Queer Counselors in Training Residential Counselor

Job Summary: Counselors are the primary supervisors and mentors for their campers—playing a significant role in meeting important community and identity outcomes for campers. They hold the key responsibility of being the #1 staff member that campers will associate their camp experience with. Counselors live in the campus dorms with campers and other counselors and support individual campers’ growth as well as the group dynamics by participating in all-camp programming together, eating meals with campers, and creating residential programming. Counselors will report to the QCIT Camp Co-Director, working in collaboration with many other staff members to grow in their youth development skills and facilitation/planning skills. Counselors are expected to be part of the residential experience, and dormitory housing and food are provided as part of this role. Counselors must also be able to participate in the full range of camp offerings, including hiking, SF field trips, etc.

Please fill out the application for Queer Counselors in Training Residential Counselor here

Employment dates:

June 13-14 ORIENTATION AND SET UP
June 15 DAY OFF
June 16-23 CAMP PROGRAM

Qualifications

You’re a hard worker!
Must be a strong, positive team player and enjoy working in a camper-centered environment
You love fast-paced environments where you can “go all in,” get cheesy, silly, and let your “freak flag fly”
You love working with kids and don’t mind awkwardness. You have a knack for building relationships quickly and letting guards come down
Interest in empowering and affirming LGBTQIA+ youth
Must have experience working with middle school-aged and early high school-aged students
Must have experience working with LGBTQIA+ youth or community
Summer camp programs experience preferred

Responsibilities

Internalize vision and plan camp program
- Help create a camp environment that instills values from the beginning of camp to the end (for staff as well as campers)
- Be a role model for campers and fellow counselors at all times, demonstrating type of community member and leader we aspire to be
Provide camper mentorship and guidance as campers experience camp programming (that can sometimes bring up sensitive topics and triggering memories for youth). Act as the first person campers go to for support in physical or emotional needs, conflict mediation, sensitive issues
Ensure (and be hyper-vigilant) of camper safety at all times; if you need support immediately inform the camp Director
Support and occasionally help plan/run camp programs and activities. Facilitate a positive dorm and camp culture
Participate in team meetings to problem-solve any in the moment challenges, assess progress towards program goals, camper needs
Participate in set up before camp/clean up after the last day of camp, participate in post-camp celebrations/reflections, and close-out interviews.

Compensation

The position is based on a stipend for the duration of camp and includes staff training, onboarding and pre-camp training hours. Benefits include compensation (starting at $1350), a day off per week, housing for the duration of counselor training and camp, free meals during work, and opportunity to spend an incredible and meaningful couple of weeks making a significant impact on LGBTQIA+ youth. Our program is located on our Athenian school campus in Danville, CA. Please note that Athenian is a smoke and drug free campus.

QCIT AFFINITY CAMP DESCRIPTION

Our Vision is for LGBTQIA+ teens and teen allies of the LGBTQIA+ community (rising 8th to 10th grade) to find their people, feel safe, proud, and affirmed in space, and realize their power to create change within their community and beyond!

Our Mission is for Q.CITs to leave having had experiences that will propel them into their identities as queer leaders and build their advocacy skills; the following are the experiential outcomes of Q.CIT that will anchor all programming:

Opportunities to take on leadership roles with youth and to learn applicable real-world skills
Feel empowered and affirmed in their identities and connected to queer community
- Connect with the micro-community at Q.CIT, developing and embodying pride in who they are
Contextualizing our existence as queer history

Our Program is an 8-day overnight experience, during which Queer Counselors in Training (Q.CITs) will explore their identities in a gender inclusive environment -- where pronouns are respected and individuals are not expected to prove any parts of their identities. Our program features genderless dorm housing and bathrooms, and Q.CITs will have adult LGBTQIA+ staff as their mentors, teachers, and allies. Q.CITs will have opportunities to learn about LGBTQIA+ history and current issues, discover more about themselves through art and self-expression, and reflect on their role within the broader community and intersectionality. Conversely, Q.CITs will apply these skills and knowledge to engage in self-advocacy, advocacy as allies, and pride in their identities. Supplemented by professional development, Q.CITs will be equipped to take on leadership positions in their community and beyond. While building identity and friendships, Q.CITs will also engage in exciting and fun experiences together. All programming, day and evening, will be designed to build community within the larger LGBTQIA+ allies community in the Bay Area and build the agency and voices within the group as well as provide an experience they will never forget.

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