STEM Camp Inclusion Specialist

The Camp Inclusion Specialist is a key position within the Camp ecosystem, centering children with special needs through:

• Providing professional development for Camp staff and volunteers
• Pre-camp curriculum assessment and planning for inclusion,
• Thoughtful pre- and during-camp communication with camper families,
• Social and emotional support for campers.
• Collaboration with aides accompanying campers. 

The Camp Inclusion Specialist works to ensure that the day camp program fulfills our promise to spark excitement, curiosity, and exploration through exceptional immersive experiences for all learners.  

Primary Responsibilities

• The Camp Inclusion Specialist provides ongoing training, support and feedback to all camp staff and volunteers.
• Provide direct support to designated and/or identified campers within the camp program ensuring a safe, fun, and appropriate learning environment.
• Communicating with a camper’s caregiver/guardian about their camper’s involvement in camp, camp staff on best practices and problem solving, and the Director of Education on organizational support for the camp program.
• Coordinating and communicating with any camper aides provided by the family and accompanying campers.
• Assisting with the development and modification of camp content to be inclusionary for diverse learners.
• Camp Inclusion Specialist may also work within a camp to facilitate camp activities and engage campers in distinctive educational experiences.
• Support other camps by aiding in activities, relieving staff, and being a leader when needed.
• Like in most every other job, projects and tasks arise that may be delegated or taken on by the Camp Inclusion Specialist.

Desired Qualities

• Commitment to the mission of CuriOdyssey and science/environmental education.
• Creative, curious, and compassionate approach to facilitating positive learning experiences for children.
• Completed or in pursuit of a Bachelor’s Degree in early childhood education, early childhood special education, psychology, or a related field; or at least one year of relevant work experience.
• An individual who understands and respects children, recognizes that learning is a process not a product, is committed to positive behavior management, and makes the learning process engaging, fun, and driven by the individual camper.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills   
• Demonstrated knowledge of the laws and regulations regarding services for young children with disabilities and their families (ADA, IDEA).
• Experience working with underserved populations, including people of color and/or monolingual families.
• Desired: Personal or professional experience with the disability community and fluency in English/Cantonese or English/Spanish.
• This position requires the candidate to take and clear a Livescan fingerprint and background check.
• Must currently have or be willing to get a CPR/First Aid Certification.

Camp During COVID-19: 

Our camp program will be conducted indoors and outdoors at CuriOdyssey adhering to current health and safety guidelines. This includes but is not limited to wearing appropriate face covering, physical distancing and hand-washing.

Vaccination is a vital tool to reduce the presence and severity of COVID-19 cases in the workplace, in communities, and in the nation as a whole. CuriOdyssey has adopted this policy on mandatory vaccination for Education Program Staff to safeguard the health of our employees from the hazard of COVID-19.  This policy complies with OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard on Vaccination and Testing (29 CFR 1910.501).

All employees covered by this policy are required to be fully vaccinated as a term and condition of employment at CuriOdyssey. Employees are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after completing primary vaccination with a COVID-19 vaccine, with, if applicable, at least the minimum recommended interval between doses. Either is to be followed by a booster dose.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• The physical demands 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 these essential job functions.
• Environment: Work is conducted at CuriOdyssey and immediately local space at Coyote Point. Camp will take place indoors and outdoors in various weather conditions.
• Mobility: Physical ability and endurance to occasionally carry and lift heavy materials, up to 50 pounds. Frequently move from a sitting to standing position. Traversing uneven surfaces, bending, reaching, sitting on the floor with children and twisting are daily repetitive physical actions.

Compensation and Benefits

• Payrate: $23.00-24.00/hour depending on experience
• This is a non-exempt seasonal position, part-time (20 hours/week) starting May 9 and full-time starting May 31 through August 19. Please note that there is an unpaid vacation week, July 4-8. Limited flexibility to accommodate non-emergency time off requests.
• The general work schedule for camp training and camp is Mon. – Fri. 8:00am – 5:00pm. 

How to apply:

Please send a resume, cover letter, and references to Director of Education, Jessa Barzelay, at [email protected] with “Camp Inclusion Specialist” in the subject line by February 11, 2022.