Pay rate $18.15 per hour.  High school diploma or (GED) equivalent required.  Must be at least 18.  Valid driver's license required.  The Camp and Overnight NatureStart Programs Lead (seasonal) contributes to the success of the Chicago Zoological Society by providing the highest level of quality customer service and top-quality programming to camp and specialty program participants in order to further the Society’s mission of inspiring conservation leadership and providing excellent guest experiences.   

 Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Assist the Supervisor, Camp, Overnight and NatureStart Programs in managing the daily program needs of camp staff and campers; monitor camper check-in and check-out, arrange catered lunches, prepare activities, and develop program content.  Assist in early pick-up and drop-off of programs in accordance with established protocol.  Maintain and organize program supply inventory including art supplies, t-shirts, program tools, etc.  Programs include, but are not limited to, Zoo Camp, Safari Sleepovers, Kid’s Clubs, and Mini Camps.
Maintain open communication on a daily basis with parents and/or guardians of program participants regarding questions or concerns, discipline issues, extended day care, etc.
Facilitate Camp and NatureStart Programs sessions in the absence of Seasonal Camp and NatureStart Programs Counselors.  Supervise program participants through different exhibits and facilitate projects, games, and activities.
Provide coaching/feedback to Seasonal Camp and NatureStart Programs Counselors on a regular basis Supervise Seasonal Camp and NatureStart Programs Counselors and Assistant Counselors in the absence of the Supervisor, Camp, Overnight & NatureStart Programs or Coordinator, Camp, Overnight, and Family Programs.     
Other related duties as assigned.

The requirements for this position include the following:

High School diploma or (GED) equivalent required.  
Must be at least 18 years of age as required by the American Camp Association Guidelines.
Two years paid and/or volunteer/unpaid experience working with groups of children and/or educating the public in a formal or informal educational setting, e.g., camp, park district, Special Recreation Association, day care, student teaching, school, or cultural institution, required.
Knowledge of how to send and receive emails, and basic word processing skills required.  
Ability to work effectively in a team environment required.
Must be a flexible and creative team player in order to accommodate changing camp and camper needs.    
Strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills required.   English fluency at a professional working proficiency.
Ability to provide a safe, fun, and appropriate learning environment for school-aged children is required.
Cultural competency; experience and/or ability to work and interact effectively with a diverse, multicultural audience.
Valid driver’s license required.  

Preferred Qualifications:

One year of college or the equivalent of two years’ experience preferred, including coursework in education, biological sciences, communication, therapeutic recreation, or other directly related field or subjects, such as public speaking, interpretation, theater, recreation, environmental studies, children and families, or art and interpretation.
Experience working in inclusive informal, educational, or recreational programs a plus.
One year supervisory experience preferred.  
Experience in Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel preferred.
Multilingual ability, Spanish fluency a plus. 

Additional Information:  This position description summarizes the primary duties and functions of this position, but should not be considered a complete listing of every duty the incumbent may ever be called upon to perform.  Camp programs typically run from June through August.   Pre-school camp is for children 4 and 5-years old.  School-age camp is for children in grades K–5.  Zoo Lab is for middle school children in 6th - 8th grades.  The work schedule for Zoo Camp is generally Monday through Friday, 7 to 8 hours per day, based on camper enrollment.  The work schedule for Safari Sleepovers is generally spring and fall Friday evenings through Saturday mornings.  Other specialty program schedules vary but are typically in the spring and fall on weekends, holidays, and other non-standard hours.  All schedules are based on the needs of the operation, up to 40 hours per week.  Must be able to accommodate a flexible schedule, including some weekends and holidays.  Must be available to work the weeks of summer and winter camps, June through August and late December, respectively speaking. Must be available in the spring and fall for specialty programs.  Incumbent must be enthusiastic with demonstrated abilities to engage with guests and other staff.  Must represent the Chicago Zoological Society in a professional manner at all times.  This is a temporary position.

Seasonal Zoo Camp positions involve working in both indoor and outdoor work settings in a variety of weather conditions.  To learn more about Zoo Camp and Sleepovers visit Zoo Camp- https://www.czs.org/camp and Sleepovers- https://www.czs.org/sleepoversafari   

We are proudly accredited by the American Camp Association, the only accreditation organization for camps in North America. The Association is recognized for its standards for camp health, safety, and programming. The organization partners with the American Red Cross and the American Academy of Pediatrics to ensure that camp practices are current and high quality. We believe in inclusion and welcome campers of all abilities. Only 7% of ACA-accredited camps provide an inclusive setting that allows participants with and without disabilities to enjoy the experience together. We are proud to be one of them.   https://www.czs.org/Brookfield-ZOO/Learning/Zoo-Camp/ZooCampForAll

The Chicago Zoological Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer