Camp Lee Mar – Information For All 2021 Staff Summer Dates for the 2021 Camp Season - June 17 – August 16 - Counselors June 17 – August 19 – Support Staff Orientation week Camp Lee Mar Campers The Guided Tour Adult Week Post Season (Support Staff) Lee Mar is the Camp for you... June 17 – 22 June 23 – August 10 (visit www.leemar.com) August 11 – August 16 (visit www.guidedtour.com) August 17 – August 19 If you have a genuine interest in special children and wish to help them learn and grow If you believe you can live in a very structured atmosphere If you don't mind long hours, hard work and great satisfaction If you desire to grow personally and professionally If you would like to gain valuable experience for college or your future career If you love a challenge that will afford a memory to last a lifetime If you can provide a week of vacation fun and memories for our Guided Tour group of adults for our last week of the summer Where is Camp Lee Mar? What range of special needs do your children have? Our Campers have a varied range of abilities within the mild to moderate classification. Our children are fully ambulatory and have a basic grasp of their daily living skills. We are looking for staff who can provide support and assistance with daily living skills, teach social skills and have a great time. Our aim is to teach our campers to be as independent as possible. What kinds of activities do you have at Camp lee Mar? Lee Mar has many activities including baseball, basketball, fishing, boating, swimming, drama, music, zip line, soccer, arts and crafts, and dancing (culminating with the Senior Prom at the end of the summer); as well as many other traditional camp activities. What is the weather like? During the camp season our weather is generally around 80 degrees. It's hot, but not too hot that we are uncomfortable. However, if temperatures rise, we call a special "Sunny Day Program" enjoying lots of swimming and water-games. In addition, all our bunks and buildings are air-conditioned which we do not hesitate to use when needed. At the other end of the spectrum, if the weather becomes too wet for many of our activities, we follow our exciting Rainy Day Schedule. Lee Mar is situated close to the small town of Lackawaxen, in the beautiful Pocono Mountains, in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It is a 2 1⁄2 hour drive from New York City and 3 hours from Philadelphia.
STAFF PREPARATION Our Staff participate in a week long orientation prior to our campers’ arrival. This allows you to familiarize yourself with camp and its approaches, innovative activities and varied program adaptations. The staff orientation week is packed full of workshops run by our program heads and coordinators. Orientation covers everything from camp’s beginnings to the day to day running of a cabin. This week also provides our staff with the time to get to know our campers needs before they arrive, by studying the camper reports and profiles.
CAMP POSITIONS What is expected from a general counselor? General Counselors live in bunks with their campers. They go to activities with the campers, eat meals with their group and are responsible for the campers safety, social and emotional well-being at all times. You need to be very comfortable living in a group environment. You need to be comfortable working on daily living skills with the campers (showering, dressing, teeth brushing, etc . . .) We are looking for counselors who have patience, energy, and the ability to see the best in every camper. We want our campers to have a great summer, but we also want them to grow and learn new skills. You will need to be able to work in a team of 3 or 4 co-counselors and keep the bunk neat and organized at all times so the campers can be as independent as possible. Camp Lee Mar does have a nightly curfew* that ALL staff are expected to observe. During the last week of camp, The Guided Tour Adult Week, there is no academic or speech program. All staff on camp become general counseling staff living in rooms/cabins with adult campers and enjoy general camp activities with their assigned group. What is expected from an Academic Counselor? An academic counselor has a full teaching program (supervised by Laura Leibowitz, M. Ed), and is a member of a general counseling group. This is an excellent opportunity to get "hands-on" teaching experience while having a rewarding, fun, summer camp experience. You will also need to be comfortable coaching and assisting with daily living skills in your counseling group (see general counselor duties.) During trip week for the campers and during the last week of camp, The Guided Tour Adult Week, there is no academic or speech program. All staff on camp become general counseling staff living in rooms/cabins with campers and enjoy general camp activities with their assigned group. You will need excellent organizational skills and a passion for teaching and interacting with individuals who have special needs. Camp Lee Mar does have a nightly curfew* that ALL staff are expected to observe. What is expected from a Speech Specialist Counselor? A speech counselor has a speech and social skills program (supervised by our ASHA Certified Speech Coordinator), and is a member of a general counseling group. If you have obtained 40 hours of clinical observation already, this is an excellent way of gaining supervised "hands-on” experience. Our Speech- coordinator can sign off on your hours at the end of the summer. You will also need to be comfortable coaching and assisting with daily living in your counseling group (see general counselor duties.) During trip week for the campers and during the last week of camp, The Guided Tour Adult Week, there is no academic or speech program. All staff on camp become general counseling staff living in rooms/cabins with campers and enjoy general camp activities with their assigned group. You will need excellent organizational skills, functional speech and language skills, and a passion for interacting with individuals who have special needs. Camp Lee Mar does have a nightly curfew* that ALL staff are expected to observe. What is expected from a support Staff member? The support staff at camp fill a number of important positions including, but not limited to, kitchen, dining- room, housekeeping, grounds, etc. The support staff support the counselors and specialists in making sure our campers are living in a clean, safe, and secure environment. No one position at camp is more important than any other position at camp. We work as one team made up of counselors, specialists and support staff, all united for the well-being of our children with special needs. Support staff live in staff rooms, but must be able to keep their areas neat and organized. Support staff must be respectful of camper cabins and rooms nearby, and keep noise to a minimum at night. Camp Lee Mar does have a nightly curfew* that ALL staff are expected to observe. *Curfew is 11:45 PM Sunday – Thursday and 12:45 AM Friday and Saturday CAMP STAFF REGULATIONS To interview and accept a position with Camp Lee Mar you must agree with and be willing to adhere to the following camp regulations. DAYS OFF Time-off periods will be scheduled as regularly as possible but are assigned taking the overall camp program into account. Staff can expect one day off per week, this is a set 24 hour period with no camp responsibilies. Staff can choose to sign out of camp and leave the camp grounds during this time period. Potential visitors to camp MUST be approved before the visit with the director or assistant directors. Visitors must abide by all camp rules, regulations and policies. On days off, any staff members who choose to stay on camp may eat at their regularly scheduled meal time. Absences beyond those specified as days off or short-term sick leave will be considered by the camp administration and granted on a case-by-case basis. Staff may request to use the camp driver and a vehicle for day off transportation to a number of destinations within an hour of camp. This must be organised 24 hours before your scheduled day off. There is a fee per person for use of the camp vehicle and driver to cover gas and maintenince fees for the vehicles. If you choose to borrow a car from another staff person during a day off, camp assumes no responsibility for the staff vehicle in use. If the vehicle is lost or damaged in any way the staff members using the vehicle are responsible for it. ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, DRUGS/CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES Alcohol and controlled substances are not allowed on the camp property, camp vehicles, or in staff vehicles. In addition, employees are not to return to the camp property under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances. Breaking this policy is grounds for immediate dismissal. Smoking is discouraged, but is permitted in designated areas. Smoking is NOT permitted in any buildings. All staff are asked to refrain from smoking in any areas of camp frequented by campers, or any areas that campers are present. CAMP LEE MAR HAS A NO TOLERANCE POLICY FOR UNDERAGE DRINKING (STAFF UNDER THE AGE OF 21), OR FOR STAFF PERSONS OVER 21 WHO BUY ALCOHOL FOR UNDERAGE STAFF – THIS WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL. PERSONAL PROPERTY: • Camp Lee Mar does not allow staff members to use their personal property or equipment in the camp program. Any exceptions must be granted by the Camp Director. • The camp is not responsible for staff member’s personal property, equipment, money, or vehicles that are lost, stolen, or damaged by acts of God, accidents, or third parties. • Staff members are not allowed to have pets on camp property. • Staff members can bring their vehicles to camp. All vehicles must remain in the parking lots provided and must not be driven on other areas of camp property. • Staff members must keep all personal medicaitons in the Health Center. • Staff members must not use personal electronic devices (laptops, IPads, etc.) or phones during working hours, and must keep them out of reach and sight of campers when not in use. Camp Lee Mar assumes no responsibility for any phones or electronic devices brought to camp. INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA: • • • • No pictures or videos of campers, identifying information of campers, or names of campers may be posted to any social medium without the express written consent of the Camp Director. Staff must not use the hashtag #campleemar on any social media sites. Staff may use the password protected wireless internet available in the staff lounge. Staff may not attempt to “hack” into or use the Health Center/Speech center internet, or the main office internet for personal use. Staff may not use the internet to illegally download movies, music or illicit materials. Any violation of the above will result in discipline including, but not limited to, termination. CAMP LEE MAR STANDARD OF CONDUCT: • Staff members will serve as positive role models for the children participating in our summer program, which requires them to set good examples in conduct, manners, dress and grooming. Male staff must be cleanly shaven at all times; you are setting an example for our campers. It is presumed that staff members will maintain high standards of conduct and act in a mature and responsible manner at all times. • Staff members agree to attend and participate in all scheduled staff trainings and meetings during the summer program. • Staff members must follow safety rules and procedures, and report accidents or damage to Camp equipment or property. • Staff members may not possess weapons while on camp property or when on camp business. • Camp Lee Mar reserves the right to inspect the work and living areas of all staff members to ensure these policies are being adhered to.