Starting pay is $14.75 per hour. This position contributes to the success of the Chicago Zoological Society by providing the highest level of quality customer service and extraordinary guest experiences with top-quality programming to participants to further the Society's mission of inspiring conservation leadership.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Facilitate a variety of camp and specialty program topics and themes through techniques, including investigation, exploration and instruction. Programs include, but are not limited to, Zoo Camp, Safari Sleepovers, Kid's Clubs, and Mini Camps.
• Partner with Camp and NatureStart Inclusion Specialist to plan for accommodation of participants with special needs.
• Facilitate program/activity development, prototyping, and documentation.
• Supervise program participants throughout the park during all program activities and zoo tours, maintaining a minimum 1:6 staff to child ratio at all times.
• Assist program participants with all activities, games, and projects that relate to the designated program themes.
• Organize all daily supplies for activities including free play, arts and crafts, snack time, and games.
• Maintain open communication on a daily basis with parents and/or guardians of program participants regarding questions, concerns, discipline issues, daily activities, etc.
• Direct and/or delegate Seasonal Camp and NatureStart Programs Counselor Assistants to complete tasks as appropriate.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Position Requirements and Specifications
The requirements for this position include the following:

• High School diploma or (GED) equivalent required.
• Must be at least 18 years of age as required by the American Camp Association Guidelines.
• Three months or more experience working with children in a formal or informal educational setting, e.g., camp, park district, Special Recreation Association, day care, student teaching, school, or cultural institution, required.
• Strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills required.
• Must be an energetic and flexible team player and able to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Must have excellent customer service skills and experience working with guests effectively.
• Experience and/or ability to work and interact effectively with a diverse, multicultural audience.

The preferred qualifications:

• One or more years of college or the equivalent of two years training and experience preferred, including coursework in education, biological sciences, communication, therapeutic recreation, or other directly related field or subjects, such as public speaking, interpretation, theater, recreation, environmental studies, children and families, or art and interpretation.
• Experience working in inclusive informal, educational, or recreational programs a plus.
• Experience in a zoo, aquarium, museum, nature center, or art studio environment a plus.
• Multilingual ability, Spanish fluency a plus.

Additional Information: Must represent the Chicago Zoological Society in an appropriate and professional manner to campers, families of enrolled campers and Zoo guests. Must have a genuine interest in nature and animals. Must bewilling and able to learn play facilitation skills. Incumbent must display a positive attitude and be a positive role model to program participants and provide a fun and positive learning environment for program participants including school-aged children. Pre-school camp is for children 4 and 5-years old. School-age camp is for children in grades K-5. Zoo Lab is for middle school children in 6th - 8th grades. Incumbent may be scheduled to work non-standard hours including evenings, holidays, overnights, and weekends typically in the fall and spring. Must have the availability to work the weeks that summer Zoo Camp is in session as well as attend all required trainings in the weeks prior to camp starting. Camp programs run from June through August, training takes place in May. The work schedule for Zoo Camp is generally Monday through Friday, 7 to 8 hours per day, based on camper enrollment. The work schedule for Safari Sleepovers is generally spring and fall Friday evenings through Saturday mornings. Other specialty program schedules vary but are typically in the spring and fall on weekends, holidays, and other non-standard hours. All schedules are based on the needs of the operation.

Additional Information
This requisition is for multiple openings with anticipated start dates in April/May 2017. Please continue to visit our website at czs.org/careers for similar and other opportunities.

The Chicago Zoological Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer / Affirmative Action Employer - Minorities / Women / Veterans / Disabled.