Common Ground’s camps seek to to provide a diverse group of children with a fun, safe summer experience, emphasizing building
friendships and developing an appreciation for the natural world. Campers will experience nature as a fun, exciting place to explore,
and discover how people, food, and the environment are interconnected. Exceptional camp staff are essential to establishing and
maintaining the friendly, educational, community atmosphere of Common Ground Camps.
Job Title: Camp Teacher/Environmental Educator
Camp Details: See www.commongroundct.org to read about the specific activities in each of our camps.
We are specifically seeking the following staff for summer 2015:

Ecology Camp (ages 6 – 12): seeking staff who will specialize in one of the following: Animal care, Gardening , Cooking from the farm,
Nature & recycled arts, Science/nature knowledge, Hiking & outdoor skills, Cooperative games, Music.

Farm to Feast Cooking Camp (ages 8 – 10): seeking staff who love to cook and have experience leading children in cooking activities.
Knowledge of healthy, seasonal cooking with local farm ingredients is very helpful.

Sprouts Camp (ages 4 – 5): seeking staff who have significant experience in a preK or kindergarten setting and are excited to spend the
summer playing outside!

Animal Adventures Camp (ages 7 – 10): seeking staff who have experience working with and educating others about domestic and/or
wild animals, as well as experience with leading and teaching groups of children.

West Rock Rangers Camp (ages 10 – 13): seeking staff who have experience leading hikes and outdoor adventures for groups of youth
and who have experience meeting the social and emotional needs of middle school students. Familiarity with West Rock Park trails is a
bonus!

Eco-Explorers Camp (ages 5 – 8): seeking staff who have experience with young children in a camp or educational setting and are excited
to hike, cook, make art, build forts, and play outside with children.

Head Teacher positions may be open for any of these camps. Head teachers manage the big picture of scheduling and activities for their
group, interact daily with camp parents, lead lessons and activities, and meet daily with their staff team to plan and problem solve.
Job Schedule:


Camp dates are June 29 – August 15, 2015 (including staff training week). Camp staff must be available for ALL dates – it is not possible
to takes days or weeks off.
Staff work Mon – Fri from 8:00 –4:00 with optional extended day hours available from 7:15 – 8:00 AM. Our last day is Saturday, August
15 (for camp clean-up).
Location: Common Ground, 358 Springside Ave, New Haven, CT 06515
Job Description for all positions:








Specific activities will vary with the camp, however all camp teacher positions include:
Support our camp mission and culture through thoughtful participation in camp staff week and staff meetings with the goal of creating a
safe, memorable, educational camp experience for our diverse camp community
Create and/or learn lesson and activity plans; teach lessons and run activities
Supervise & interact with campers during recreation and lunch times
Supervise & direct teenage & Jr counselors
Assure physical/emotional safety of all participants, behavior management
Camp Teachers lead/participate in all camp activities, including hiking, active outdoor play, garden exploration, farm animal care,
cooking, environmental science lessons, crafts, music, cooperative games, and more.
Camp Teachers are responsible for developing activities. A large library of resources will be provided, and staff will have time to develop
these activities in collaboration with their staff team during staff training week.
Contribute to facility maintenance and cleaning as needed at the end of each camp day.
Minimum Qualifications:







Experience working with children in formal or informal settings (school, nature center, summer camp, scouts, etc)
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse communities and cultures
Interest in and basic knowledge of the natural world
Willingness to get dirty and work hard in all weather (including summer heat & humidity and/or rain)
Ability to be physically active for most of an 8 hour day
Demonstrated commitment, reliability, punctuality, and responsible behavior at previous jobs
All applicants who love nature and children are welcome and encouraged – our typical camp staff represent a wide range of ages and
backgrounds. Common Ground is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Salary:
Based on education and experience, $15.00 - $16.50/hour, no benefits. Staff are paid every 2 weeks
To Apply:


Email a resume and a cover letter describing your interest in our programs and your relevant experience to Rebecca
Holcombe, Camp Director: [email protected].
Applications accepted until positions are full. Interviews begin in February 2015.