Camp Therapist Position Available In Union, New Jersey

Camp Therapist 3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 1030 Central Avenue, Plainfield, NJ 07060

Description:

An exciting opportunity to join the team of a progressive YMCA located in vibrant Somerset County, New Jersey. The YMCA is one of the nation’s leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. With a 150-year-old history, Greater Somerset County YMCA (GSCY) is a pillar of the community and has seven locations across three counties, which collectively serve upwards of 30,000 individuals. GSCY has 100 full-time and 950 part-time employees along with operating revenues to $22+ million. The Y empowers everyone—no matter who they are or where they are from. To fulfill our purpose of strengthening community for all, GSCY is committed to being an inclusive organization and leveraging our collective impact to address social inequities. To learn more about GSCY, visit our website: http://gscymca.org

Requirements:

Camp:

Camp RISE Location:

Plainfield, NJ Camp Dates:

June 30, 2025 – August 22, 2025 Camp RISE with Plainfield YMCA is seeking a Camp Therapist to support the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The Camp Therapist’s primary responsibility is to utilize behavior management strategies based on principles of behaviorism to help campers manage their behavior and ensure a positive, safe, and productive experience for everyone. Working under the direction of the Camp Leadership Team, you will serve as your group’s dedicated Behavior Specialist, providing targeted support while also being an active, engaged leader. In this role, it is imperative to make camp the best experience a child could ever dream of. Camp Therapists are role models demonstrating our core values of honesty, caring, respect, and responsibility.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Behavioral Leadership:

Serve as the primary behavioral support specialist for a group of 15-30 children, working collaboratively with other counselors to create a structured and positive environment.

Establish Clear Expectations:

Clearly communicate rules and behavioral expectations to campers from the outset and maintain them consistently.

Positive Reinforcement:

Actively praise and reward appropriate behavior to encourage campers, utilizing verbal praise, special recognition, and other camp-approved rewards.

Skill Development:

Encourage campers to achieve goals in personal development by focusing on social skills, communication techniques, and self-regulation.

Behavioral Interventions:

Work with individual campers or small groups to create and follow behavior contracts/agreements when necessary, and apply consistent, appropriate consequences for misbehavior in alignment with camp policy.

Activity Leadership:

Collaborate with other counselors to develop and execute fun, educational, and therapeutic activities throughout the week.

Active Participation:

Swim daily with campers to have fun, assist in daily swim lessons, and ensure safety for all.

Camp Spirit:

Show camp spirit every day by participating in camp traditions, singing camp songs, cheering on campers and staff, and playing camp-wide games.

Safety & Supervision:

Maintain safety at all times by knowing every camper by name, maintaining proper ratios, carrying first aid supplies, and being responsive on a walkie-talkie system.

QUALIFICATIONS

At least 18 years of age. Previous experience working with children, preferably in a day camp setting, with a minimum of two previous camp seasons. Strong skills in behavior management, de-escalation, and positive reinforcement techniques. Knowledge of behaviorism principles and their application in youth development settings is highly preferred. Experience creating or implementing behavior support plans or contracts is an asset. Patience, empathy, and a genuine desire to help individuals, including those with special needs. Strong communication and interpersonal skills. CPR, First Aid, AED certifications, and Child Abuse Prevention training within 30 days of hire date. Previous experience with diverse populations preferred.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS

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. Sufficient strength, agility, and mobility to perform essential functions and to supervise program activities in a wide variety of indoor and outdoor locations (depending upon the programs). Ability to work in a variety of environments, specifically those subject to extreme heat and humidity. Physically and mentally able to respond to emergencies and administer CPR and First Aid Ability to plan, lead, and participate in a range of activities in a variety of outdoor/indoor settings.

YMCA COMPETENCIES

(Leader):

Mission Advancement:

Accepts and demonstrates the Y’s values. Demonstrates a desire to serve others and fulfill community needs. Recruits volunteers and builds effective, supportive working relationships with them. Supports fundraising.

Collaboration:

Works effectively with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions, and perceptions. Builds rapport and relates well to others. Seeks first to understand the other person’s point of view, and remains calm in challenging situations. Listens for understanding and meaning; speaks and writes effectively. Takes initiative to assist in developing others.

Operational Effectiveness:

Makes sound judgments and transfers learning from one situation to another. Embraces new approaches and discovers ideas to create a better member experience. Establishes goals, clarifies tasks, plans work, and actively participates in meetings. Follows budgeting policies and procedures, and reports all financial irregularities immediately. Strives to meet or exceed goals and deliver a high-value experience for members.

Personal Growth:

Pursues self-development that enhances job performance. Demonstrates an openness to change and seeks opportunities in the change process. Accurately assesses personal feelings, strengths, and limitations and how they impact relationships. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology. Benefits of working part-time at GSCY include: FREE Individual Membership Access to any YMCA in the Nation. 10% Discount on most programming at Greater Somerset County YMCA. Access to one of the leading retirement programs, “Y Retirement Fund,” from the first day of employment. Opportunities for professional development, mentoring, growth, and promotion throughout the YMCA Movement. Supportive and inclusive community for people of all backgrounds and access to Employee Resource Networks. Greater Somerset County YMCA is a drug-free work environment. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information who share our values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility.