Teen Adventure Program Leader

College Settlement Camps

BIKE HIKE CLIMB RAFT CAMP!!!!

Our Teen Adventure Program Leaders (TAP) spend at both our outpost and our base camp locations.  TAP leaders coordinate all activities for our 13 - 14 year old campers during their 5 or 12 day sessions.  During the 12 days sessions, TAP heads to our beautiful mountain outpost in Pennsylvania's Pocono mountains.  Up there, our mountain outpost leader coordinates activities for the TAP counselors and their 12 campers for water rafting, hiking, mountain biking and rustic camping.

The TAP  leaders spend their summer guiding their campers through a wide range of activities.  Base camp activities include high ropes, biking, boating, fishing, swimming and  river tubing.  During the trip to our mountain outpost where the campers learn how to cook their own meals, get to sleep in Adirondack shelters, take a white water rafting trip and hike some of the most breathtaking trails in Pennsylvania.

The leader's role is to create an environment that encourages cooperation, personal growth, and positive participation. As a mentor and guide for the campers, you are required to manage group dynamics, to motivate individuals, to set common goals and keep group on track to accomplish them.  The outpost program encourages our campers to push their comfort levels, to be brave, to be independent as the group participates in a series of more challenging outdoor activities.

The most important facet of being a great TAP leader is to be an avid outdoors enthusiast who can share that love for all things outdoorsy with our campers! We look for leaders who can make good judgement calls, are hard working, self motivated, are flexible, enthusiastic and prepared to dive in with any and all activities.  Leaders must have experience with camping, hiking and have great organizational skills. We recruit staff who will be positive role models, who are patient, compassionate and genuinely committed with the welfare and development of young people - especially teens!

The TAP leader must also be highly organized and comfortable working closely  with 2-3 staff members while they are up at the outpost.

Brief overview of the position:

• Prep for trips - organizing medical, food and program supplies  with base camp staff
• Give campers a pre trip orientation and therefore are ready to go, enthusiastic and packed properly!
• Communicate with the Camp Director, Camp Nurse and base camp TAP staff regularly 
• Making sure ALL camp policies and procedures are followed at the outpost site. 
• Be the lead on hiking and rafting trips, and all outpost activities such as meal prep and clean up, night hikes, 
• Take overall onsite responsibility for making sure the trips are safe, fun, safe, rewarding, safe and awesome.  And safe.   And fun.
• While back at base camp, rejoins the camp community for activities such as hurling, rugby, drama, weird and cool crafts, bug hunts, instrument making, cricket - who knows what each summer's crew of counselors will bring.

June 10- 18 Our Staff orientation is a comprehensive training that includes a chance to scout out the activity locations, behavior management, tips and tricks for working with kids, emergency trainings, protocols and procedures for the summer.  It also is intended to be fun and rewarding for the staff, and created bonds that builds a strong team.  We also offer a lifeguard training, first aid and CPR course, plus a high ropes course certification course at no cost to our staff.

June 19 - August 12 The camp sessions are 5 or 12 days, and we run 5 sessions per summer.  Camp staff have weekends off between each session so there is ample opportunity to visit Philadelphia, New York, Washington D.C., the Pocono Mountains or the Jersey Shore for some rest and relaxation before the next session of campers arrive the following Monday.

1. Red Cross First Aid and CPR or equivalent certification as  approved by the American Camp Association (we offer this training free of charge)
2. (OPTIONAL) Red Cross Life Guard Certification offered to candidates or equivalent as  approved by the American Camping (we offer this training free of charge)
3. Valid driver's license and ability to drive 15 passenger camp vehicles

1. Three years of experience in camping, education, recreation, or group-related work.
2. Experience and desire to lead extended overnight outdoor recreation and outdoor living skills programs.
3. Two years’ experience with adventure based activities such as kayaking, white water rafting, climbing or biking, hiking and camping
4. At least 1 former leadership position with peer aged colleagues
5. At least two years’ experience in driving motor vehicles
6. At least 6 months experience working with teenage youth
7. Age 21 years or more