Job Description

ZooCamp is a summer day camp program for kids entering grades K-5, run by the Education Department at the Oakland Zoo. Camp runs 9am-4pm M-F throughout the summer, with four 2-week sessions and one 1-week session. The Assistant Director will work with the Camp Director to ensure the safety and wellbeing of campers, TAs, interns, and teachers. The AD is a crucial part of the ZooCamp community and making sure camp runs smoothly.

ZooCamp Mission Statement: ZooCamp is a space where life is celebrated and nurtured. We respect the diversity of life we find reflected in our people, our plants, and our animals. Camp is a physically and emotionally safe environment in which campers and staff alike develop and practice our skills of communication, compassion, and scientific thinking. Through hands-on exploration, play, and community building campers will deepen their connections to themselves, each other, and our natural world.

Dates:
AD Start: Late April/Early May
Mandatory Staff Training: May 31 – June 3
Session 1: June 6 – 17
Session 2: June 20 – July 1
*No camp the week of July 4 – 8*
Session 3: July 11 – 22
Session 4: July 25 – Aug 5
Session 5: Aug 8 – 12

Candidates must be available to work the whole summer.

Hours: M-F, 8:15am – 4:45pm (Staff meetings once per week and other tasks may require longer hours some days)

Pay: $21-25/hr depending on experience. This is a seasonal position; there are no benefits or paid time off.

Required Qualifications:

• Experience in a camp setting
• Experience working with youth in grades K-5
• Experience supervising a team and giving feedback
• Excellent communication skills
• High emotional intelligence and patience and compassion for others
• General openness towards people, experiences, and ideas
• Comfort being in front of a group
• Excellent problem solving skills
• Highly organized, reliable, and flexible
• Willingness to add your voice and personality to the ZooCamp culture

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience working with database management, especially camp management software (we use CampBrain)
• Experience working with and supervising teenagers
• Nonviolent communication and conflict resolution training/experience
• Knowledge of climate change science and climate-related issues
• Experience in project based learning, civic science, and community organizing
• Skills in wilderness/outdoor rec, field science, crafts/visual art, drama/improv, dance, physical ed/sports, music, photography/video, activism, writing, gardening

Some notes:

• ZooCamp is an active and high sensory environment! The AD will spend a good amount of time standing, walking, and carrying camp supplies. The nature of camp is often loud, messy, and dynamic.
• All Zoo staff are required to be fully vaccinated against covid-19. ZooCamp staff are required to be fully vaccinated (including booster) 2 weeks before their start date.
• The AD is required to be CPR and First Aid certified before the start of camp. Those selected for the position who are not already certified can choose to get independently certified (and reimbursed) or attend a weekend training provided by the Zoo.
• The AD is required to provide a recent (within the last 2 years) TB test or acquire one before the start of camp.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Work with the Director on all administrative and logistic needs of camp
• Help manage registration system and database
• Oversee daily attendance of campers and daily sign in/out
• Supervise a group of Teen Interns
• Help lead weekly staff meetings
• Communicate with campers’ adults via phone, email, and in-person
• Help staff and campers solve conflict as needed
• Act as a substitute for absent teachers, as needed
• Act as “first officer” and step in as Director if the Director is unavailable
• Understand and maintain Zoo and ZooCamp health and safety standards
• Follow all Zoo safety protocol to ensure safety of people, equipment, and animals
• Other duties as assigned

How to Apply

• Email your resume and cover letter or click here to apply online.
• If you choose to apply via email, please remember to put the title of the position in your subject -- failure to do so may result in your application not being seen/forwarded to the correct party for review.
• Please, no phone calls! We apologize, but due to the heavy volume of applications, only those applicants who are selected for an interview will be contacted. Do not call to follow up on the status of your application.

Job Categories: Conservation. Job Types: Temporary. Salaries: Less than 20,000.

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