Camp Counselor for Campers with Special Needs, Camp Grossman, Summer Day 2026

JCC Greater Boston•Dover, MA

74d•$16 - $19•Onsite

About The Position

Do you enjoy the outdoors? Do you like to have fun? Do you have a sense of humor, patience, empathy, and compassion? Are you flexible and adaptable? Would you like to help children with special needs develop a love of summer camp? Come share your passion and skills as a Counselor in one of our many "Pathways" bunks dedicated to campers with special needs. Pathways, the broader inclusion program at Camp Grossman, enables children with a broad range of developmental and/or cognitive disabilities and/or mental health challenges to successfully access Camp Grossman with varying levels of support. Dedicated Pathways 3:1 bunks are for campers needing the extra support afforded by a bunk with a camper to staff ratio of 3:1. As a Pathways Counselor, you will lead small groups of campers in a fun, safe, and engaging environment, striving to create a warm and inclusive camp community where every camper feels valued and confident. Supported by your Unit Head and our dedicated 3:1 Support Advocates, you will help to ensure all campers can successfully access all areas of our incredible camp program - including lakefront swimming, fishing, boating, arts, drama, sports, games, and more -playing a pivotal role in making this a summer campers will always remember. Are you ready to make an impact? Camp Grossman offers Free Bus Transportation from over 30 communities in and around the Greater Boston area, making it easy for you to join our growing team and celebrated program serving special needs campers from all across Greater Boston. JCC Greater Boston is deeply committed to valuing and celebrating the uniqueness of each constituent. We welcome staff and participants from diverse backgrounds. While being proudly Jewish, we strive in every way to provide an open and welcoming setting for all, irrespective of personal practices, beliefs, or background. We are guided by JCC Greater Boston’s core values - Belonging, Joyfulness, Collaboration, and Transformation - which resonate with many who do not identify as Jewish.

Requirements

High school graduates strongly preferred
Counselors must be 16 years-old and have at least 4-weeks experience supervising children
Junior Counselors must be 15 years-old and completing at least 10th grade this year
Models maturity and reliability with the ability to stay playful – exhibiting flexibility, patience, empathy, innovative problem solving and collaboration
Has experience and enjoys working with young children
Shares Camp’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion
Models a positive, proactive, and kind approach while concentrating on providing children with a pleasant and safe camp experience
Possesses ability to manage situations calmly, effectively, and diplomatically
Has a strong desire to make a difference every single day
Possesses the ability to work independently and as part of a team, with strong relationship-building skills
Demonstrates excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to juggle multiple tasks and/or competing priorities
Must be a self-starter who takes initiative
Demonstrates a history of superb interpersonal and active listening skills
Must be able to work in-person, on-site in Dover, Massachusetts
Must be able to navigate 70 acres of rugged, uneven and rustic campgrounds independently
Comfortable working all or most of the day outdoors or inside without air conditioning
Able to work well in a busy, dynamic and sometimes noisy environment involving multiple tasks and priorities
Able to lift and carry objects weighing up to 30-40 pounds (boxes of supplies, children’s backpacks etc.)
Able to sit and kneel; getting down at eye level with children regularly.

Nice To Haves

Experience with children with special needs is helpful and preferred, but not necessarily required
Experience working in and/or attending summer camp is a plus
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted at the JCC’s discretion to meet minimum criteria.

Responsibilities

Responsible for caring for assigned campers – leading group activities, supporting the group in all activities (sports, drama, climbing wall…), managing both group and individual needs
Guiding and supporting campers during both structured and unstructured time
Ensuring the safety and well-being of campers
Creating a fun/joyful dynamic
Working in partnership with peers and Camp Leadership to provide a happy, safe, and memorable summer for the children
Discussing camper involvement and concerns about campers with camp leadership
Daily written communication with each camper's family (with guidance from camp leadership)
Actively create a welcoming dynamic that contributes to an environment where everyone is valued and respected
Actively participate as an essential team member and attend all staff meetings during or after camp as required
Support JCC Greater Boston’s mission, vision, and values of belonging, joyfulness, collaboration, and transformation, including through role modeling
Enthusiastically represent the organization, modeling excellence and achievement
Complete all staff payroll and onboarding on time and before Orientation begins
Complete all pre-camp asynchronous on-line training modules and attend all pre-camp in-person orientation sessions
Other duties as assigned

Benefits

JCC Health & Fitness center access
a supportive, vibrant in-person work environment
competitive starting pay range of $16 - $19 per hour
Free Bus Transportation from over 30 communities in and around the Greater Boston area
Use of the Fitness Center at Leventhal-Sidman JCC during active seasonal employment
Free or discounted Camp Grossman enrollment for camp employees' children during the weeks worked.

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