Job Description
Junior Counselors (JCs) support the Senior Counselor (SRC) in cabin management and lead during their
absence. Junior Counselors assist as caregivers for each camper. The Junior Counselor is responsible
for assisting in planning, teaching, coordinating, and carrying out activities and guiding campers in their
personal and spiritual growth and daily living skills.
Essential Job Functions
- Practice Christian Science
- Let your light shine! Campers treasure your unique example as a practicing Christian Scientist.
- Pray daily for yourself, your cabin, and the camp.
- Follow the Golden Rule.
- You are a role model: be a good example at all times.
- Keep the mental environment unpolluted! Conversation should be uplifting, supportive, & tasteful.
- Care for Campers
- Love your campers and get to know them as individuals.
- You are a professional caregiver and a surrogate parent during campers’ stay at CedarS! Nurture them with the same thorough care they receive at home.
- Ensure that your campers are well-supervised at all times.
- Keep an eye on camper cleanliness and self-care—daily showers, clean clothes, sunscreen, etc.
- Put the campers’ needs above your own wants.
- Tend to any special needs as indicated on the Camper Care Form.
- Host/Hostess at Meals (one SRC/AD per table)
- Ensure that all campers at your table get a balanced meal and stay hydrated.
- Model and teach good manners.
- Work to build a sense of family through inclusive conversation, shared responsibility, & mutual respect.
- Help maintain a sense of order and respect throughout the dining area, especially when someone is on stage.
- Assist in Teaching Activities
- Deliver metaphysicals (“mets”) that show campers how to apply Christian Science to every activity.
- Support the Senior Counselor- follow instructions and be proactive in attending to camper and activity needs.
- Help further campers’ skills.
- Stay on schedule.
- Communicate and Support
- Complete paperwork in a timely and professional manner: letters home, Quality Awards, counselor evals, forms for the office, etc…
- Meet daily with your cabin staff team to debrief the day, plan for tomorrow, support each other, and discuss cabin needs.
- Report upward as needed: Report to your Program Director and/or the Practitioner any significant or repeated breaches of the Camper Code of Conduct. Your Directors and the Christian Science Practitioner are there to support you and need to know about challenges/successes in your cabin and activities.
- Respect Directors’ decisions, knowing that they were informed by thought, prayer, and experience-- but also feel free to ask questions and raise concerns.
- Care for Cabins, Activity Areas and Camp Property
- Maintain a sense of order and cleanliness within your cabin home.
- Leave activity areas better than you found them.
- Respect camp property. Pick up trash. Help keep our energy bills down by turning off fans, lights, and water when not in use.
- Promptly report any maintenance needs by filling out a “green slip” request form.
Other Job Duties
- Support SRC in cabin management and lead during their absence.
- Lead cabin clean-up time.
- Actively assist with cabin Bible Lesson Study.
- Actively assist in teaching activities.
- Participate enthusiastically in all camp activities
- Supervise cabin transitions between activities, ensuring that campers are properly dressed and on time to the next activity.
- Complete evaluations for your cabin staff at end of session.
Relationships
JCs will work closely with the SRC and other counselors in their cabin. Also JCs will generally have regular interactions with kitchen staff, program specialists, office, and maintenance staff. The expectation is that all of these relationships will be harmonious and that all communication will be respectful and appropriate.
Qualifications
- Successful completion of CedarS CIT course.
- Under 18 years old (must be 16+).
- Ability to interact with all age levels.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Interest in applying Christian Science to all of one's actions.
- Understand the development needs of youth.
- Ability to relate to youth and adults in a positive manner.
- Demonstrate knowledge and skill in designated camp program areas.
Physical Aspects of the Job
- Ability to communicate and work with groups of children of all ages, and provide necessary instruction to campers and staff.
- Ability to live in close proximity with approximately 12 campers and counselors.
- Ability to observe camper behavior, assess its appropriateness, enforce appropriate safety regulations and emergency procedures, and apply appropriate behavior-management techniques.
- Visual and auditory ability to identify and respond to any potential hazards related to the activity.
- Ability to respond appropriately to situations requiring calm, spiritual thought. Must be able to assist campers in an emergency (fire, evacuation, illness, or injury) and possess strength and endurance required to maintain constant supervision of campers.
