Job Description

Full-time, residential, salaried position. Includes room & board and health benefits.

A 1-2 year experience of providing leadership and service to others.

Through our RamaYear program, recent college graduates devote a year or two of their early careers to an immersive, residential, year-round service experience on our Rhinebeck, NY campus. At Ramapo, RamaYear spend their days working with groups of youth and educators on social emotional development and outdoor adventure-based activities that build teamwork, communication and relationship building skills. Ramayear design activities to meet each group’s needs and goals, and lead teambuilding games and leadership development exercises. RamaYear staff serve as mentors to our Staff Assistants: young adults, 18-25 years old, who seek to become self-sufficient and build social, independent living and job skills. Additionally, RamaYear play key roles in various Ramapo programs, such as our residential camp: a traditional summer camp experience for children ages 6-25 with social, emotional or learning challenges; and Ramapo Community Programs: two programs that include an inclusive early learning center designed for ages 18 months through preschool and a school aged childcare program in the local elementary school.

At the outset, new RamaYear staff members receive intensive training in Ramapo’s Approach and philosophy, acquiring a toolbox of skills and strategies to create environments that foster success. Through experiences working with groups of youth and educators, mentoring Staff Assistants and being a part of Camp Ramapo and Ramapo’s Community Programs, RamaYear strive to embody these practices and role model them effectively each day.

Responsibilities:

• Design activities to meet each group’s needs and goals, and lead teambuilding games and leadership development exercises
• RamaYear staff serve as mentors and job coaches to our Staff Assistants: young adults with learning differences, ADHD and/or autism spectrum disorders who seek to become self-sufficient and build social, independent living and job skills.
• Work with diverse groups of children, young adults, educators and youth workers who visit campus each year
• Facilitate outdoor adventure-based, community building retreats for groups of youth and adults from schools, inclusive organizations, community groups and businesses
• Manage all outdoor activities: lead hikes, facilitate ropes courses, build campfires, facilitate indoor and outdoor climbing walls, and much more
• Create emotionally safe environments for young people, and live and work in an inclusive community
• Be part of a team of dedicated and passionate professionals

Make a difference and inspire change: impact thousands of children, young adults and educators each year by helping them to realize their full potential.

To apply, please visit us online:

Job Type: Full-time

Contact Information: Kate Wrightington

Director of Staffing

staffing@ramapoforchildren.org

845-876-8423

Ramapo for Children takes COVID-19 precautions seriously. Our protocols will continue to be guided by recommendations from the CDC and our local Department of Health. Ramapo will remain a place for participants and staff to learn and grow in a safe environment.

Special Benefits

What You'll Gain: A foundation for lifelong leadership: get an extraordinary professional experience and essential career and life skills to help you stand out in a competitive job market.

• Develop exceptional team-building, leadership and management skills
• Receive state of the art training in program planning and group management of the kind Ramapo provides to over 10,000 teachers and youth service professionals in NYC
• Gain intensive, hands-on experience with a wide range of populations
• Learn to quickly build relationships with individuals with diverse backgrounds and needs
• Improve ability to manage projects, solve problems, resolve conflicts and communicate effectively
• Increase self-confidence and make a positive difference in the lives of children and adults

Requirements

Qualifications:

• Recent college graduate
• Ability to live on Ramapo’s campus in Rhinebeck, NY for 15-18 months
• Motivation, and an interest in Ramapo’s mission and desire to learn from all Ramapo programs
• Experience in youth development, special education, community development, and/or adventure education is a plus

  AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply.

Why work here

As a Camp Ramapo counselor, you’ll benefit from:

• Intensive, evidence-informed training on our Ramapo Approach, which is sought out by educators, school leaders, youth workers and caregivers around the world
• Daily interaction with children who face varying degrees of social, emotional and learning challenges
• A network of people within Ramapo for Children’s community, which includes year-round staff members, trainers, board members and counselor alumni, many of whom have gone on to pursue careers in education, social work and psychology
• Free room and board on our 250-acre campus plus summer stipend and travel reimbursement 
• Up to six credits through an on-site college course, “Fieldwork in Special Education”

Ramapo for Children takes camper and staff health seriously. Our safety protocols will continue to be guided by recommendations from the CDC and our local Department of Health. Ramapo will remain a place for campers and staff to learn and grow in a safe environment.

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