River Friends Day Camp: Lead Counselor (18+)

Looking for a fun and rewarding way to spend your summer? Join River Friends Day Camp as a Lead Counselor, where you’ll help create an engaging, active, and welcoming environment for children ages 2-6 years old. Every day is a new adventure.  If you have a passion for working with children and want to be part of a dynamic, energetic team, this is the perfect role for you! We’re looking for responsible, enthusiastic team players who love working with kids—especially future educators and childcare professionals. Must be 18 or older for this position. If you’re ready to make a meaningful impact while having a blast at camp, apply today! The connections you build here will last a lifetime.

Overview: The Lead Counselor is the primary caregiver and guide for a small group of campers, ensuring their safety, emotional well-being, and engagement throughout the camp day. Lead Counselors create joyful, connected group experiences by building meaningful relationships, fostering community, and supporting campers during all activities and transitions.

Key Responsibilities:

•  Lead a small group of campers from activity to activity, ensuring safety and supervision at all times.
• Build caring, supportive relationships with each camper and create a welcoming group environment.
• Model positive behavior, emotional regulation, and enthusiastic participation.
• Actively support and participate in activities led by specialists and Activity Coordinators.
• Actively engage campers in developmentally appropriate play and activities while on the playground, field, or in classrooms.
• Communicate camper needs and successes to Division Heads and the Camp Director.
• Ensure campers’ basic needs—including hydration, sunscreen, and restroom breaks, diapering—are met consistently.
• Collaborate with, mentor, and model best practices for Assistant Counselors in the group
• Proactively manage behavior with empathy, structure, and positive guidance.
• Monitor health and safety concerns and immediately report incidents to leadership.
• Collaborate with Division Head to partner with parents, when appropriate, to support camper success and belonging.
• Participate in daily swim time by getting in the water and actively supervising campers during all swim lessons.
• Participate in all required training and development opportunities preceding and during camp, including orientation, staff meetings and Parent Nights.

Relationships & Supervision: 

Reports to: Division Head and Camp Director
Mentors: Assistant Counselors within assigned group
Collaborates with: Specialists, Activity Coordinator, Camp Director, Aquatics Staff, and other Counselors

Qualifications & Requirements: 

• Experience working with young children in a school, camp, or recreational setting.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Ability to manage group dynamics with a positive, calm presence.
• Understanding of childhood development and best practices in supervision.
• Must be able to confidently swim and actively supervise campers in the water.
• CPR/First Aid certification preferred.

Hours: Daily Monday through Friday 8:15 am–3:30pm during the camp season

Camp Dates: June 29– August 21, 2026 (no camp on July 3)

Orientation Dates: 

• June 15, 7-8pm: Zoom Orientation
• June 19, 9am-4pm: Orientation
• June 20, 9am-4pm: Orientation
• June 27, 9am-4pm: Orientation and Room Set-Up
• June 28, 9am-12pm: Camper/Parent Orientation

Salary: $5,300-5,400 for the season, based on experience

Click here to apply.