Camp Assistant Counselor

Organization: Arts for Learning Northwest, formerly Young Audiences of Oregon and Southwest Washington

Status: Hourly; temporary

Term: Monday–Friday, June 26–August 11

Schedule: 40 hours/week (8:00 am – 4:00 pm)

Rate:  $15/hr

Location:  Da Vinci Middle School

Reports to: Camp Site Manager

*This role will prioritize currently enrolled Portland Public Schools high school students. 

Organization Overview

Arts for Learning Northwest is an arts education nonprofit organization that works to connect learners with professionals in the arts community. We work with a roster of independent contractors teaching artists to provide a variety of quality hands-on artist residencies, workshops and performances to schools all throughout the region.

Program Overview

Young Audiences will be offering multiple weeks of arts based summer camps for elementary aged students. These camps will focus on introducing students to a variety of mediums and materials while giving them the ability to process their emotions and trauma from the pandemic. Our arts camps will provide students with a meaningful way to make their learning visible, develop strong social emotional skills and experience joy.   

The Camp Assistant Counselor spends the camp weeks creating a sense of community with a small cohort of elementary aged students and supporting these students as they move through their day.

The Camp Assistant Counselor will be supported in the classroom by a Lead Counselor, at least two professional teaching artists who will manage the bulk of the arts instruction, and a Camp Site Manager who will support the classrooms with any student specific needs including but not limited to first aid, COVID symptoms, parent phone calls etc.

This onsite camp staff team will support three classrooms of 20 children of a specific age group, working together to maintain a safe, creative and inspiring environment and ensure that students are engaged. They will lead the children through their day of outdoor time, art material exploration, as well as focused project time to play out the camp curriculum. 

Camp Assistant Counselor Responsibilities

• Assume responsibility for the health and welfare of a student classroom group and treat younger students with respect in your words and actions.
• Assist the Lead Counselor with classroom activities including but limited to check-in/check-out, transitions, morning meeting, lunch and outdoor break, free choice time.
• Assist as an instructor during art blocks with a Teaching Artist facilitating a variety of different arts activities (both visual and performing).
• Participate as a member of the camp teaching team to create an inviting and engaging community environment for students.
• Maintain open communication with all Arts for Learning NW Art Camp personnel.
• Seek assistance when needed.
• All other responsibilities as assigned by the Lead Counselor.

Qualifications

• Desire to work with children in a positive, supportive manner.
• Ability to communicate with elementary aged students, classroom teachers, professional Teaching Artists, and peers.
• Exhibit enthusiasm, maturity, responsibility, flexibility, initiative, and leadership.
• Enjoy arts related activities (both visual and performing).
• Parental permission, and recommendation from high school counselor or art or drama teacher.
• Fully COVID vaccinated.

Evaluation/Culmination

Each student Camp Assistant Counselor receives a written letter of recommendation at the conclusion of the Arts for Learning Camp term. The student will be evaluated based on supervision responsibilities, instructional responsibilities, and professional behaviors.

How to Apply

Please send a letter of interest including any relevant volunteer, school or work experience that will help prepare you for this opportunity to [email protected].

Please include contact information for your parents or guardians.

A letter of recommendation from a teacher, school staff member, or current adult mentor is a plus.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received.

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE, but questions about the position can be sent to the email address listed above. 

ALNW is an equal opportunity employer that celebrates diversity and does not discriminate in employment based on race, ethnicity, culture, gender, gender expression, color, military service, age, sexual orientation, religion, physical and mental ability, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.