Unit Head

The JCC Ranch Camp is not just the Denver JCC’s overnight summer camp, it’s also one of the best places to work during the summer. As a staff member, Ranch Camp will become your home away from home as you work to create a community where people can thrive. You’re a hero to your campers; you have the chance to do something you really care about and have a whole lot of fun doing it. Your experience as a staff member is just as important to us as our campers’ experience. That being said: We’re here to serve kids and make sure they are in the safest environment possible while having the time of their lives. 

First and foremost, all our supervisory staff act as a team to support cabin staff.   

All Supervisory Staff Responsibilities:

• Take care of staff and campers by prioritizing the physical, social, emotional health, safety, and well-being. 

• Work as a team with the supervisory team to make sure every day runs the way it’s supposed to by helping to lead meals, participating in all camp programming, supporting and maintaining cabin life, and providing coverage for cabin staff as needed.  

• Create a community that you want to be a part of and that you want campers to be a part of.  

• Include everyone and make sure everyone is included.  

• Jump into the camp life: ride horses, swim, camp, play games, sing songs, roast s’mores, be ready to do everything the campers do! 

• Act as a resource and support staff as they manage camp behaviors using positive behavior management techniques, enforcing appropriate safety policies, emergency procedures, camp rules, and more. 

• Be flexible and adaptable because things change quickly at camp. You have to be able to roll with it. 

• And other duties and responsibilities as assigned: you might need to make your campers’ dreams of a beach themed ice-cream campfire song session come true or become your favorite legendary Pokémon for an evening program. 

Our supervisory team is more than just a support structure. We want you to do what matters to you while you’re at camp. 

Want to spend your summer outside, exploring the back country of Colorado and climbing mountains? We have a job for you. Does spending the morning playing soccer and the afternoon creating art make your heart happy? We have a job for you. Want to design a rocket that can make grilled cheese, but also land on Mars? We probably have a job for you, let’s talk. 

Unit Head Responsibilities 

• Partner with the Camper Care team and work with a specific age range throughout the summer to ensure camper and staff needs are met daily. The four units at camp are Chalutzim (2nd – 4th graders), Metapsim (5th & 6th graders), Toshavim (7th & 8th graders), and Tiyulim (9th grade and above).  

• Work in conjunction with camp administrative team to ensure camper needs are being met by communicating closely with camper care staff, camper leadership, and bunk/program staff. 

• Develop a unit identity to ensure each individual camper within their unit feels like a part of something greater than themselves. 

• Directly supervise unit staff members in their role as cabin counselors and help coach them responding to campers’ struggles and behaviors as they arise during the session. 

• Review daily Camper Bunk Notes (filled out by madrichim and collected daily) to track campers’ physical and emotional health, cabin social dynamics, and overall camper wellbeing. 

• Plan and lead staff training with Camper Care counterpart. 

• Manage and support positive staff and camper cabin dynamics within designated units.  

• Coordinate with program management team to regularly provide feedback to staff and facilitate the formal evaluation process with direct supervisees.  

• Design and implement unit-based programming that supports unit identity and community building regularly during the camp session.  

• Act as a positive, resourceful, and approachable leader for designated unit. Unit Heads are superheroes to both campers and staff. 

As the Tiyulim Unit Head, you will also take a leadership role in preparing, outfitting, and supervising all trips programs (Toshavim trips, TASC, Pack N’ Ride, and Teen Village).  

• Assist in facilitating training and program development for trips staff team.  

• Review and understand pre-made trip itineraries and present itineraries to staff with a focus on building familiarity around the itinerary and its requirements. 

• Maintain and record inventory of trips equipment, provide maintenance to equipment as needed and withing scope. Report damages to the director team. 

• Assist in ordering food for trips programs based on pre-made trip menus.  

• Assist in outfitting all trips with the correct and properly functioning equipment including tents, stoves, food, and other group gear.  

• Communicate with staff while on trips reguarding camper health and wellness and communicate daily updates to parents and caregivers.  

Finally, all staff must be able to attend staff orientations and be available to live at camp for the summer season. While we prefer staff to work for the entire summer, we understand if you can’t and encourage you to apply if you can work at least 5 – 6 weeks of our summer season.   

Physical Demands and Working Environment 

Physical Demands: This job requires the incumbent to have operative auditory and visual functioning. Employee must also be able to walk upwards of two (2) miles each day, including use of stairs and uneven terrain.  Employee may also stand, sit in chairs or on the ground, run, and swim. Employee may lift or body block campers when necessary.   

Work Environment: Working conditions may include being in indoor, often loud, spaces and spending extended time outdoors under the sun. Must have the ability to work in a fast paced, sometimes stressful environment while maintaining the standard of care.