Boating Specialist - Overnight Camp

Description

About Girl Scouts of Western Washington

Girl Scouts of Western Washington is consistently and unapologetically committed to providing safe spaces for all girls* to belong. We build Girl Scouts of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Founded in 1912, our organization has been committed to meeting the needs of our youth members for over a century. We uplift all Girl Scouts in a supportive environment where they can discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their very first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. They are the future leaders paving the way toward a brighter tomorrow. To learn more, visit www.girlscoutsww.org.

Girl Scouts of Western Washington values diversity, equity, and inclusion and we foster a welcoming, inclusive work environment. We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, age, national origin, gender, veteran status, sexual orientation (heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, and gender expression of identity), marital status, or the presence of any physical, sensory, or mental disability, or any other protected classification under applicable laws. 

*Girl Scouts of Western Washington uses the term girl inclusively to speak to everyone who identifies with the Girl Scout experience, which includes cisgender girls, gender-expansive youth, transgender youth, non-binary youth, gender nonconforming youth, genderqueer youth, and any girl-identifying human.

About the Position
The Boating Specialist is responsible for providing supervision and ensuring a safe environment during boating activities. This role will lead boating activities with campers across a variety of crafts including canoes, paddleboards, and Camp St. Albans famed Viking boats. This role assists the Waterfront Director in the management of the boathouse facilities and equipment. The Boating Specialist sleeps in an assigned camper living unit and helps in various aspects of camp life with that group, providing support to Unit Counselors when not facilitating or planning lessons. 

Compensation for this position is $115 - $125 per day, with the starting rate dependent on previous employment at GSWW camps.

Camp Season 2026 will run from June 7th through August 18th, with start and end dates determined by position. For the 2026 season, this position will be located at Camp St. Albans. For the first half of the summer, they will join the site rental team and run programs for the troops and families who are renting out cabins. They will work a Wednesday-Sunday schedule and live with the rest of the site rental team on camp. The second half of the summer, they will be a part of the overnight camp team and run programs for campers ages 6-17 years old. During this time, they will work a Sunday-Friday schedule and be assigned a camper living unit to stay in, helping in various aspects of camp life with that group, and providing support to Unit Counselors when not facilitating or planning lessons.
 

Requirements

Essential Duties and Responsibilities  

• Develop and implement engaging boating curriculum for youth ages 6–17, accommodating diverse skill levels and interests through instruction in canoes, paddleboards, and rowboats 
• Maintain a safe waterfront environment by enforcing safety standards and training staff in boating procedures and emergency protocols 
• Assist in the management, care, and security of the camp’s boathouse and boating equipment including conducting daily checks of the area and equipment for safety, cleanliness, and good repair, and oversee inventory of equipment and request replacement of supplies as needed 
• Support and participate in the implementation of all camp activities such as meals, all camp games, campfires, etc.  
• Carry out established duties for general camp operations including check-in and check-out, bus supervision, camp cleaning, season opening and closing tasks, and completion of necessary paperwork
   

This is a general description of the essential responsibilities of the position and is not inclusive of all job duties; other associated duties may be assigned 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Knowledge of and commitment to fostering environments that prioritize diversity, equity, inclusion, racial justice, and belonging 
• Comfortable working in a camp setting with a variable work week and hours, including on-call, overnight, and weekend responsibilities 
• Excellent interpersonal skills to ensure effective interactions with individuals at all levels and backgrounds, with the ability to work under pressure  
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize project tasks and deadlines, work independently and collaboratively, take initiative, and maintain confidentiality   
• Visual and auditory ability to identify and respond to environmental and other hazards related to waterfront activities  
• Ability to pass pre-requisite swimming skills assessment for lifeguarding including: 
• Swim 550 yards using front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination of both without touching the wall or touching the bottom 
• Tread water for 2 minutes using only the legs 
• Surface dive to a maximum water depth of 10 feet and retrieve a 10-pound object 
• Swim 5 yards submerged and retrieve 3 dive rings without resurfacing 

Supervisory Responsibilities 

• This position has no supervisory responsibilities of camp staff members 

Education and Experience Required 

• At least 18 years of age 
• High School Diploma or equivalent 
• Experience working with youth 6-17 years old 
• Experience with canoes, paddleboards, and/or row boats 
• Experience leading youth in programmatic activities 

Preferred Skills and Experience 

• Knowledge of the Girl Scout program 
• Experience with day or overnight camp 
• Experience with boating on a lakefront 

Other Qualifications 

• Current certification in American Red Cross Waterfront Lifeguarding or willingness to obtain (see above pre-requisites) 
• Current certification or qualification for instructing youth in canoes, rowboats, and/or paddleboards appropriate to the waterfront or willingness to obtain 
• Current certification of Youth Mental Health First Aid or willingness to obtain 
• Satisfactory results from a criminal background check 

Work Environment  
Summer camp is a fast-paced outdoor working environment with 24-hour a day responsibility. Employees are frequently exposed to loud noises, sensory stimulating situations, and physically demanding activities. Employees should feel comfortable with: 

• Working outside in all weather conditions including heat, inclement weather, and specific environmental realities (humidity, wind, bugs, lake water) 
• Residing in non-air-conditioned rustic open air living quarters, with pit toilets as primary restroom facilities 
• Living in communal living conditions with limited privacy and infrequent, minimal access to technology 
• Demonstrating emotional resiliency and regulation to handle extended, repeated stressful situations appropriately 
• Walking over unpaved, uneven, hilly terrain multiple times a day 
• Lifting and carrying supplies and equipment up to 35lbs 
• Swimming in natural bodies of water 
• Responding to emergencies including utilizing skills to administer first aid/CPR when necessary, including overnight 
• Maintaining constant supervision and observation of program participants while assessing risk and participant safety