Camp Counselor

The Seattle Aquarium, a leading marine conservation organization, is looking for four camp counselors (CC’s) to join the conservation engagement and learning team.  Counselors carry out the daily procedures of camp while occasionally supporting the Lead Instructor in administrative tasks. They act as role models and mentors in marine science, conservation, and empathy. CCs work with all ages of campers while leading groups of up to 10 at a time.

Marine Summer Camp at Seattle Aquarium seeks to Inspire Conservation of Our Marine 

Environment through engaging, inclusive and fun educational experiences. Campers range in age from 4 to 14 years and are grouped by age for up to 22 campers per session. Each session is led by one Camp Lead Instructor and two Camp Counselors, with Youth Volunteers, Marine Science Instructors and Admin staff as support. Activities take place at Seattle Aquarium and along the Seattle waterfront, with the possibility of field trips along the Puget Sound. The camp day runs 9:00am-4:00pm with before and after-care options. 

Successful candidates will bring enthusiasm for marine science and education, an ability to work collaboratively in a team setting, strong communication abilities in informal science education, and excellent interpersonal skills for working with campers and their adults. CC’s will work with other Camp Staff to ensure that the Marine Science Summer Camp goals are met in an equitable and inclusive way.  We view this work through an equity lens, with the goal of removing barriers where they exist for members of the community to meaningfully engage with the Aquarium, to foster authentic, mutual relationships between the Aquarium and the community, and to bring diverse audiences together to achieve our mission. This work supports our Strategic Plan goal of inspiring conservation and making the Aquarium and its programs accessible and welcoming to all. This role is instrumental to the Seattle Aquarium’s mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment.  

The Seattle Aquarium is committed to expanding a diverse, equitable, and inclusive conservation movement. We are invested in building an Aquarium with a wide variety of backgrounds, identities, languages, cultural ways of knowing, and life experiences. We know research shows that society has conditioned communities of color, trans and gender non-conforming people, immigrants, people with disabilities, and other marginalized candidates to more frequently not apply to a job because they don’t feel that they meet all of the qualifications listed even if they are qualified. If you meet some of the requirements and you are passionate about our mission and our ocean, we encourage you to apply and look forward to learning more about you. 

Camp Timeline

Camp counselors must be committed to all set dates/times: 

• Pre-camp season: 

June 5-9: At-home pre-reading and onboarding meetings onsite at the Aquarium, totaling up to 20 hours. 

June 12-23, 8am–5pm: Camp staff training. 

• Camp sessions:

June 26 – Sept 1 (no camp July 3-7, time used for additional training/prep) 

Shift times: Mon-Fri, 8:00am-5:00pm

• Post-camp season:

Sept 4-8, 9am–5pm: Season debrief, evaluation, and cleaning.

Key functions

• Support Camp Lead Instructor in implementation of camp program and in child management and ensure safety of all campers. 
• Positively support an inclusive environment. Promote appropriate behavior among all participants and serve as a role model. When appropriate, encourage all campers to participate, observe, discover, and appreciate the marine environment while being respectful of their surroundings. 
• Lead small groups of campers of up to 11 kids, (ages vary from 4 to 14 years old) each week in activities such as marine science lessons; games; and exhibit and behind-the-scenes tours, and short field trips along the Seattle Waterfront (pending Aquarium approval). 
• Responsible for keeping track of all camper information (medical, general and authorizations) as written on release forms. Responsible for ensuring all such information is respected and referenced appropriately and remains confidential.  
• All Aquarium staff and volunteers are expected to participate in advancing and integrating into their work Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Regenerative practices in alignment with our S.A.L.I.S.H. Values.

Required skills and experience

 We will consider various combinations of relevant experience and education to meet minimum requirements.

• High School Diploma or equivalent, must be 18 years or older. 
• Minimum of one year of experience working with youth in a formal or informal education setting. 

Preferred

• Courses in education, child development, recreation, environmental science, biology or related fields are a plus. 
• Six months experience working or volunteering in an aquarium, zoo, environmental education center, museum, or similar institution, preferred but not required. 
• Experience working with diverse racial and socio-economic audiences preferred. 
• Previous experience working with audiences and peers of diverse backgrounds, and familiarity with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles. 
• Second language spoken/written proficiency a plus.

Working conditions

• Must be able to spend long periods of time outdoors during all weather conditions (rain or shine). 
• Must be able to sit, stand, walk and/or run for varied and extended periods of time while interacting with youth. 
• Heavy to moderate vocal demands to project talks and announcements to direct a large audience in loud areas during heavy foot and vehicle traffic. 

Salary and benefits: $20.50 per hour. Temporary staff are not eligible for benefits but accrue paid sick time and are paid an additional $0.75/hour to assist with transportation costs.

How to apply

Interested candidates should upload a résumé to our online application to be considered. Application review will begin immediately.  

Note: If offered the position, candidates must pass a background check. Conviction record is not an automatic disqualifier; we are a second chance employer.  

About the Seattle Aquarium

The Seattle Aquarium is a respected authority on Puget Sound, the Salish Sea and the world’s one ocean. Our passionate staff increases awareness and drives the change needed to preserve and protect our marine environment by providing an inspiring visitor experience, engaging daytime and evening events, conservation education programs for people of all ages and backgrounds, community outreach to marginalized populations, research that advances understanding of animals in our care and their counterparts in the wild, advocacy and policy work, an award-winning volunteer program, high-impact marketing and communications, and more.  

Our values, developed in conjunction with our staff, include commitments to adopting and promoting sustainable practices, creating awe-inspiring experiences, constantly learning and improving, fostering an inclusive community, maintaining scientific credibility through evidence-based practices and honoring our unique place by using our location and history as a lens for larger understanding.  

Proudly accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, we’re among the top 10 aquariums in the U.S. by attendance, and we welcome over 850,000 people each year. Guided by our mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment, we’re working to substantially increase our conservation impact by expanding our campus with a new building, the Ocean Pavilion. Learn more at SeattleAquarium.org. 

Timeline

We anticipate the following recruiting schedule for those candidates who are selected for consideration. The following dates are preliminary and subject to change. We will work with candidates to set interview dates. If hired, relocation assistance is not available. 

• Application deadline: Open until filled.
• Interviews completed by May 5, 2023.
• Start date: June 5, 2023.