Summer Camp Counselor

ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND

The New Children’s Museum’s (NCM) mission is to spark creativity, exploration, and a sense of belonging through interactive art experiences. Located in downtown San Diego, the New Children’s Museum collaborates with contemporary artists to design and create art installations and educational programs for children. The Museum brings families together in a rich educational environment that fosters creativity and expression. 2.4 million guests have visited the downtown location since doors opened in 2008, including 232,386 visitors in 2022.

Our vision is to be the most innovative, most loved, most inspiring, and most sustainable children’s museum in the world. Our interactive art installations and hands-on art programming provide creative and educational experiences for children and families. We work with artists to reimagine our spaces so that there is always something “new” to discover when you visit. As a nonprofit institution, we rely on daily admissions, memberships, and community support to fund our daily operations.

Our commitment is to provide a welcoming space for all families. We believe that diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are integral to fulfilling our mission and empowering children’s innate creativity through hands-on exposure to art and the creative process. Last year, 69,455 visitors attended the Museum through access programs. Please visit: https://thinkplaycreate.org/ to learn more.

POSITION SUMMARY

The New Children’s Museum is seeking qualified applicants to fill our Camp Counselor positions. We are looking for individuals who are enthusiastic about the arts and working with children. Counselors will engage campers in daily activities, help to facilitate art projects, and monitor safety. Counselors will also assist Teaching Artists and NCM staff with daily operations as needed. 

The Museum’s Summer Camps are artist-led and offer experiences in a wide array of media. The program serves children from ages 5 through 10 and will run from June 24th, 2024, through August 9th, 2024, between 9am and 4pm each day. Mandatory training is required for all hired positions during the week of June 17th – 21st 2024. Please see our website for more information about our camps.

Must be available to work June 6th, 2024 – August 16th, 2024, from 8:30am –5pm, as camps will run from June 10th, 2024, through August 16th, 2024, between 9am and 4pm each day.

This is a temporary position only. 

https://thinkplaycreate.org/learn/camps/summer-camps/

RESPONSIBLITIES:

• Engage all campers in activities, both in the classroom and throughout the Museum.
• Work together with Teaching Artists to communicate project directions to campers and facilitate progress.
• Monitor camp activities and camper actions for safety.
• Assist Teaching Artists, as needed, with supplies, set up and cleanup of classroom and other related duties.
• Provide a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment for all campers with all levels of ability.
• Assist and facilitate daily camp operations such as transitions between activities
• Provide one-on-one and group support for campers.
• Meet daily with Education Manager /or Education Coordinator.
• Other duties directly related to this program.

Required Qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Friendly, enthusiastic, and outgoing personality.
• Must work well with children ages 5-10.
• Must be dependable and punctual.
• A knowledge of and/or interest in art making
• CPR and First Aid Certified (training will be available, date and time TBD)
• Our camp program runs from June 24th – August 9th, 2024. There is no camp scheduled for the week of July 22nd – 26th 2024 (due to Comic Con). We ask that applicants commit to all 6 weeks of camp, and are available Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Mandatory training is required for all hired positions during the week of June 17th – 21st 2024 (days and times TBD).
• A background check is required upon hire.

preferred QUALIFICATIONS:

• Language Skills: Fluency in Spanish preferred.
• Experience working with children in an educational space.
• Experience working with children with special needs.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described herein 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 is regularly required to sit, talk, see and hear. The employee is required to stand, walk and lift or move up to 50 pounds. The employee must be able to verbally communicate in a concise manner.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The majority of work is performed in a classroom environment with consistent noise level and requires observance of safe work practices, fire regulations, and avoidance of falls, trips, and similar office work hazards.