Nature Day Camp Leaders and Assistant Leaders

About Harpswell Heritage Land Trust and Nature Day Camp

Harpswell Heritage Land Trust’s mission is to preserve and protect Harpswell’s natural resources, cultural heritage, and access to the outdoors now and forever through conservation, stewardship, and education. Learn more at https://hhltmaine.org/.

The focus of Nature Day Camp is hands-on exploration of nature, friendship, discovery, and fun. Camp is held at a different Harpswell location each day. For a more detailed description, visit: http://hhltmaine.org/nature-day-camp/. 

Job description

Harpswell Heritage Land Trust is seeking Camp Leaders and Assistant Camp Leaders for its popular and highly successful Nature Day Camp program.

Camp leaders have more responsibility and tend to have more experience than Assistant Camp Leaders. Tasks for both positions include the following:

• Provide an enriching, engaging, and fun camp experience.
• Be kind and patient.
• Ensure the physical and emotional safety of all campers and follow camp safety policies.
• Participate in training sessions before the camp season begins.
• Create a written lesson plan based on the materials and resources provided.
• Lead camp activities.
• Communicate effectively with co-leader, parents, volunteers, junior counselors, and supervisor.
• Debrief camp through written notes and meetings.

Dates and hours

Two age groups experience camp at the same time but at different locations. Each age group needs a Camp Leader and an Assistant Camp Leader. The camp schedule is based around the tides. In 2024, camp will happen during these weeks: June 24-28, July 8-12, July 15-19, July 29-August 2, August 5-9, and August 12-16. While we prefer hiring for the entire camp season, we would consider hiring the right candidate for fewer than the full six weeks.

Camp for ages 4-6 runs Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Camp for ages 7-12 runs Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

There will be 3-4 days of training before the camp season begins, tentatively scheduled during the week of June 17.

Compensation

Camp Leaders are paid $22/hour. Assistant Camp Leaders are paid $21.50/hour. Paid time each day of camp includes travel time from the HHLT office, set up, camp hours, take down, and travel time back to the HHLT office. There is additional paid time expected for training, planning, collecting materials, cleaning, and debrief. There are no health, retirement, or paid time off benefits for these positions.

Qualifications

Successful candidates will effectively demonstrate the following qualifications.

Required:

• Experience working with children
• Patience, kindness, and enthusiasm
• Love of the outdoors
• Demonstrated attention to safety
• Flexibility and the ability to work well as part of a team
• Satisfactory completion of a background check (paid for by HHLT)
• Adult and pediatric first aid and CPR training by Red Cross or an equivalent provider (paid for by HHLT)

Preferred:

• Experience teaching about nature outdoors
• Current or prior connection to Harpswell or the Maine coast
• Natural history knowledge