Summer Internship: Early Childhood Summer Camp Counselor

Summer Internship: Early Childhood Summer Camp Counselor

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Position Summary

As an Early Childhood Summer Camp Counselor, you will be an integral part of our summer camp team, specializing in nature based early childhood environmental education day camp programming for children ages 3-6. You will plan, develop and co-teach daily programs specializing in early childhood programming at multiple branches. 

The UEC will hire two (2) Early Childhood Summer Camp Counselors.

Our Summer Employment and Internship Experience:

• The Early Childhood Summer Camp Counselor is paid a stipend of $1,120 on a bi-weekly basis. 
• This role is allotted 3 days (24 hours) of PTO for planned vacation or sick days.
• You will attend training for the first two weeks of your experience, with opportunities for further learning & development throughout the summer. We host both a Summer Kickoff event and an End of Summer Celebration.
• We nurture an inclusive, supportive, and collaborative workplace culture. 
• You will have the ability to attend all UEC events or programs at a low or no cost. Children of employees attend programming, including summer camps, at reduced rates.

Application Review Date: Monday, February 2nd.

• Applications will continue to be accepted after this date and application review/interviewing will occur on a rolling basis, until both positions are filled.

Employment term: June 8th, 2026 to August 21st, 2026

Location and Schedule:. This role works in-person 5 days/week, for 40 hours/week, at all three branch locations.

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DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 Planning processes for summer camp

• You will attend and participate in required training for licensed Wisconsin Day Camps and utilize the training while leading programs throughout the summer.
• You will collaborate with summer camp early childhood educators and directors to develop age-appropriate multi-week programming
• Create camper-centered programming throughout the summer and prepare materials for activities. 

Co-teach week-long and multi-week summer camps

• Lead diverse summer camp programming and mentor program participants  ages 3-6 in outdoor Urban Ecology Center sites and/or green spaces around the Milwaukee metropolitan area.
• Work closely with the early childhood environmental educators to develop and teach nature-based early childhood multi-week camps for ages 4-6 
• Oversee and plan camper activities during before and after-camp session

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To be successful in this position, you will demonstrate the following competencies:

We know that hardly anyone ‘checks ALL the boxes’ on job requirements, and that’s okay! If some or many of the items listed below describe you and your experiences, we’re excited to talk with you and encourage you to apply.

• Collaboration: You have a strong ability to collaborate and share teaching and planning responsibilities with peers.
• Effective Communicator: you can articulate thoughts and express ideas effectively using oral, written, visual and non-verbal communication skills, as well as listening skills to gain understanding. 
• Reliability and Agency: You build trust and exercise good judgment by meeting deadlines, delivering on commitments, prioritizing needs, and making considered and effective decisions.
• Adaptability/Flexibility: You can adjust to changing situations, social dynamics, work priorities, and weather conditions; you understand a plan may change and can adapt to meet objectives. 
• Growth Mindset: You have a demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development and incorporating feedback; you are optimistic about future opportunities. 
• You are enthusiastic about working with children and have a basic understanding of youth. development and group management strategies. 
• Bilingual skills in English/Spanish are preferred. 
• Strong cultural competency and commitment to equity, dignity, and justice.
• Affinity to the Urban Ecology Center's mission, vision, and values.

Required Qualifications: 

• A high school diploma or equivalent education. Candidates must have ability to prove attainment of this level of education to the State of Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.
• Qualified candidates must have the ability to to pass background checks and fingerprinting for approval by the State of Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.
• First Aid and CPR/AED certification or the ability to gain certification is required. UEC will arrange the appropriate training within the first two weeks of employment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with children grades K-8, such as child care, field trips and other educational and/or outdoor experience is recommended; working with diverse populations.
• Lifeguard certification.

Physical Requirements

• Standing, hiking, biking, walking or paddling for a full day outdoors. 
• Ability to build and work near campfires (outdoor open flames in a contained fire ring). 
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds with or without accommodations. 
• Team-lifting gear such as canoes from storage to activity locations.

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What does a typical workday look like?

Condition & Location: 

• Our summer camps spend 90% of their time outdoors, the work environment will be dependent on weather conditions. 
• Work will be conducted on land and in/near water. Open shared office workspace with an active team atmosphere.

Schedule: 

• Generally 8-hour days, beginning between 7:30-9am and ending between 4-5:30pm.

Equipment Used: 

• Outdoor adventure equipment such as nets, bikes, educational materials, wagons, radios and water coolers.

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The Urban Ecology Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to make all personnel decisions without discriminating on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, physical disability, mental disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national or ethnic origin, and any other protected status.