Position Title: Camp After Care Instructor

Department: Learning & Engagement

Reports To: Camp & Family Programs Supervisor

Location: Audubon Zoo

General Summary:

Summer Camp After Care Instructors (“After Care Instructors”) are integral part-time seasonal members of the Learning & Engagement (L&E) team who provide after-hours purposeful play activities for our Audubon Nature Institute summer camp participants. After Care Instructors facilitate camp experiences that build empathy and inspire connections to animals and nature.

These positions are great for folks who enjoy working with children and are looking for part-time work. After Care Instructor shifts will run from 3pm-6pm Monday-Friday.

Responsibilities for this position include working collaboratively with camp staff, management, and volunteers to deliver daily camp activities; supervising campers ages 4-13; supervising, mentoring, and evaluating Counselors-in-Training (youth volunteers ages 14-17); and ensuring camp spaces are always safe, tidy, and ready for use. After Care instructors may act as substitutes for day camp instructors as needed.

To deliver on the Audubon mission, After Care Instructors will:

Provide a guest experience of outstanding quality

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  Preparing for and delivering engaging purposeful play activities
• Working cooperatively with other L&E staff and management to ensure successful program delivery
• Understanding the significance of their role and how they can make a positive impact on camp participants
• Communicating camper and programming needs or concerns to Camp Management in a timely manner
• Supervising campers and following all established safety policies and procedures
• Maintaining an organized, clean, and welcoming classroom and encourage non-wasteful use of educational supplies
• Providing support, mentorship, and feedback to Counselors-in-Training (youth volunteers)
• Participating in program evaluations and feedback sessions

Educate our diverse audience about the natural world by…

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  Utilizing provided activities to talk about animals, nature, and conservation in an age-appropriate manner
• Communicating accurate information about the facility, its inhabitants, and conservation.
• Encouraging curiosity and storytelling among campers as a means of engagement.

The above listed duties are general statements of required major duties and responsibilities performed on a regular and continuous basis. They do not exclude other duties as assigned.

To deliver on the Audubon service promise, Before/After Care Assistants will:

Welcome

• Make eye contact with every customer encounter, smile at every person, offer friendly phrases and greetings.
• Wear an identification badge.
• Assume ownership of potential safety hazards (wipe-up spills, pick up trash). Always have the camera-ready look.

Share

• Maintain a positive attitude, pleasant tone of voice (remember it is not what you say, but how you say it).
• Coach coworkers on service expectations.
• Utilize the power of teamwork to give excellent service.
• Know when to involve management.

Inspire

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• Know the answers to questions or seek out the answers.
• Utilize proper phone etiquette (answer phone within three rings, smile before answering call, ask for permission and wait for response before placing caller on hold).
• Ensure work area is free of food, drink, socialization, and personal business.
• Follow Dress Code Policy on clothing and grooming.
• Keep unpleasant concerns behind closed doors (vent backstage).

Supervision: Responsible for supervising assigned campers (ages 4-13) and Counselors-In-Training (youth volunteers ages 14-17).

Experience & Skills:

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  Must be at least 18 years of age, or turning 18 during camp
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with youth from diverse backgrounds
• Demonstrated experience instructing children in a formal or informal educational setting preferred
• Knowledge of wildlife conservation and environmental issues preferred

Education: Bachelor’s degree or coursework in Education, Biology, Zoology, or a related field preferred, and/or equivalent work experience

Physical Requirements:

• Standing or walking for up to ¾ of the day and the ability to carry items weighing up to 30 lbs
• Ability to perceive visual or behavioral changes in children to determine general wellbeing. Must have excellent peripheral vision, depth perception, and quick motor response for child safety during programming
• Ability to speak loudly to crowds in a variety of situations included moderate to loud crowds
• Typical ability to collect and analyze numerical and written data and verbal information to reach logical conclusions and ability to determine the time, place and sequence of operations or actions required
• Regular talking and the ability to express and exchange ideas by means of language expected
• Regular hearing and the ability to perceive the nature of sounds.

Environmental/Working Conditions:

• Ability to work under and handle stress in an appropriate manner required
• May be exposed to high, medium, or low noise intensity
• Constant contact with co-workers required
• Working with and around children required
• Affinity for animals required
• Exposure to fluctuations in temperatures is required
• Exposure to extreme heat and outdoor conditions is required

Other abilities, skills, knowledge:

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  Must be goal-oriented and self-motivated
• Must have willingness and ability to take initiative
• Must have willingness to promote and practice Stand Out Service
• Must work effectively in a team environment