Employment

General Information

The School in Rose Valley runs a summer camp program on its 9 ½-acre wooded campus in Rose Valley, Delaware County, minutes from Media. Children ages 3 to 14 attend the camp. We have four programs at camp: preschool for children who are 3 and 4 (part-time options are available); 5 & 6’s, the general program, and the Counselor-in-Training program. Counselors work in pairs or teams and have a wide variety of experience, skills and talents. One thing they all share is a genuine love for and understanding of children. Counselors are responsible for creating and leading activities that engage and entertain the children, and for creating a sense of community within the groups and the camp overall.

Summer Camp runs for 7 weeks, starting the third week in June, and regular camp hours are 8:30 to 3:30. There is also Extended Care available for children as early as 7:30am going as late a 6pm.  After the seven-week season, there is an optional week 8, “Free to Be” week, which runs the second week of August, with fewer campers and counselors.

The staffs’ hours are 8 to 3:45 daily, with a weekly staff meeting. Camp days are divided into seven 45 minute “innings” per day; there is a 45 minute lunch/quiet time period and time at the beginning and end of each day with the homebases. July 4th is a holiday. There is a mandatory day of training for all new staff members and the entire staff has a day of orientation and set up before camp begins.  We have two pot luck suppers and variety shows for campers and their parents in the evening. We have a “camp over,” overnight camping on campus for the older campers. Counselors are expected to participate in these activities. Counselors also write a note to each camper in their group before camp begins. The last day of camp, we pack up the rooms and put our materials and equipment away in the storage shed. All counselors must have State Police and FBI Criminal Background (and Child Molestation checks.). We have the necessary paperwork for those who have not had these background checks performed.

Time Table for Applying – If you are interested in applying for a job at camp, please send a cover letter and resume to: Stewart Calloway, SRV Summer Camp, 20 School Lane, Rose Valley, PA 19063, or an email expressing your interest to: stewart@theschoolinrosevalley.org. The hiring process starts in January, interviews are traditionally conducted February through March with hiring decisions being made in April.

Positions and Availability – We have specialty and general counselors as described below. We hire qualified people ranging in age from 15 to 50+. Various positions are described below. Availability varies from year to year depending upon enrollment and which former staff members return (usually about 75% return).

FOR ALL HOMEBASE COUNSELORS

For staff working with children the General Program (ages 7 to 14), in addition to leading your activities, you will also be responsible for a group of campers (usually between 10 and 20 children, mixed gender and grouped by age). You will have a homebase, a classroom at the school where you will meet with your group in the mornings. You will help your campers choose their activities for the day. You will be with your group at lunch and again at the end of the day. At the end of the day, the campers should help you straighten the room, take the compost (fruit and vegetable scraps) to the compost near the garden and ready the room for the next day. You will either have a partner or the assistance of a junior counselor. You will also be responsible for incorporating CITs into your activities at certain times and they will also look to you for guidance.

CIT SPECIALISTS

You and a partner are responsible for the Counselor-in-Training Program. You will guide, instruct, and inspire between ten and twenty 13 to 15 year olds. (There are two CIT specialists.) You will meet with the CITs in the morning and give them mini-lessons. You will organize, manage and oversee the CITs’ work with other specialty counselors, the pool staff, the 5 & 6 counselors and the preschool counselors. You will meet with them mid-day to discuss the morning’s events. Morale building and conflict resolution skills will be necessary. We have a guide book for different lessons and skills you may want to work on with your campers. You will also provide support for them as they lead activities for the younger campers. (See “For All Homebase Counselors” above for further details.)

DANCE & GYMNASTICS SPECIALIST

Create, organize and lead daily dance and movement activities for campers aged 5 to 14 (who will be grouped by age). Dances should be geared to the various ages and take into account that some campers are with us for all 8 weeks while others are here for only a week. Organize and choreograph dance routines to be shared with the rest of the campers weekly or biweekly and with the wider camp community once or twice during the summer. Teach simple basic gymnastics skills. You will also work with the Drama and Music Specialists to help the children perform at the two variety shows. (See “For All Homebase Counselors” above for further details.)

NATURE SPECIALIST

Create, organize and lead daily activities geared around nature, using our 8 ½ acre wooded campus, surrounded by a wildlife preserve and Ridley Creek. Activities should be “age appropriate” for campers who range in age from 5 to 13 and you should take into account that some campers are with us for all 7 weeks while others are here for only a week. During activities, campers will be grouped by age (usually spanning 2 to 3 years). Ecology and recycling should be included in the activities, using the camp’s garden and compost. There is also the care of the School’s animals, 2 sheep, 4 chickens, turtles, etc., which can be incorporated into the activities. (See “For All Homebase Counselors” above for further details.)

ART SPECIALIST

Create, organize and lead art activities for children who range in age from 5 to 13. Use of various techniques and mediums such as drawing, painting, hand-modeling clay, beads, puppets, tie dye, etc. We have a kiln and pottery wheels. The activities you plan should be geared to the various ages and take into account that some campers are with us for all 7 weeks while others are here for only a week. (See “For All Homebase Counselors” above for further details.)

DRAMA SPECIALIST

Create, organize and lead drama activities for children who range in age from 5 to 13. Guide children in writing and acting out plays, movies and variety shows. You will also work with the Dance and Music Specialists to help the children perform at the two variety shows. The activities you plan should be geared to the various ages and take into account that some campers are with us for all 7 weeks while others are here for only a week. (See “For All Homebase Counselors” above for further details.)

MUSIC SPECIALIST

Create, organize and lead music activities for children who range in age from 5 to 13. Instruct children in the use of simple instruments. Percussion instruments will be available. You will also work with the Dance and Drama Specialists to help the children perform at the two variety shows. The activities you plan should be geared to the various ages and take into account that some campers are with us for all 7 weeks while others are here for only a week. (See “For All Homebase Counselors” above for further details.)

LIFEGUARDS/SWIMMING SPECIALISTS

All of the Guards/Swimming Specialists work together under the Head of the swimming program who makes up the swim groups, organizes the pool schedule and puts together the lesson plans. Each child at camp has a daily swim period (“inning”). Children are grouped together by age/capability. About half of each inning is used for age-appropriate instruction and the remaining time for free play in the pool. Preschool counselors also come to swimming with their campers and CITS may also assist with preschool swim. Swimming lessons are geared to the various ages and takes into account that some campers are with us for all 7 weeks while others are here for only a week. On rainy days, the activities will be inside and can range from games which incorporate water safety skills to board games. Most of our swimming specialists are also Red Cross certified lifeguards. All pool staff members are responsible for the children’s safety while they are at the pool, perform the daily maintenance at the pool, and record the data related to the pool. Most also work an afternoon or two a week at Extended Care and may teach private lessons to campers after normal camp hours, for additional pay.

SPORTS & GAMES SPECIALIST

Create, organize and lead athletic age-appropriate activities, focusing on building skills, self confidence and sense of fair play. The focus of the activities should be on team-building, non-competitive games such as New Games. We have a field which can be used for soccer, touch football, softball, tennis softball, capture the flag, etc. The activities you plan should be geared to the various ages and take into account that some campers are with us for all 7 weeks while others are here for only a week. We usually have two Sports and Games Specialists who work together, and may or may not have a junior counselor.

WOODSHOP SPECIALIST

Assist and guide campers in building their choice of projects in the wood shop. Educate the campers about safety issues. You will have access to a table saw, drill press and other power tools. The children will use hand tools. Campers will come to you grouped by age and you will work with campers of all ages, experience and skill levels. In planning the work in the Woodshop, you should take into account that some campers are with us for all 7 weeks while others are here for only a week. We traditionally have a number of woodshop counselors working together. (Preschool counselors come to woodshop with their campers.)

PRE-SCHOOL SPECIALISTS

There are one or two Pre-school groups. Children can sign up for 5 full days, 5 ½ days or 3 full days per week. There are three or four counselors working with each group depending on the number of children in each group. Campers are three and four years old and must be potty trained. Half day children go home at 12, and everyone has lunch before the half day ends. The children who stay for the whole day have nap/rest time after lunch. Your children will swim in the morning, will have periods of time in the Woodshop, and will be invited to the camp-wide celebrations on Friday afternoons. Preschool counselors accompany their campers to the pool, woodshop and Friday celebrations. The Preschool leads are responsible for planning the daily activities (arts & crafts, games, walks in the woods (if you chose), stories, big group projects (such as making a collage), outdoor and indoor play0, and managing junior staff members. We have sand boxes, climbers, a play shed, and swings. (See “For All Homebase Counselors” above for further details.) We have an adult/teacher parent head counselor for each group, as well as college students and/or high school students counselors.

5 & 6 SPECIALISTS

You will have a group of younger campers, 5 and 6 year olds. There are traditionally three groups of 5 & 6’s, ranging in size from 13 to 20 children, with a staff of 3 to 4 people. Groups stay together for the most of the mornings; the children go to their swim inning before lunch. Counselors have their break then and can use some of the time to plan together. In the mornings, you create, organize and lead activities with this age group. Examples of activities are arts & crafts, hikes, gardening, outdoor play, games, computers. After lunch, the children in your groups will choose from activities led by specialty and general counselors, and you will offer activities that are choices for older camper and often 5 & 6’s. Your group will rejoin you at the end of the day. (See “For All Homebase Counselors” above for further details.)

GENERAL COUNSELORS

General Counselors have homebases of campers and lead a wide variety of activities, not limited to a certain genre. Examples of activities include cooking, hiking, making and playing games, outdoor play, trust games, etc. General counselors work in pairs or with a junior counselor.

JUNIOR COUNSELORS

Junior counselors are high school students who work with and assist senior counselors, specialists or generals. Many of our junior counselors are former SRV campers and CITs.

To apply for a position, please send your resume and cover letter to:

Mary K. Miluski
SRV Summer Camp
20 School Lane
Rose Valley, PA 19063

You may leave a message for Mary K. at: 610-566-1088 or send an email to: maryk@theschoolinrosevalley.org

Hiring starts in January and is ongoing. Interviews are scheduled in February – March and hiring decisions are made in April.

The School in Rose Valley is an equal opportunity employer and hires without regard to gender, race, color, national and ethnic origin, and religion.