Summer Camp Inclusion Specialist, 40hrs/week May 19-Aug 3, 2025, $14.50+/hr

Principal Function: The Camp Inclusion Specialist provides specialized support and guidance to children with behavioral, cognitive or physical needs/challenges. This role is dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive, and enriching camp environment, enabling campers to develop essential social and emotional skills while participating in camp activities. Works as part of a team to deliver a safe, exciting, and educational experience to a group of campers age 5, 6 & 7, 8 & 9, 10 & 11, or 12 & 13.

• Summer Camp Inclusion Specialist, 40hrs/week, May 19-Aug 3, $14.50/hr

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Places safety and well-being of campers and staff as top priority.
• Serves as a role model for campers.
• Assists in staff training week and training as needed throughout the summer.
• Reviews and maintains files of all camper special needs information.
• Upholds privacy of all campers and staff.
• Assists all campers with special needs as outlined by ADA requirements.
• Collaborates with camp leadership and with parents/guardians to develop individualized behavioral or other support plans.
• Provides consistent and individualized support, guidance, and positive reinforcement to campers during camp activities.
• Accompanies campers to various activities and provide one-on-one support as needed.
• Collaborates effectively with camp staff, including counselors and other specialists, to provide a cohesive and supportive camp experience.
• Prepares proactively to handle and de-escalate challenging situations, conflicts, or meltdowns by prioritizing the safety and well-being of all campers and staff.
• Completes incident reports as necessary and communicate incidents to the Camp Director.
• Promotes a culture of inclusion, empathy, and respect among the entire camp community.
• Participates in pre-season training and helps with end of season clean-up.
• Performs Camp Counselor functions as needed to ensure program operation. This may include leading youth in a variety of activities.

Education and/or Experience: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty according to the requirements of the organization. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

• Must be 18 years of age or a graduate of high school.
• High school diploma/GED is required. One semester of college desired.
• Focus of study in education, special education, social work, psychology, or sociology required.
• Previous experience working with children with behavior, cognitive or physical challenges in a camp or educational setting desired.
• Strong understanding of behavior management principles and techniques.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Must be willing to adapt to new experiences.
• Must be able to work independently.
• Must be able to maintain high professional standards of Conner Prairie.
• Must have fun, friendly, and patient personality.

Supervisory Responsibilities:  This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Schedule and Hours: The standard hours for this position are Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Staff training begins on May 19th, 2025, and camp begins on May 27th, 2025. The last day of camp is August 3rd, 2025. Staff must be able to attend staff training week and at least eight of the ten weeks of camp. This description is for general illustrative purposes and is not a guarantee of available work hours.

Compensation: This is a full-time, seasonal position that is eligible for approved overtime. Benefits are not provided. Pay for this position starts at $14.50 per hour.

Competencies: To perform this job successfully, all employees at Conner Prairie should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Customer Service – Responds to requests for service and assistance; Manages difficult or emotional customer situations focusing on listening without interrupting and keeping ones emotions under control; Solicits customer feedback to improve service; Maintains confidentiality and meets commitments; Remains open to others’ ideas and tries new things.
• Teamwork – Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone’s efforts to succeed.
• Diversity – Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; Educates others on the value of diversity; Promotes a harassment-free environment; Builds a diverse workforce.
• Ethics – Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.
• Organizational Support – Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; Supports organization’s goals and values; Benefits organization through outside activities; Supports affirmative action and respects diversity.
• Professionalism – Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
• Quality/Quantity – Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to promote and improve quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality; Meets productivity standards; Completes work in a timely manner; Strives to increase productivity and works quickly.
• Safety/Security – Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.
• Attendance/Punctuality/Dependability – Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and events on time; Follows instructions; Responds to management’s direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternative plan.

Job-related Competencies – To perform this job successfully, employees in this job should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays or unexpected events.
• Technical Skills - Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; Pursues training and development opportunities; Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; Shares expertise with others.
• Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
• Initiative - Volunteers readily; Undertakes self-development activities; Seeks increased responsibilities; Takes independent actions and calculated risks; Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; Asks for and offers help when needed.

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 accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.  The employee frequently will stand; walk; and lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  The employee occasionally will climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; and taste or smell. 

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less), distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more), color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors), peripheral vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right while eyes are fixed on a given point), depth perception (three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and spatial relationships), and the ability to adjust focus (ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus).

Work Environment:  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly is exposed to working in wet or humid conditions (non-weather), and outdoor weather conditions. The employee will occasionally work near moving mechanical parts, in high, precarious places, near fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold (non-weather), extreme heat (non-weather), risk of electrical shock, and work with explosives. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

Conner Prairie is generally open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, this position will be required to work beyond these hours and when open for special events.