Description

Position Description
United for Literacy (formerly Frontier College) is a national, non-profit literacy organization. We believe literacy is a right, and we work inclusively with volunteers and community partners to help children, youth and adults build the skills and confidence they need to accomplish their goals. Our network of staff and volunteers provides excellent and effective programming to improve literacy in communities across Canada, from coast to coast to coast. We value mutual respect and collaboration in all our relationships.

We are seeking mature, committed, and self-motivated individuals to fill the positions of Camp Counsellor in our Summer Literacy Camp program. These literacy-focused day camps promote a love of reading and learning in a fun and interactive setting. The camp model aims to reduce summer learning loss, improve literacy skills, and increase self-confidence, among Indigenous children aged 5-12 living in remote communities in Northern Ontario.

Day Camp Counsellors are expected to work in independent teams to deliver indoor and outdoor literacy-based activities in a safe and culturally sensitive environment. Camp Counsellors will be working with large groups of very young children.

The camp counsellor positions are total immersion placements in distinct cultural, social, and physical environments. Most participating host communities in this region are isolated, fly-in only communities. Camp Counsellors must be comfortable with sharing accommodations (which may be co-ed) and have minimal access to familiar amenities (phone, internet, television, etc.), little personal space, and without the opportunity to leave the community during the period of employment.

The term of employment is a 6-week period, beginning early July and completing mid August.

Overall Accountability
Teams will be comprised 2-4 Camp Counsellors. Together, they will work as a team under the remote supervision of the United for Literacy Camp Coordinator and the Regional Manager.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Daily planning & organizing of camp activities in accordance with camp objectives
• Ensuring the safety and well-being of all camp participants during camp hours
• Establishing and maintaining good relationships with community members, and encouraging their participation in the camp
• Ensuring adherence to all program directives and guidelines
• Other duties as assigned by United for Literacy
• Additional responsibilities of the Admin Counsellor (if applicable): 
  • Act as the primary point of contact for the Camp Coordinator 
  • Manage and maintain camp records, camp budget and accounts, ensure that all camp documentation is maintained and submitted as required

Required Skills and Attributes

• Minimum of 18 years old
• Adaptable, self-motivated, responsible, and energetic
• Experience or interest in the fields of formal/informal education, teaching, or community literacy programming
• Demonstrated experience in working with groups of children
• Excellent listening skills and ability to work well in a team
• Strong situational problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills
• Able to exercise patience and tact when working with different personalities and working styles, especially in challenging situations
• Good organizational and time-management skills
• Sensitivity to and awareness of cultural differences and the broader societal realities of remote Indigenous communities
• Possess a current Criminal Records Check with Vulnerable Sector Screen completed within the last 6 months (Note: All successful candidates who do not have their Criminal Records Check with Vulnerable Sector Screen at the time of interview will have a check conducted internally through Sterling Backcheck at no cost to the applicant) 
• Possess a valid Standard/Emergency First Aid qualification (Note: All successful candidates who do not have their First Aid qualifications at the time of interview must obtain certification, at their own cost, prior to the start of employment)

Additional Assets

• Prior experience working with First Nation, Métis or Inuit individuals or communities
• Prior experience in facilitating activities for large groups of young children
• Prior experience living and working in isolated and/or cross-cultural community settings

Compensation:

• Pay will be issued bi-weekly via Direct Deposit
• Travel within Ontario arranged and paid for by United for Literacy
• All arrangements and expenses relative to the mandatory, paid training (first week of employment) are coordinated by United for Literacy
• Shared, assigned, no-cost housing is provided to counsellors who do not reside in the host community