Job Details

Afterschool Adventures with Trailside Discovery Child Care Associate Job Description

Afterschool Adventures with Trailside Discovery is a program run by Trailside Discovery Camp (an award winning summer camp for local Alaskans that offers environmental education and high adventure day programs). During the school year, we run an after school program at Winterberry Charter school to offer enriching activities for students. Child Care Associates lead groups of campers in educational crafts, adventure activities, and other age-appropriate group activities. Associates are responsible for running activities and games for their campers while maintaining a safe and inclusive environment for all.

Hours of operation:

3pm-5:30pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday

12pm-5:30pm Thursday

Qualifications:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Must have an understanding of the development of children.
• Must have the ability to care for children
• Previous experience working with kids in a formal or informal setting
• Current First Aid/CPR certification
• Ability to work well with children, family members, other staff, and community members
• Skilled at time management and prioritizing tasks in order to facilitate the best experience possible for campers
• Ability to implement written lesson plans, follow a schedule, and think on your feet to come up with your own lessons, activities, and games when needed
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Desire to be a part of a diverse team from different life backgrounds
• Self-motivated and passionate about our mission of environmental stewardship
• Three professional references are required

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience in teaching environmental education or high adventure activities
• Skilled at high adventures such as mountain biking and cross country skiing
• Knowledge of Alaskan ecology and local environmental topics

Essential Functions:

• Arriving on time to scheduled shift
• Creating behavior contracts with your camp groups and defining clear expectations so campers can have fun and be safe
• Implementing scheduled lessons, activities, and games for assigned group
• Having your own back-pocket activities ready to be used if/when scheduled activities move quicker than expected
• Managing camper behavior and being a positive role model
• Remaining with assigned group at all times, including during snack breaks and all activities during the camp day
• Assisting campers in an emergency (fire, evacuation, illness, injury).
• Communicating effectively with campers, parents, and Manager
• Working with a diverse clientele from the Anchorage community
• Possessing strength and endurance required to maintain constant supervision of campers
• Appropriately responding to environmental, wildlife, and other natural hazards
• Singing songs and participating in opening/closing ceremonies
• Committed to reflecting the values of Trailside Discovery Camp and The Alaska Center Education Fund by working towards justice, equity, and inclusion in the world of environmental activism - this includes respecting all aspects of human diversity, including race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, socioeconomic status, age, gender, disability, and sexual orientation

Other Job Responsibilities:

Program

• Reflecting the values of Trailside Discovery Camp and The Alaska Center by demonstrating environmental stewardship
• Upholding Alaska Center Education Fund and Trailside Discovery Camp mission and cultural values by exhibiting cross cultural competency
• Planning and delivering environmental education and/or adventure programs for students aged 5-12
• Supervising and ensuring the safety of campers

Childcare

• Recognizing and appropriately responding to hazards and emergencies
• Encouraging the personal and social development of children
• Reporting all accidents, significant illnesses, and/or signs of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse to the Camp Director
• Remaining with camp group at all times
• Managing camper behavior and defining clear expectations

Records

• Perform attendance each day to ensure an accurate group headcount
• Protect the confidentiality of the participants records

Supervision and Support

• The Associate reports to the Camp Manager

Attendance

• Attend required staff training
• Complete the entire length of the school year as agreed upon in contract

Compensation: The hourly wage is $18-$25 based on education and experience.

• Salaries are paid biweekly
• Overtime is qualified as any hours worked beyond 8 hours a day or 40 hours per week. These hours will be compensated at 1.5 times the hourly rate.