Adventure Camp Lifeguard: Summer 2026, $13.50+/hour

Adventure Camp Staff Expectations
Adventure Camp staff are more than camper supervisors—they’re mentors, role models, and inclusive leaders. Every team member helps create a community where each camper’s story is worth knowing, where they feel supported, and where they’re encouraged to explore with confidence and curiosity. Staff set the tone for belonging by modeling kindness, creativity, and steady leadership—whether guiding high-energy adventures, facilitating quiet reflection, or leading group discussions.

Working at Adventure Camp means joining a collaborative, joyful team where your story matters too. Each day offers opportunities to grow, lead, and make a meaningful impact on the lives of campers and fellow staff.

Principal Function: The Adventure Camp Lifeguard plays a vital role in ensuring the safety and well-being of all campers and staff during water activities, including swimming, canoeing, fishing, and water play on the White River. Guided by the Adventure Camp Belonging Framework, the Lifeguard not only supervises and provides vigilant surveillance to prevent and respond to injuries or emergencies but also fosters an inclusive and supportive environment where campers feel seen, safe, and empowered to engage fully. The Lifeguard collaborates with camp staff to model safe behavior, teach water safety skills, and create moments of learning, confidence-building, and connection. This role contributes to delivering a safe, engaging, and memorable camp experience for all participants.

• Adventure Camp Lifeguard, 40hrs/week, May 18-Aug 2, $13.50+/hr

Schedule and Hours:

• Standard hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
• Pre-season staff training: May 18–22, 2026
• Camp dates: May 26–August 4, 2026.
• Camp Clean-up Day:  Sunday, August 2, 2026
• Position requires attendance during staff training week and availability for at least nine of the ten weeks of camp.

Must possess current Red Cross Lifeguard certification or equivalent before the start of camp. Individuals without certification, but strong swimming skills, are still encouraged to apply; training options will be discussed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Prioritize the safety, health, and well-being of all campers and staff at all times.
• Serve as a positive role model for campers and staff.
• Ensure water activity areas are safe, properly supervised, and free from hazards.
• Guard, supervise, and provide vigilant surveillance during all swimming and water-based activities.
• Conduct mandatory head counts every 15 minutes during swimming activities.
• Administer CPR, First Aid, or emergency care as needed.
• Teach basic canoeing skills, water safety, and safe boating practices to campers.
• Prevent injuries and drowning by providing clear safety instructions to campers and staff.
• Check, maintain, and organize river and pond equipment, including canoes, lifejackets, pedal boats, water toys, and docks.
• Lift and load canoes onto trailers safely and operate the Gator with trailer for equipment transport.
• Maintain personal first aid kit and ensure supplies are available and in good condition.
• Manage the proper use and care of all watercraft and related equipment.
• Communicate equipment or supply needs to the Camp Manager.
• Assist campers with special needs in accordance with ADA requirements.
• Participate in pre-season training and support end-of-season clean-up.

• Must be at least 18 years old and possess a high school diploma or GED; at least one semester of college is preferred.
• Must be at least 18 years old and possess a high school diploma or GED; at least one semester of college is preferred.
• Must hold a current Red Cross Lifeguard certification prior to the start of camp. Candidates with strong swimming skills who are not yet certified are encouraged to apply; training options are available.
• Previous experience working with children is required; experience in a camp or educational setting is preferred.
• Must demonstrate the ability to create a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment in alignment with the Adventure Camp Belonging Framework, fostering confidence, curiosity, and belonging among campers.
• Must be able to safely load and unload canoes overhead, and operate a Gator with a trailer for water activity transport.
• Must be adaptable, professional, and able to work independently as well as collaboratively with camp staff.
• Must have a fun, friendly, and patient personality, modeling positive behavior and water safety for campers.

Supervisory Responsibilities:  This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty according to the requirements of the organization. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

Competencies: To perform this job successfully, all employees at Conner Prairie should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Customer Service – Responds to requests for service and assistance; Manages difficult or emotional customer situations focusing on listening without interrupting and keeping ones emotions under control; Solicits customer feedback to improve service; Maintains confidentiality and meets commitments; Remains open to others’ ideas and tries new things.
• Teamwork – Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone’s efforts to succeed.
• Diversity – Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; Educates others on the value of diversity; Promotes a harassment-free environment; Builds a diverse workforce.
• Ethics – Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.
• Organizational Support – Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; Supports organization’s goals and values; Benefits organization through outside activities; Supports affirmative action and respects diversity.
• Professionalism – Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
• Quality/Quantity – Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to promote and improve quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality; Meets productivity standards; Completes work in a timely manner; Strives to increase productivity and works quickly.
• Safety/Security – Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.
• Attendance/Punctuality/Dependability – Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and events on time; Follows instructions; Responds to management’s direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternative plan.

Job-related Competencies – To perform this job successfully, employees in this job should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays or unexpected events.
• Technical Skills - Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; Pursues training and development opportunities; Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; Shares expertise with others.
• Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
• Initiative - Volunteers readily; Undertakes self-development activities; Seeks increased responsibilities; Takes independent actions and calculated risks; Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; Asks for and offers help when needed.

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

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.  The employee frequently will stand; walk; and lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  The employee occasionally will climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; and taste or smell. 

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less), distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more), color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors), peripheral vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right while eyes are fixed on a given point), depth perception (three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and spatial relationships), and the ability to adjust focus (ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus).

Work Environment:  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly is exposed to working in wet or humid conditions (non-weather), and outdoor weather conditions. The employee will occasionally work near moving mechanical parts, in high, precarious places, near fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold (non-weather), extreme heat (non-weather), risk of electrical shock, and work with explosives. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

Conner Prairie is generally open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, this position will be required to work beyond these hours and when open for special events.