Awesome Counselors Role Models Needed

This is not an employment application. This will allow the director to contact you in March 2026 to give you the 2026 application and to schedule an interview.

All applicants must be 18 or older by June 15, 2026 per chaperone guidelines with our tri state vendors and experience operators.

We are looking for highly motivated and independent candidates who are able to work a majority of our summer camp weeks. Due to the small size of our camp - counselor positions are extremely limited and highly competitive.

Our counselors are specially trained to facilitate safety and fun across all of our trips and adventures. Our staff members include university students and local professionals who are looking to work hard in a fun, ever-changing environment. They not only act as role models for our campers, but as representatives of the Redding community to the thousands of people we will come in contact with throughout our weeks.

Specialized training includes:

• CPR, AED, First Aid training

• Stop the Bleed trauma training

• QPR Suicide Prevention Training

• State of Connecticut Mandated Reporter Training

• Scenario & action-plan based trainings on all locations visited - including maps and virtual tours of all parks, , emergency plans for weather, security, and medical incidents

• Camper file review - each camper's file is reviewed during a staff meeting for any special considerations provided by the guardians, with safety or comfort plans created based on camper or parent feedback

Counselor Qualities Include:

• Punctual - a late counselor may cause the entire camp to miss a trip, boat, ferry, or entry time.

• Available - preferred candidates can work all 5 weeks of camp to allow consistenty for our campers.

• Engaged - many of our hours are on a bus or in queues, when counselors must remain engaged with the campers and their surroundings. Personal phone usage or distractions put the entire group at risk.

• Observant - our trips require 100% attention to our surroundings and our kids to keep them safe and comfortable.

• Active - some days are 10 hours long in 90-100 degree heat while walking several miles in the City or an amusement park.

• Strong swimmer - many of our trips are reliant on water, and require staff to be strong swimmers. Our staff are expected to actively supervise while participating.

• Mature - our staff are role models for the kids and the thousands of people around us. Your words, actions, and reactions will be judged by all who witness them.

• Independent - Due to the rigor of our schedule and our safety protocols, counselors must be able to receive information or action plans and then act on them independently.

• Experienced - counselors are preferred who have worked with teenagers in a camp, sports, or other capacity, and preferrably in a superisory role. Campers come from all backgrounds - and our counselors need to be able to meet them where they are in whatever situation we find ourselves in.

• Flexible - counselors must be able to change plans and thinking immediately and calmy to keep a trip moving forward if weather, behavior, or environments change.

• Fun - counselors must enjoy having fun, and be ready to be the fun when stuck on long bus rides or roller coaster lines

  • (you don't need to enjoy roller coasters - but it is a bonus! Staff are permitted, in most situations, to ride the rides at most of our locations)

Interested parties will be required to fill out a Redding Park & Recreation Department employment application upon confirmation.

Pay rates are in accordance with the 2026 Town of Redding, CT camp counselor pay schedule.