Summer Sleepaway 2025 at Camp Kaufmann
Social Worker/Behavioral Health Specialist

 

Position Description
The Social Worker/Behavioral Health Specialist will oversee and provide guidance regarding social-emotional and behavioral health issues that might arise while at camp under the supervision of the Heath Director. They will ensure a safe and nurturing environment for all in the camp community, work with campers who need emotional support, and assist all in the coordination and care of campers during daily camp life. They provide care and administer treatment in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), New York Department of Health (NYDOH), Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), and the American Camp Association (ACA) standards, and demonstrate the mission of Girl Scouting and the positive impact of camp.

 

Responsibilities

  • Responsible for monitoring the emotional health of campers and staff from diverse social, cultural, and economic backgrounds, with support from the Health Director.
  • Provide campers and staff with support and counseling to make healthy, responsible, choices and to resolve issues safely.
  • Support Health Director in the creation and review of Camper and Staff Care Plans.
  • Create processes to ensure accurate record-keeping of visits with campers and staff.
  • Maintain and secure confidentiality of all health forms in compliance with HIPAA.
  • Confer with campers’ caregivers and primary care providers as needed to coordinate care, knowing when to elevate concerns to a physician or other mental healthcare professionals.
  • Coordinate with the Health Director and Head Cook to ensure all children with special dietary or sensory needs are accommodated and have enough to eat.
  • Keep open lines of communication with the Health Director and the Camp Director, ensuring they are informed of any ongoing problems or concerns.
  • Intervene in situations to help improve the quality of the relationships and experiences of campers and staff.
  • Consult and provide guidance on youth behavior management techniques to other camp staff.
  • Support Camp Senior Leadership in placing campers and staff appropriately into housing units.
  • Immediately report all serious situations, including accidents, acts of violence, abuse, or bullying to the Heath Director and Camp Director and ensure proper documentation.
  • Immediately report suspected child abuse to the appropriate authorities and inform the Camp Director as soon as possible.
  • Consult community resources and guidance in dealing with issues that may arise.
  • Guide campers and staff in emergency situations.
    • Maintain all safety standards and equipment according to NYDOH and ACA standards.
  • Enthusiastically participate in all aspects of camp, including staff training, structured and unstructured activities, position-specific in-service training, team building, and debriefing.
  • Demonstrate quick thinking, excellent communication, sound problem-solving techniques, andability to work as a team player.
  • Model and teach camp expectations for campers and staff regarding cleanliness, personal hygiene, punctuality, mutual respect, appropriate language, and appropriate attire.
  • Comply with all policies communicated in staff training and the staff manual.
  • Lead training activities as assigned by Camp Leadership during staff training.
  • Abide by the mission and values of the Girl Scouts.
  • Provide excellent customer service to campers, caregivers, camp visitors, and other staff.
  • Perform other tasks and responsibilities assigned by the Camp Leadership Team.

 

Minimum Qualifications

  • Current New York certification in: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), or Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT).
  • Background in psychology, previous experience with troubled youth, or certification in behavior management, Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), or conflict resolution.
  • Willingness to be on-call to assist with emergencies or crises as needed, including overnight.
  • Minimum of 1 year of experience working with youth.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage challenging behavioral situations with youth effectively.
  • Desire and ability to provide care for children and adults in an outdoor environment.
  • Sensitivity to the needs of campers, providing expert and empathetic trauma-informed care.
  • Patience, sense of humor, integrity, and an ability to adapt well to changing situations.
  • The acceptance and understanding that employment is at a sleepaway (overnight) camp and that work hours are long and irregular.
  • Possess the strength and endurance required to succeed in a sleepaway camp environment.
  • Clearance through the Sex Offender Registry and Criminal Background Check.
  • Willingness to prioritize the needs of Girl Scouts of Greater New York and Camp Kaufmann.

 

Preferred Qualifications

  • Master of Social Work or Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
  • Prior pediatric experience in a residential setting.
  • Prior camp experience and/or interest in the Girl Scout program and youth leadership development. 
  • Dates of Summer 2025 Employment
    • Must live local to camp or on site and be available to work throughout the summer on the schedule agreed upon with Camp Leadership:
    • Staff training: June 22 – July 5. Additional certification classes may be required.
    • Summer camp programming (5 sessions): July 6 – August 8.
    • Camp closing/clean up: August 9 – August 10.
    • Potential for additional overnight and weekend shifts.
    • On-call to assist with emergencies or crises as needed.

 

Physical Demands
The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

  • Ability to lift 40 pounds.
  • Good health and the stamina necessary to work in a camp setting.
  • Ability to stand and/or walk for long periods of time while leading programming.

 

Compensation

  • $200 - $300 per diem rate, based on prior experience and certifications.
  • Room and board while at camp.
  • Cost of travel to/from NYC weekly, plus other off-camp excursion opportunities.

 

No phone calls, please.

The Girl Scouts of Greater New York are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. This job description should not be interpreted as all-inclusive. It is intended to identify the essential functions and requirements of this job. Incumbents may be requested to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this description. Any essential function or requirement of this job will be evaluated as necessary should an incumbent or applicant be unable to perform the function or requirement due to a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Reasonable accommodation(s) for the specific disability will be made for the incumbent or applicant when possible.