Lead Camp Counselor

Camp Shai is the JCC in Denver’s premier Jewish Day Camp serving children entering Kindergarten through 6th grade. Individuals of all backgrounds, faiths, and families are welcome. At Camp Shai, we offer a little something for everyone with a variety of engaging and fun activities. From sports to theater to engineering, our campers are building their skills, bolstering their confidence, and creating magical summer camp memories. At Camp Shai, we place an emphasis in our programming on the universal values of kindness (chesed), respect (kavod), community (kehillah), courage (ometz lev), and good attitude (ruach).

This is a seasonal position: Start Date 6/1/2026 – Tentative End Date 8/14/2026.

Camp is the perfect environment for campers to develop their skills outside of the classroom and build their confidence – and yours too! Your work will make a difference in supporting campers to improve their ability to make and maintain friendships, increase their confidence to try new activities, and create a safe space for everyone to be themselves, campers and staff alike. Being a staff member at camp helps you to gain the skills you want from an internship in a concrete, hands-on, and fun way!

We are seeking individuals for the Lead Counselor role that are adaptable, goal-oriented, and excited to work in a fast-paced and fun environment where everyone is welcome. Lead Counselors must submit at least 460 hours of verifiable childcare experience in order to be termed a Lead-Qualified Counselor. Our Lead Counselors work directly with campers each day to guide them through their summer activities, provide mentorship and support as campers develop their skills, and create a fun and supportive environment where kids want to come back again and again!

Our Ideal Candidate

You are passionate about working with kids and creating a welcoming, creative, and fun environment that celebrates learning and growth.

You are flexible and excited by challenges that require creative problem-solving and determination.

You enjoy working in a dynamic environment and are ready to bring that camp energy this summer, whether you are dancing across the stage in a silly costume or face painting with campers during downtime.

You want to grow your skillset, and you are ready to both give and receive feedback.

You are a team player that relishes opportunities to collaborate with your colleagues.

You exercise patience and empathy when dealing with others and exude positivity.

You are available to work a minimum of six consecutive weeks throughout the camp season.

Role and Responsibilities

Support your co-counselors with camper care and supervision; prioritizing the physical, social, and emotional health, safety, and well-being of each individual camper

Contribute to and participate in all activities at camp including, but not limited to, swimming, specialist activities, camp-wide community rituals, traditions, and programs

Ensure that inclusive practices are being implemented to make camp accessible for all campers as prescribed by Camp Shai’s inclusion team

Complete documentation of camper notes as requested

Manage camper behaviors using positive behavior management techniques, enforcing appropriate safety policies, emergency procedures, and camp rules

Organize and facilitate age-appropriate activities for camper groups

Responsible for ensuring that health and safety guidelines and expectations around cleaning, sanitization, and risk mitigation as outlined by current JCC and Camp Shai policies are followed

Participate in weekly staff meetings either before or after camp hours as determined by Camp Director

Perform duties in before or after care at least twice during the summer, as assigned by the Camp Director

Perform other related duties as assigned by Camp Leadership

Physical Demands and Working Environment

Physical Demands: This job requires personnel to have operative auditory and visual functioning. Employees must also be able to walk upwards of two (2) miles each day, including use of stairs and uneven terrain. Employees may also stand, sit in chairs or on the ground, run, swim, and carry at least 20 pounds. Mental requirements include, but are not limited to, the ability to concentrate, effectively cope with stress, adapt to, and stay alert in a professional environment, as well as an ability to problem solve and de-escalate crisis situations and challenging behaviors. Reasonable accommodation may be granted for qualified applicants.

Work Environment: Working conditions may include being in indoor, open classroom spaces and spending extended time outdoors under the sun.