Adventure Camp Belonging Specialist: Summer 2026, $14.50/hr

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 Belonging Specialist is a key member of the camp leadership team, responsible for supporting both counselors and campers in creating a safe, inclusive, and connected camp community. This position trains staff, models best practices, and reinforces the Adventure Camp Belonging Framework throughout daily programming. The Belonging Specialist promotes a culture of belonging by leading and facilitating activities, coaching counselors in real time, and helping campers build social–emotional skills, positive relationships, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities.

• Adventure Camp Belonging Specialist, 40hrs/week, May 18-Aug 2, $14.50/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.

Compensation:

• This position is defined as a Part-Time Flex (Seasonal) position and is not benefits-eligible.
• Rate of pay: $14.50/hour.

Education and/or Experience:

• College senior or graduate with experience in youth engagement, mentoring, or community programming preferred.
• Degree or coursework in education, special education, social work, counseling, psychology, or sociology required.
• Previous experience at Conner Prairie Adventure Camp is required; two or more summers preferred.
• Experience using positive behavior support or behavior-modification strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to create culturally responsive and inclusive environments.
• Bilingual or multilingual candidates encouraged to apply.
• Prior experience working with children or young adults in a camp, school, or similar setting preferred.
• Ability to uphold professional standards aligned with Conner Prairie’s mission.
• Strong organizational, time management, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to adapt to dynamic situations.
   

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

1. Prioritizes the safety and well-being of campers and staff.
2. Models inclusivity, empathy, and respect for all members of the camp community.
3. Actively participates in and leads pre-season staff training, including sessions on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (May 18–22, 2026).
4. Provides ongoing training for staff throughout the summer to strengthen cultural competence and equitable practices
5. Upholds privacy and confidentiality for all campers and staff.
6. Collaborates with camp leadership to cultivate a welcoming and inclusive environment for counselors and campers from all backgrounds
7. Provides individualized support, guidance, and positive reinforcement to counselors and campers during activities.
8. Creates and follows a daily schedule to accompany camp groups, lead activities, and provide one-on-one support to counselors as necessary.
9. Collaborates with camp staff to ensure a cohesive and supportive camp experience.
10. Promotes inclusion, empathy, and respect across the camp community.
11. Performs Camp Counselor or Specialty duties as needed, including leading campers in a variety of activities.
12. Participates in end-of-season activities, including clean-up (Sunday, August 2, 2026).

Supervisory Responsibilities:  Supervises, trains, and mentors Youth Volunteers, Interns, and other assigned volunteers, ensuring they uphold the camp’s belonging framework, with guidance and support from the Camp Director.

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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

Competencies: To perform this job successfully, all employees at (Company Name) 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 accommodations 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 accommodations 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 quiet to moderate.

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.