Seasonal Camp Counselor Jobs in Madison, WI (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $15.61 Hourly
Location : City Hall, 18 North Jackson Street, Janesville, WI
Job Type: Seasonal
Job Number: 2026.51.906.01
Department: Neighborhood & Community Services
Division: Recreation
Opening Date: 01/07/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Benefits Earning Potential: $0.00
Objective & Relationships
CITY OF JANESVILLE DIVERSITY STATEMENT:
The residents of Janesville choose this community, not just as a place to live, but as a place to realize life's opportunities. We strive to sustain a community culture where differences are recognized, understood, and appreciated. As such, the City of Janesville recognizes the importance of developing an environment where diversity is not merely accepted but embraced and celebrated. As public servants, we believe everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. To this end, we will diligently recruit and retain the most talented employees in an environment that fosters maximizing one's potential. Therefore, we encourage individuals from all backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences to consider employment with the City of Janesville and serve the residents of "Wisconsin's Park Place".
OBJECTIVE:
Under general direction of the Head Camp Counselor and/or Camp Supervisor, and the Recreation Programmer in the absence of either, the Camp Counselor is responsible for planning and leading daily camp activities and supervising children in a positive and safe manner.
RELATIONSHIPS:
Reports to: Head Camp Counselor (KCC only) and/or Camp Supervisor (with no or in the absence of Head Camp Counselor); Recreation Programmer.
Has regular work contact with Division and Office Heads, City employees, parents, campers, C.I.T.s, and the general public.
Supervises: None
Kids Count Camp Counselor: (30-43 hours per week for 11-12 weeks)
Camp Tot Lot Counselor/2-3 one-hour play in parks programs: (10-15 hrs./week for 6-7/weeks)
Camp Tot Lot Counselors may be able to pick up additional hours after the completion of camp at Kids Count Camp if hours are available.
Must be available to work the whole duration of camp (dates given at interview)
Must be available for mandatory training during May 27-June 13, 2026.
Essential Duties
ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. This list is illustrative only and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by the incumbent. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Plans and leads a variety of activities and positively encourages youth participation.

1. Participates actively in various camp activities.

1. Teaches sports, games, and crafts to youth.

1. Supervises field trips and community trips.

1. Ensures camper safety, well-being, and rule enforcement.

1. Pays attention to camper details and forms.

1. Completes accurate attendance records and assists with problem reports.

1. Follows camp rules and enforces fair and consistent discipline according to policies.

1. Ensures customer satisfaction.

1. Reports issues to Head Camp Counselor and/or Camp Supervisor and Recreation Programmer in the absence of Camp Supervisor and Head Camp Counselor.

1. Serves as a positive role model to the participants.

1. Follows all safety regulations, policies, and procedures; reports all unsafe conditions and acts to supervisor; reports all accidents to the supervisor immediately whenever possible; follows recognized safe work practices.

1. Performs other special projects and other job duties as assigned or required during regular and non-business hours.

OTHER DUTIES:

1. Sets up and cleans up after all camp activities.
2. Keeps storage area clean and organized.
3. Instructs and organizes camp activities (arts and crafts, sports, games, etc.).
4. Provides proper emergency/first aid care to campers when needed.
5. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Position Requirements/Qualifications
MINIMUM EDUCATION AND PRIOR EXPERIENCE
The requirements listed below are not necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

1. Must be 18 years of age or older.
2. Current Child and Adult CPR, First Aid, and AED certifications or willing to obtain.
3. A valid state-issued driver's license at time of hire isrequired.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS
The qualifications listed below are preferred, but not required to perform the essential duties of the position. The absence of these qualifications on a candidate's application does not preclude them from consideration.

1. Previous experience working with children in a camp setting or other youth facility or program is preferred.
2. Pursuing or holding a degree in Education, Recreation Management, or related field is preferred.

COMPETENCIES
For successful performance in this position, the incumbent must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors.
Knowledge:

1. Thorough knowledge of activity planning and child behavior preferred.

Skills:

1. Organizational and time management skills to prioritize duties and accomplish a high volume of work product while adapting to constant changes in priority.
2. Exceptional communication skills, both verbally and in writing, paired with a strong customer service background, and effective interpersonal skills.
3. Collaboration skills to effectively work with others to achieve common goals through communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
4. Critical thinking skills to effectively analyze situations and solve complex or technical problems in a timely manner.
5. Accurate record-keeping and data-reporting skills to prepare and present standard reports.
6. Intermediate level of technical proficiency skills, including computer applications and software such as Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat.

Abilities:

1. Ability to compose routine correspondence and routine reports in a clear, concise, logical, and effective manner, utilizing proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, and tone.
2. Ability to effectively make presentations to small and large groups of individuals, manage public-speaking obligations, and successfully communicate with the general public.
3. Ability to make decisions according to applicable laws, regulations, established procedures, and the directives of the City Manager and City Council.
4. Ability to be responsible, mature, enthusiastic, creative, energetic, highly organized, motivated, dependable, patient, and interested in working with youth.
5. Ability to follow City/Department/Division policies, work independently, react quickly, calmly, and appropriately in emergency situations, and make sound decisions.
6. Ability to maintain discipline.
7. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with city employees, department professionals, staff, campers, parents, and the general public.
8. Ability to work morning and day hours Monday-Friday.
9. Ability to attend trainings.
10. Ability to work with minimal supervision and within the boundaries of responsibility.
11. Always maintains a positive behavior and professional demeanor, address resident and customer concerns in a helpful, courteous manner.
12. Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
13. Ability to interact with a diverse group of individuals.
14. Ability to comply with all safety policies, practices, and procedures, and report all unsafe activities or conditions to supervisor.
15. Ability to maintain a valid, state-issued driver's license.

Behaviors:

1. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with City appointed and elected officials, Department, Division, and Office heads, City employees, parents, campers, C.I.T.s, and the general public.
2. Exhibit exceptional professionalism, tact, and decorum in all areas of work duties.
3. Strong ethics base built upon integrity, honesty, initiative, and respect; maintain strict confidentiality.
4. Interact positively with a diverse group of individuals, and work effectively both as part of a team and independently.
5. Embrace and actively promote an inclusive and equitable work environment.
6. Conduct all business and working relationships in an accurate, fair, equitable and highly ethical manner.
7. Work with the public in a fair and consistent manner, maintaining objectivity and excluding personal bias while performing job duties.
8. Reliable, timely, and proactive in the completion of duties, meeting deadlines and responding to inquiries.
9. Work with others in a positive and supportive manner to solve problems, generate ideas, and accomplish division and City goals.

Supplemental Information
EQUIPMENT, INSTRUMENTS AND MACHINES:
Machinery and equipment, including personal computer, printer, telephones, copier, scanner, 10-key calculator, various sports equipment and supplies for activities, and other standardized or specialized office equipment.
WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL FACTORS:
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.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an outdoor, hands-on environment. An individual in this position is frequently involved in physical work and physically interacting with kids for long periods of time each day, which requires the physical ability to lead and participate in camp activities which include, but are not limited to, swimming, fishing, biking, walking, hiking, crafts, sports, physical games, and activities for the majority of the time. This position frequently walks, stands, stoops, kneels, crouches, crawls, working in narrow and/or confining spaces, and exerts up to 50 pounds of force by lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling objects. The employee is frequently required to see/observe all sections of an assigned zone of responsibility, talk/speak, and listen/hear; use their hands to finger, handle, feel, or operate objects and equipment; repetitive arm, wrist, hand, and eye movements are included. There is frequent twisting of waist/shoulders/legs, lying on stomach or back, reaching, semi-reach to full-reach overhead, wrist turning, and grasping. The employee may be required to climb or balance. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Hand-eye coordination is necessary to perform essential program support to camp activities and programs and to operate various pieces of equipment. Employee is required to use cognitive ability to reason, analyze, and verbalize thoughts and ideas. Requires the ability to recognize and identify similarities or differences between characteristics of colors, shapes, and sounds associated with job-related objects, materials or tasks.
The employee will be exposed to outside weather conditions, including extreme heat. The employee may work near moving mechanical parts in precarious places; and is exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes, or airborne particles, toxic, or caustic chemicals, and vibration. The working conditions in the outdoor environment are dirty, dusty, traverse hilly, and uneven terrain. The noise level in the outdoor environment is generally moderately to high noisy.
A regular, Monday - Friday, 30-45-hour work schedule for 11-12 weeks for Kids Count Camp Counselor and 10-15-hour work schedule for 6-7 weeks for Camp Tot Lot Counselor is required for this position. Camp Tot Lot Counselors may be able to pick up additional hours after the completion of camp at Kids Count Camp if hours are available.
Attendance at day, night, and weekend mandatory trainings and special events may be required. Remote work opportunities during training weeks and to prep camp crafts/activities afterhours may be considered for this position.
DISCLAIMER
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position, or is responsive to the needs of the City of Janesville.
The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.
The City of Janesville, Wisconsin is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
No benefits available for seasonal positions.