverse environment, we actively encourage applications from women and members of underrepresented groups. 

Requirements

Education and Experience:  

• High school graduates* strongly preferred 

• Experience leading children in your subject area is a plus, but not necessarily required 

• Experience working in and/or attending summer camp is a plus 

 *An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted at the JCC’s discretion to meet minimum criteria.  

 Skills and Abilities: Requires knowledge and familiarity with the needs and abilities of children, as well as proficiency in designated activity subject area, to create and lead curriculum for meaningful and joyous experiences for all campers, including but not limited to:  

• Enjoys working with children  

• Models maturity and reliability with the ability to stay playful – exhibiting flexibility, patience, innovative problem solving and collaboration 

• Shares Camp’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion  

• Is proficient in subject area and able to translate that experience into a child-focused project and/or activity  

• Possesses ability to manage situations calmly, effectively, and diplomatically    

• Has a strong desire to make a difference every single day  

• Possesses the ability to work independently and as part of a team, with strong relationship-building skills  

• Demonstrates excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to juggle multiple tasks and/or competing priorities   

• Must be a self-starter who takes initiative  

• Demonstrates a history of superb interpersonal and active listening skills 
  

Physical Requirements:  

• Must be able to work in-person, on-site in Dover, Massachusetts.  

• Must be able to navigate 70 acres of rugged, uneven and rustic campgrounds independently 

• Comfortable working all or most of the day outdoors or inside without air conditioning 

• Able to work well in a busy, dynamic and sometimes noisy environment involving multiple tasks and priorities.  

• Able to lift and carry objects weighing up to 30-40 pounds (boxes of supplies, children’s backpacks etc.)  

• Able to sit and kneel; getting down at eye level with children regularly. 

 
ADA Statement: Individuals must possess these criteria for knowledge, skills, and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that the individual can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation and using some other combination of skills and abilities. 

Benefits

In addition to offering rewarding work and great career opportunities within our mission-driven, values-driven, and family-centric environment, JCC Greater Boston proudly offers employees the generous benefits listed below. 

 
JCCGB Perks! Each seasonal employee is eligible for access to JCC Greater Boston's top-class fitness, recreation, and wellness facility in Newton! Seasonal access to the JCC Fitness Center includes: 

• Use of the Fitness Center at Leventhal-Sidman JCC during active seasonal employment 

• Free or discounted Camp Grossman enrollment for camp employees' children during the weeks worked.  Discount prorated based on number of regularly scheduled hours. 

 Benefits are subject to review and change by the Organization, and plan documents are the primary determinant. 

 
A Great Place to Work! JCC Greater Boston is consciously evolving as a great place to work! In our recent 2023 employee engagement survey, at least 88% of our staff gave us top ratings on: 

• Supportive colleagues 

• Team camaraderie 

• How their managers treat them 

• Individual autonomy 

• Knowing what their work contributes to and how it impacts others 

• Pride in working for the JCC 

• Program and service quality 

• Holding ourselves accountable      

Our staff and leadership bring experience, excellence, and commitment to everything we offer, and we are dedicated to a culture where all our employees may thrive. Our culture is built on our values, driven by our mission, and nurtured through the expert contributions of our professionals.