About Camp Discovery
AuSM Camps serve autistic children and adults of all abilities. Camp Discovery, held at True Friends Courage South in Maple Lake, MN, is an overnight camp with a staff-to-camper ratio of 1:4.
- Session #1 (July 1st – 5th) is for campers ages 18+.
- Session #2 (July 7th – 11th) is for campers ages 11-17.
Counselor Job Description
Discovery counselors and cabin leaders work together to supervise assigned campers and to create a sense of community and belonging amongst them. Counselors and cabin leaders create camper supports such as large visible schedules, readily available fidgets, advance warning of pending transitions, and coaching campers through conflict resolution and other social interactions. Counselors participate in all camp activities alongside autistic campers, encouraging and challenging each camper according to their individual strengths and needs.
About Camp Hand in Hand
AuSM Camps serve autistic children and adults of all abilities. Camp Hand in Hand, held at Camp Knutson in Crosslake, MN, is an overnight camp with a staff-to-camper ratio of greater than 1:1. Camp Hand in Hand can accommodate the support needs of all campers except those who require extensive nursing care. AuSM offers four sessions of this camp each summer:
- Session #1 (June 19th – 23rd) is for campers ages 18 -23.
- Session #2 (June 25th – 29th) is for campers ages 14-17.
- Session #3 (August 5th – 9th) is for campers ages 10-13.
- Session #4 (August 11th – 15th) is for campers ages 24+
Counselor Job Description
A Hand in Hand counselor acts as a buddy and support person to a specific camper. Though each counselor is assigned to one camper, each cabin’s campers and counselors function as a unit with supervision and mentoring provided by a highly experienced Cabin Leader. Thus, a counselor is accountable to and supported by the whole cabin group. Counselors act as mentors, friends, cheerleaders, and personal care attendants to autistic campers, encouraging and challenging each camper according to their individual strengths and needs.
Responsibilities and Duties for Discovery and Hand in Hand
Before campers arrive:
- Arrive at camp between 6pm and 8pm the evening before staff training. (Staff training is the day before camp starts. Therefore, if camp starts on July 4th, a counselor is expected to arrive on the evening of July 2nd to complete training on July 3rd.)
- Complete staff training.
- Read the packets of each camper in the cabin group.
- Get to know the Cabin Leader and other counselors in the cabin group.
During Camp:
- Meet the assigned camper and parents/guardians during check-in.
- Ensure that the assigned camper’s basic needs are met. This includes, but is not limited to, assisting the camper with daily tasks of living (dressing, bathing, toileting/diapering) in addition to ensuring that the camper receives all medications, special meals, and maintains prescribed dietary or activity restrictions.
- Actively participate with campers in daily activities, displaying enthusiasm for activities and encouraging camper participation. This necessitates walking throughout camp from 8:00am – 9:00pm daily, swimming with the camper each afternoon, and eating all meals in a community setting.
- Share sleeping and bathroom accommodations with other camp staff.
- Work directly with staff and campers in a small group under the guidance and supervision of a Cabin Leader.
- Demonstrate a positive, helpful, can-do attitude around all campers and staff.
- Photograph campers engaged in camp activities and forward those pictures to the Cabin Leader to be shared with parents.
- Role model that camper needs always come first.* *This doesn’t mean that counselors should go without meals, rest, or bathroom breaks. It DOES mean that a camper’s need or choice outweighs a counselor’s preference.
- Attend nightly check-ins with cabin group.
- Spend one overnight with at least one additional counselor in a camper cabin, sleeping on a mattress on the floor in front of a door and acting as a support person to any camper who wakes up or needs help.
Last day of camp
- Help the camper complete a camp evaluation during breakfast.
- Greet camper’s parents when they arrive and say goodbye to camper.
- Pack all personal belongings, strip bed, and clean staff quarters. Leave it in better shape than it was found.
- Check out of camp with either Sarah Hauer or Dustin Suggs (on-site Directors) before leaving.
- Participate in camp evaluations/debrief.
Qualifications and Skills
- Respect for the dignity of every human being.
- Friendly, enthusiastic, encouraging, compassionate, reflective, patient, and fun-loving.
- Assist individual campers with personal care needs, including toileting.
- A team player with a good sense of humor who engages all campers and staff.
- Accepts feedback, asking clarifying questions as necessary and challenging self to learn and grow throughout camp.
- Ability to share bunk space with other staff
Compensation
A Counselor will receive a stipend of $450 for each session worked.