Camp Kesem Berkeley New Counselor Supplement
Dear Applicant,
It’s that time of year—counselor application time! We’re thrilled that you are interested in
applying to be a counselor for Camp Kesem 2015! We hope you are as excited as we are about
the coming months as we prepare for camp. As always, we appreciate your abounding
enthusiasm and continued involvement in Kesem!
Attached is your counselor supplement – please take the time to thoughtfully answer the
provided questions. REMEMBER TO ALSO FILL OUT THE ONLINE FORM ON ACTIVE THAT WILL
BE EMAILED TO YOU SEPARATELY.
Before the application, we would like to remind you of the guidelines established at the
beginning of the year to be considered an active Camp Kesem member (with counselor
eligibility). You must:
1. Turn in your ten letters for letter-writing fundraising.
2. Attend general meetings whenever possible (and fill out an absence form/let us know
about any time conflicts), and be an active committee member.
3. Participate (whenever possible) in Sproul flyering and fundraisers, as well as other
events (i.e. Calapalooza, reunions).
Please fill out this application electronically and email it back to us
([email protected]) by FRIDAY, JANUARY 23RD at 5PM.
Group interviews will be scheduled at the beginning of the semester. If you are invited to
interview, please be as flexible as possible once available time slots are released! If you have
any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at
[email protected]
We look forward to reading your application!
Kesem Love,
Kayla “Flipper” Mason, Evan “Hobbes” Winger, Charlotte “Sequoia” Hoerber
Volunteer Coordinators ’14-’15
Camp Kesem Berkeley New Counselor Supplement
First Name:
Date of Birth:
Last Name:
Age:
Camp Name:
Sex:
M F
T-Shirt Size:
I am applying for:
Regular Program only
Teen Program only
Both Regular and Teen Programs, but if accepted, I would prefer: ________________
Note: Teen Program counselors must have completed two years of college and be 20 years old
by the start of camp.
TWO Weeks of camp!
Both sessions will be almost identical, but each will serve different campers. Please let us
know your availability/preference below by marking your week preferences as 1 (your first
choice) or 2 (your second choice) or both as 1 if you do not have a preference. We would prefer
if you are flexible and available for either week, but if you are unavailable for one session,
please mark N/A next to that week.
Week One (August 9-14, Training Day August 8): ____________
Week Two (August 16-21, Training Day August 15): ____________
Would you be willing/interested in doing both weeks? Yes _______ No __________
Please rank your unit preference (1 being your first choice and 5 being your last choice):
Green Unit (ages 6-8): ___
Yellow Unit (ages 8-10) ___
Orange Unit (ages 10-11) ___
Blue Unit (ages 11-12) ___
Teen Unit (ages 13-16): ___
Camp Kesem Berkeley New Counselor Supplement
1. Please list experiences you have working with youth, at summer camps, and/or with
youth with disabilities or special needs. List like you are writing a résumé with
appropriate information, including name of program, relevant dates,
duties/responsibilities, etc.
2. Please elaborate on your experiences listed above—what skills have you learned or what
qualifications do you have to enhance campers’ experiences at Camp Kesem?
3. Considering the children and families that Camp Kesem serves, what is it about Camp
Kesem specifically that speaks to you and makes you want to be a counselor?
4. Discuss one challenge you have had working as part of a team and how you handled it.
Camp Kesem Berkeley New Counselor Supplement
5. Tell us about a time when you felt most alive and free to be at your best.
6. Please share any favorite memory from working with a child.
7. What do you foresee being your biggest challenge this summer as a Camp Kesem
counselor? What do you think would be your greatest strength as a counselor at Camp
Kesem?
8. Describe your involvement in Camp Kesem this semester. What does Camp Kesem mean to
you? What have you enjoyed or disliked? Did you have a goal for involvement this year,
and have you met it?
9. Based on your experience in Camp Kesem so far this year, is there anything that you
would like to see changed or added to Camp Kesem in the future?
Camp Kesem Berkeley New Counselor Supplement
This year, we will be conducting group interviews. Not all applicants will be selected
for an interview. If you are selected to attend a group interview, please come to the
interview with a short (2-3 minutes) presentation prepared to teach the rest of the
group something. This is a totally open-ended activity, you can pick anything you
like—a magic trick, a song, a game, a fun way to tie shoes, absolutely anything you can
think of that would be fun and engaging for 2-3 minutes. Consider something that you
would engage campers with at camp. Be creative! Have fun!
The following two questions are for Teen Program applicants only.
1. What experience do you have working with teens?
2. Why are you interested in the Teen Program?
Camp Kesem Berkeley New Counselor Supplement
Please attach a photograph to your application. As we are going through your applications,
we would like to put a face to a name.
Counselor Position Responsibilities and Commitments
By signing here, I understand that upon acceptance of a Counselor position, I agree to:
1. Participate in the Camp Kesem Training and Meetings – (Wed. 7-8 PM training; Wed 8-9PM
meeting), which is a mandatory part of Counselor training.
2. Attend the mandatory 3-day Counselor training retreat (dates TBD).
3. Obtain CPR certification either with Camp Kesem Berkeley or independently if required of
your position.
4. Attend Camp and Camp-related events during your week of camp – including attending the
full day of training the day before your session begins.
.
Signature
Date
Camp Kesem Berkeley New Counselor Supplement
The following FAQ is meant to clarify the difference between a cabin counselor, a unit leader,
and a program counselor. Descriptions of each position’s responsibilities are on the following
pages.
What is the difference between a program counselor and cabin counselor?
o Both program counselors and cabin counselors are assigned to a unit and sleep
in that unit’s cabin.
o Cabin counselors stay with their unit throughout the entire day and all
rotations.
o Program counselors leave their unit to do their rotation for all units (~3-4
rotations per day).
o Program counselors work with Operations during the semester to create their
programs (3-4 different programs in each category for the duration of camp)
o This is a significant added responsibility during the semester and summer.
What are the responsibilities of a unit leader and how are they different than
cabin/program counselors?
o Unit leaders, like program counselors and cabin counselors, are assigned to a
specific unit and sleep in that unit’s cabin
o Unit leaders must be CPR certified.
o Unit leaders have the same responsibilities as all cabin counselors, plus:
 Unit leaders oversee a group of ~10-20 campers and ~5-10 counselors in
their unit
 Provide cabin counselors with guidance and support
 Act as liaison between cabin counselors and Admin Team
 Administrative tasks (break schedules, incident reports, evaluations,
etc.)
 Handle challenging or extraordinary circumstances with Admin Team
Camp Kesem Berkeley New Counselor Supplement
The following descriptions are meant to provide basic guidelines for the responsibilities of each
position and its place in the camp’s staffing structure. All counselors are volunteers.
Cabin Counselor
Qualifications:
 Be physically and mentally able to assist in counseling, programming, and ensuring the
physical care of a group of five to eight campers.
 Suggested camp/leadership experience
 Suggested First Aid & CPR certification.
 Be an enrolled UC Berkeley student during the 2014-2015 school year.
Responsibilities:
 Responsible to Unit Leader.
 Live in a cabin with campers, serve as a group counselor, and help campers to have a
positive experience.
 Participate in the planning and implementation of cabin, group, and all-camp
programming.
o Oversee the following on a daily basis:
o Facilitate daily cabin clean-up by campers.
o Teach campers, through example, responsibility by making sure that your group
attends all meals and camp activities on time.
o Be with campers at all times. If a camper is left alone, he/she is considered
lost.
o Set a good example for campers through leadership and personal behavior.
Foul language is not acceptable in the Camp Kesem setting.
o Encourage respect for all camp equipment and facilities.
 Report any incident involving “out of the ordinary” circumstances to the Unit Leader.
 Create an environment where campers feel safe, loved, and respected at all times.
 Fully participate in staff training and all staff meetings.
 Know and adhere to the policies in the Camp Kesem Staff Manual
Camp Kesem Berkeley New Counselor Supplement
Program Counselor
Arts & Crafts, Drama, Sports, and Cooking & Science
Qualifications:
 Be physically and mentally able to assist in counseling, programming, and ensuring the
physical care of a group of five to eight campers.
 Suggested camp/leadership experience.
 First Aid & CPR certification.
 Be an enrolled UC Berkeley student during the 2014-2015 school year.
 Related experience in respective program area and proper certification where
necessary.
Responsibilities:
 Responsible to Admin Team and Unit Leader.
 Plan and lead groups daily in safe and exciting activities within respective program
area.
 Promote positive self-esteem, creativity, leadership, teamwork and respect among
campers in respective program area.
 Live in a cabin with campers and help cabin counselors and unit leader with daily
responsibilities when not involved in program area preparation or activities.
 Participate in the planning and implementation of cabin, group, and all-camp
programming when not involved in program area preparation or activities.
 Create an environment in respective program area where campers feel safe, loved, and
respected at all times.
 Fully participate in staff training and all staff meetings.
 Know and adhere to the policies in the Camp Kesem Staff Manual.
Camp Kesem Berkeley New Counselor Supplement
Unit Leader
Qualifications:
 Preferably, but not limited to, juniors and seniors, OR experienced counselors.
 Be physically and mentally able to assist in counseling, programming and ensuring the
physical care of a group of 10-20 campers.
 Camp/leadership experience.
 First Aid & CPR certification.
 Be an enrolled UC Berkeley student during the 2014-2015 school year.
Responsibilities:
 Responsible to Admin Team.
 Oversee a group of approximately 10-20 campers and 5-10 counselors (numbers vary
based on camper enrollment).
 Provide cabin counselors with support and guidance and evaluate cabin counselors at
the end of camp.
 Act as a liaison between the counselors and the Admin Team.
 Complete specific administrative tasks, such as behavior incident reports when
necessary.
 Handle challenging behavior management situations and “out of the ordinary”
circumstances.
 Live in a cabin with campers and fulfill all cabin counselor responsibilities. (Please
see: Cabin Counselor Responsibilities.)
 Create an environment where campers feel safe, loved, and respected at all times.
 Fully participate in staff training and all staff meetings.
 Know and adhere to the policies in the Camp Kesem Staff Manual