Camp Shai is the JCC in Denver’s premier Jewish Day Camp serving children entering Kindergarten through 6th grade. Individuals of all backgrounds, faiths, and families are welcome. At Camp Shai, we offer a little something for everyone with a variety of engaging and fun activities. From sports to theater to engineering, our campers are building their skills, bolstering their confidence, and creating magical summer camp memories. At Camp Shai, we place an emphasis in our programming on the universal values of kindness (chesed), respect (kavod), community (kehillah), courage (ometz lev), and good attitude (ruach).
This is a seasonal position: Start Date 6/1/2026 – Tentative End Date 8/14/2026.
Camp is the perfect environment for campers to develop their skills outside of the classroom and build their confidence – and yours too! Your work will make a difference in supporting campers to improve their ability to make and maintain friendships, increase their confidence to try new activities, and create a safe space for everyone to be themselves, campers and staff alike. Being a staff member at camp helps you to gain the skills you want from an internship in a concrete, hands-on, and fun way!
We are seeking individuals for the Unit Head role that are adaptable, goal-oriented, and excited to work in a fast-paced and fun environment where everyone is welcome. Unit Heads will provide mentorship, supervision, and direct support to the camp counselors in your unit. Think of this position as a coaching boot camp with practical, meaningful, hands-on experience from day one! Unit Heads will also serve as the primary lead of 3-5 groups of campers in a given week and collaborate with their team to create a fun and supportive environment where kids want to come back again and again!
Our Ideal Candidate- You are passionate about working with kids and creating a welcoming, creative, and fun environment that celebrates learning and growth.
- You are flexible and excited by challenges that require creative problem-solving, determination, and a can-do attitude.
- You thrive in a leadership role, where you can empower and support a team of camp counselors, sharing best practices in behavior management, and fostering a positive and cohesive team culture.
- You are a strong and effective communicator, capable of providing clear direction and feedback while also listening to and adapting to the needs of both campers and staff.
- You enjoy working in a dynamic environment and are ready to bring that camp energy this summer, whether you are dancing across the stage in a silly costume or face painting with campers during downtime.
- You are committed to personal and professional growth, eager to develop your leadership skills, and open to giving and receiving constructive feedback.
- You are a team player who values collaboration, contributing to a positive work culture, and supporting your colleagues in achieving shared goals.
- You exercise patience, empathy, and positivity when engaging with others, and you approach each situation with a solution-oriented mindset.
- You focus on building strong relationships with the counselors you supervise, getting to know them, building trust, and creating a supportive environment where everyone feels valued.
Role and Responsibilities
- Directly supervise and mentor a group of 8-12 counselors
- Serve as the lead in consulting with counselors about camper care issues within your unit, including, but not limited to behavior management, group dynamics, self-care, health, and safety
- Use a coaching/mentoring approach to provide positive and constructive feedback to seasonal staff within unit as well be open to feedback from Camp Leadership team
- Demonstrate best practices for positive behavior management, conflict resolution between campers, and the fostering of a positive culture within units
- Work collaboratively with all Camp Shai staff to promote teamwork, share best practices, and enhance the overall camp experience for both staff and campers.
- Communicate, as needed, with families of children in unit regarding issues including but not limited to minor injuries or illness, missing or lost items, and behavioral challenges
- Support before and aftercare (sunrise & sunset) programs including managing staff and campers, preparing materials, and coordinating snacks.
- Organize and communicate break schedules with counselors within your unit to ensure adequate coverage and support.
- Support the Camp Leadership team during Staff Orientation and subsequent staff trainings
- Contribute to and participate in all activities at camp including, but not limited to swimming, specialist activities, camp-wide community rituals, traditions, and programs
- Supervise the pool area during swim times to oversee camper and staff safety, ensuring appropriate supervision and meeting required ratios.
- Provide coverage for staff in camper groups as needed
- Ensure that inclusive practices are being implemented to make camp accessible for all campers as prescribed by Camp Shai’s inclusion team
- Participate in weekly staff meetings either before or after camp hours as determined by Camp Director
- Responsible for ensuring that health and safety guidelines and expectations around cleaning, sanitization, and risk mitigation as outlined by current JCC and Camp Shai policies are followed
- Perform other related duties as assigned by Camp Leadership team.
Physical Demands and Working Environment
- Physical Demands: This job requires personnel to have operative auditory and visual functioning. Employees must also be able to walk upwards of two (2) miles each day, including use of stairs and uneven terrain. Employees may also stand, sit in chairs or on the ground, run, swim, and carry at least 20 pounds. Mental requirements include, but are not limited to, the ability to concentrate, effectively cope with stress, adapt to, and stay alert in a professional environment, as well as an ability to problem solve and de-escalate crisis situations and challenging behaviors. Reasonable accommodation may be granted for qualified applicants.
- Work Environment: Working conditions may include being in indoor, open classroom spaces and spending extended time outdoors under the sun.
- Hours: Approximately 7:45 AM to 4:45 PM with extended care hours starting as early as 7:15 AM and ending as late as 5:30 PM. Please note that hours may vary based on specific program needs, special events, or unforeseen circumstances. Flexibility in scheduling may be required to ensure the smooth operation of the camp.
Qualifications and Education Requirements
Basic Qualifications
- Must hold a minimum of 4 years of verifiable experience working with children in a school or camp environment
- Must obtain First Aid & CPR certifications before the start date of camp. Opportunity for certification will be made available through the JCC prior to Staff Orientation. Certifications must be conducted by a Division of Early Care and Learning approved training vendor.
- Staff must obtain the required certifications set by Colorado Early Childhood Care Licensing, including PDIS (Professional Development Information System) certifications, before their first day of work.
- Must be able to fulfill requirements for employment at the Staenberg-Loup JCC, including background screening, three professional references, documentation, and compliance with CDHS (Colorado Department of Human Services) law
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in education, social work, or another related field
- Previous experience in a leadership or supervisory role a plus
Additional Notes
Advantages of Working at Camp Shai
- Specialized Leadership Training Prior to Orientation (May 16th – 17th, 2026)
- Comprehensive One-Week Orientation Before Camp (June 1st – June 5th, 2026)
- Support and Mentorship from Camp Leadership Team
- Ongoing Professional Development and Individualized Performance Feedback
- Fitness & Aquatics Membership During Time of Employment
- Involvement in a Fun-Loving Community of Camp Professionals
Benefits Overview
This is a seasonal job and is ineligible for benefits.
Note: This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive statement of every duty and responsibility which will ever be required of an employee in this position; however, the employee will be held responsible for all duties assigned.
The Jewish Community Center values diversity and inclusiveness and is an equal opportunity employer.
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