Camp Lead Counselor

Position description:  

The Seattle Aquarium, a leading marine conservation organization, is looking for two camp lead instructors (CLI’s) to join the conservation engagement and learning team.  The CLI’s primary roles are to oversee all operations of their assigned camp sessions; carry out curriculum (created in advance); and to lead the camp counselors, volunteers and children in their assigned camp sessions. Camp lead instructors are expected to establish positive relationships with summer program staff, Youth Volunteers, campers, and families. Each day varies greatly. Willingness to adapt from office tasks, to guiding camp staff and volunteers, and instructing classes with participants whose ages vary from early childhood to teen is essential.

Marine Summer Camp at Seattle Aquarium seeks to Inspire Conservation of Our Marine Environment through engaging, inclusive and fun educational experiences. Campers range in age from 4 to 14 years and are grouped by age for up to 22 campers per session. Each session is led by one Camp Lead Instructor and two Camp Counselors, with Youth Volunteers, Marine Science Instructors and Admin staff as support. Activities take place at Seattle Aquarium and along the Seattle waterfront, with the possibility of field trips along the Puget Sound. The camp day runs 9:00 AM–4:00 PM with before and after-care options.

Successful candidates will bring enthusiasm for marine science and education, an ability to work collaboratively in a team setting, strong communication abilities in informal science education, and excellent interpersonal skills for working with campers and their adults. CLIs will work with other Camp Staff to ensure that the Marine Science Summer Camp goals are met in an equitable and inclusive way.  We view this work through an equity lens, with the goal of removing barriers where they exist for members of the community to meaningfully engage with the Aquarium, to foster authentic, mutual relationships between the Aquarium and the community, and to bring diverse audiences together to achieve our mission. This work supports our Strategic Plan goal of inspiring conservation and making the Aquarium and its programs accessible and welcoming to all. This role is instrumental to the Seattle Aquarium’s mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment. 

The Seattle Aquarium is committed to expanding a diverse, equitable, and inclusive conservation movement. We are invested in building an Aquarium with a wide variety of backgrounds, identities, languages, cultural ways of knowing, and life experiences. We know research shows that society has conditioned communities of color, trans and gender non-conforming people, immigrants, people with disabilities, and other marginalized candidates to more frequently not apply to a job because they don’t feel that they meet all of the qualifications listed even if they are qualified. If you meet some of the requirements and you are passionate about our mission and our ocean, we encourage you to apply and look forward to learning more about you.

Camp Timeline:

Camp Lead Instructors must be committed to all set dates/times: 

• Pre-camp season: 

1. June 5-9: At-home pre-reading and onboarding meetings onsite at the Aquarium, totaling up to 20 hours. 
2. June 12-23, 8am–5pm: Camp staff training. 

• Camp sessions:

1. June 26 – Sept 1 (no camp July 3-7, time used for additional training/prep) 
2. Shift times: Mon-Fri, 8:00am-5:00pm

• Post-camp season:

1. Sept 4-8, 9am–5pm: Season debrief, evaluation, and cleaning.

To read a full job description and to apply, visit our website at www.seattleaquarium.org/careers.  

Key functions: 

• Foster an inclusive, positive and safe learning environment and interact professionally with campers, their families, volunteers and camp staff. 
• Promote behavior conducive to a safe and fun camp environment among all participants and serve as a role model. When appropriate, encourage all campers to participate, observe, discover and appreciate the marine environment while being respectful of their surroundings on and off site.
• Implement curriculum 
  1. It will be the CLI’s role to maintain, modify as needed, and execute the activities as scheduled. Any significant modifications will need approval from the Public Programs Coordinator and Senior Marine Science Educator. 
  2. Responsible for materials care and maintenance as well as spacing out of designated supplies to last all summer. 
• Responsible for keeping track of all camper information (medical, general and authorizations) as written on release forms. Responsible for ensuring all such information is respected and referenced appropriately and remains confidential.  
• Lead small groups of campers of up to 22 kids, (ages vary from 4 to 14 years old) each week in activities such as marine science lessons; games; and exhibit and behind-the-scenes tours, short field trips along the Seattle Waterfront and day long trip to local beaches or other locations. 
• All Aquarium staff and volunteers are expected to participate in advancing and integrating into their work Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Regenerative practices in alignment with our S.A.L.I.S.H. Values.
• To read all key functions, please read the full job description on our website.  

Required skills and experience:

We will consider various combinations of relevant experience and education to meet minimum requirements.

• High School Diploma with some College coursework or equivalent, must be 18 years or older. 
• Minimum of two years of experience working with youth in a formal or informal education setting. 
• A combination of education, work experience and lived experience that demonstrates an understanding of environmental education, wildlife conservation, marine sciences, recreation, educational pedagogy, learning psychology, and/or child development (similar to what could be acquired through a completed or ongoing degree or certification in education, biology, environmental science, or related fields). 
• Training in adult, child, and infant first aid and CPR/AED. Anaphylaxis and epinephrine auto-injector training. The Aquarium will be providing First Aid and CPR/AED training during camp training weeks. If not taking this training, Certification proof is required by the first day of camp. Red Cross online courses are not accepted.

 Preferred:

• Previous experience working at a camp highly desired. 
• Previous experience (2-4 months) in a leadership role. 
• Six months experience working or volunteering in an aquarium, zoo, environmental education center, museum, or similar institution. 
• Previous experience working with audiences and peers of diverse backgrounds, and familiarity with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles. 
• Second language spoken/written proficiency a plus.

Working conditions:

• Heavy to moderate vocal demands to project talks and announcements and to direct an audience in loud areas. 
• Frequent interruptions; walking, standing, sitting for extended periods of time while interacting with youth.
• Long periods of times indoors/outdoors during all kinds of conditions (rain or shine). 
• Set hours/dates of work. 

How to apply:

Interested candidates should upload a résumé to our online application to be considered. Application review will begin immediately. 

SeattleAquarium.org/careers

Please let us know if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for this job by emailing us at jobs@seattleaquarium.org. 

Note: If offered the position, candidates must pass a background check. Conviction record is not an automatic disqualifier; we are a second chance employer.