Nanaimo Science offers summer day camps for school-aged children throughout late-June, July and August. Our Outreach Educators/Summer Camp Leaders help run our camps, planning and delivering activities with children, making sure they are having a fun time while learning!
Supervised by the Executive Director and Camp Coordinator, our team of Summer Camp Leaders will work in pairs with small groups of children (max 20 children per group). You will receive a full week of paid training time, which will include hands-on testing of activities and equipment used during camps, site visits of camp spaces, behaviour management strategies helpful to work with children, and first aid training if not already certified. Summer Camp Leaders will shadow experienced team members for a gradual-entry to their position, and have access to a full library of lesson plans and science supplies/equipment for program delivery.
People who have worked for Nanaimo Science in the past have enjoyed the team-based atmosphere we provide. Camp Leaders are given support throughout their work terms, and are well-prepared to handle both day-to-day situations and emergencies. You will gain excellent hands-on teaching experience and expand your science knowledge through our wide range of camp themes.
While we provide consistent structure to each week of camp, the individual days will be unique and give Camp Leaders the opportunity to work on new activities with children regularly. Camp themes are fun and unlike any others available in Nanaimo - from LEGO Robotics, to Nature-themed camps, and camps focused on every area of science - Nanaimo Science is as fun a place to work as it is to go to as a camper!
Daily prep-time before and after camps will ensure that Camp Leaders have the opportunity to stay organized and coordinate with their team-mates. Regular check-ins with the Camp Coordinator will ensure you have all the supplies and support needed to make things run smoothly. Daily outdoor time during lunch is great for both campers and Camp Leaders alike, and with most work days ending at 3:30 PM (or 5:00 PM for the occasional week), your evenings and weekends will be open for summer relaxing and fun.
Nanaimo Science offers consistent schedules and opportunities for future employment. Although the Camp Leader position is fixed-term, we are looking for someone to continue into the fall as well for other science outreach education programming.
Most of all, the opportunities we create for children to explore new areas of science and inspire them to learn is extremely rewarding! There is nothing like the feeling of watching a camper’s face light up when their stomp rocket soars through the air at just the right angle, or watch doubt turn into determination with the realization that the craft they thought looked too complicated is within reach!

DAILY TASKS WILL INCLUDE:

• Preparing materials prior to the beginning of each camp
• Leading children through STEM/science activities during camps, sharing knowledge about the activities and promoting curiosity through hands-on learning.
• Leading children in recreational activities including outdoor games and crafts
• Taking responsibility for the welfare and learning of children, supporting children with diverse needs with a range of provided learning approaches.
• Building relationships with all campers by showing compassion, empathy and understanding.
• Providing feedback on strengths/weaknesses of activities to the Camp Coordinator and/or Executive Director.
• Working with colleagues and volunteer (teenaged) helpers.
• Assisting with post-program organization and resupply of materials, and maintaining cleanliness of the camp facilities.

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Ensuring the safety and security of children at all times.
• Working with colleagues to ensure age-appropriate activities are delivered, and that educational content is presented accurately.
• Managing dynamics of the group of children in camps, including applying appropriate behaviour management techniques as necessary