Camp Monitor Job Profile TECS Summer Camps: the place where everyone makes a difference and lives are changed - See for yourself here. Tecs Summer Camps Job Title: Camp Monitor (Activity Instructor and Group Leader) Reports to: Activity Coordinator and TEFL Coordinator and at times Camp Director Responsible for: Groups of around 12 children. Job Overview As a summer camp monitor you are a role model, friend, instructor and hero to campers aged from 6-18 years (depending on what camp you work at). The main role of a camp monitor is to be a surrogate parent for a group of approximately 12 campers and be responsible for overall supervision of your campers, and ensuring their wellbeing and safety whilst they are enjoying the fun and rewarding experience Summer Camp is. As a summer camp monitor you will be with your campers most of the day running and supervising various parts of the day including meal times, afternoon sports activities, crafts and projects, evening entertainment activities, and waking up/putting to bed (monitors sleep in the same room as the kids). Each monitor will be assigned a specialization depending on their skillset: Multiactivity, Watersports, Horse Riding, Tennis, Football, Music and Dance, TEFL Monitor, and Nursing. Camp monitors need to be young, or young at heart, individuals who full of imagination and energy in order to meet the extraordinary demands of camp work. Job Responsibilities + Tasks 1. To ensure TECS campers have the best possible experience in all areas of camp life. 2. To ensure the safety and welfare of the campers at all times. 3. To represent the camp and TECS positively at all times. 4. Motivate and inspire the campers to use and learn the most English on camp possible. PROGRAMME 1. Reading the camp manuals, https://tecsemployment.com/manuals/, and familiarising yourself with all areas of the camp programme before your arrival on camp. 2. Run the morning routine for the assigned leader group. 3. Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner with the assigned leader group, ensuring proper table control, manners and that each child eats sufficiently. 4. Actively supervise campers during sand pit time, chill out time and zone time. 5. Be in charge of planning and running Arts and Crafts or Project sessions, ensuring quality of activity and that children exercise respectful behaviour at all times. 6. Plan and create lesson plans for all sports sessions in advance and have them in folder at all times. 7. To run multi or extra activity as assigned. 8. If a multi-activity monitor run the sports sessions in the assigned area. 9. If an extra-activity monitor make sure to participate in activity and supervise the safety and English usage at offsite activities. 10. Actively supervise showers as assigned.
11. Actively supervise and participate in the evening activities as assigned. 12. Run the putting to bed routine for the assigned leader group. 13. On five out seven nights per week, sleep in the same sleeping area as the campers, ensuring behaviour control and welfare support as needed. 14. On a rota basis, act as night watch guards, controlling children and being the on duty responsible in case of problems. GENERAL LEADER REPSONSIBILITIES 1. Ensure the effective supervision and safety of the campers. 2. Monitor the behaviour and progress of the campers in the allocated group in the recreational activities and take action to resolve any problems and, where necessary, liaise with the Camp Coordinators and Welfare Coordinators on matters connected to discipline and/or welfare. 3. Supervise and ensure the safety of the assigned leader group on one of the excursions held at the weekend. 4. Ensure the campers respect all camp facilities and equipment and at all times be responsible for ensuring the campers uphold the camp rules and regulations. 5. Uphold all areas of the staff code of conduct as outlined in the conditions of contract sheet and be an example to fellow staff of correct work conduct and attitude at all times. 6. Carry out all tasks asked of you by the members of the TECS management team, professionally and thoroughly. 7. Must wear uniform continuously, red TECS polo on arrivals, departures and excursions and blue or white TECS t- shirts at all other times. OTHER REPSONSIBILITIES 1. Familiarise yourself thoroughly with the physical environment and organisation of the camp. 2. Participate in regular meetings held with the Coordinators and Directors before and during camp. 3. At times, carryout assigned office/admin tasks. 4. Carry out the assigned responsibilities on Arrivals and Departures days and carryout assigned camp site set up duties before and after these days. 5. All monitors may have the responsibility on arrivals and departures days of accompanying children on their journey to or from camp. This will usually involve going with the children on a bus to a nearby city, like Seville or Cordoba but may also involve going in a taxi to local stations. This may affect your time off as usually these transfers are early in the morning, you will be given your free time but it may differ from the other monitors. 6. As needed, assist with the tidy up of camp at the weekends. This would involve tasks like making beds and basic cleaning and general organisation of the camp facilities. On Arrivals and Departures days all staff members are assigned to camp site set up duties before and after these days. These are hectic days were staff pull together to complete the various jobs that need to be done. These jobs may include litter picks, posting or taking down signs, helping with camp setup or rearranging of materials, orientating parents and campers, or helping with the final tidy up and maintenance/cleaning jobs. HOURS OF WORK: Camp work is very demanding and all candidates should recognise that this job is anything but 9-5 living, with long hours needing to be put in by all camp staff. Depending on the assigned age group, time off during the day will be between 3 and 4 hours. Each monitor will also have one week evening (from end of evening entertainment) and the morning after off and one full day off at the weekend. Also at times, extra bonus time off will be assigned to those staff working hard and maintaining positive attitudes.
An overview per camp Differences in Camps + Specializations Family/Go/Day Camps Go Camp Family Camp Gredos Monitors in these camps can either be responsible for running a variety of on-site sports sessions each day (multi-activity) such as uni-hockey, football, Gaelic football, trips to the beach and swimming/water aerobics, etc., or can be responsible for supervising one of the off-site activities run by an external company such as Arsenal Football, Supercool (Water sports) or Padel. All monitors in GO camp must be native Spanish speakers (usually excampers) with a high level of English. GO camp is primarily focused on the welfare of the children and how they integrate into camp, so there are certain times during the day when the monitors are allowed to speak Spanish with the campers. Monitors in Family Camp Gredos can either be responsible for running a variety of on-site sports sessions each day (multi-activity) such as basketball, football, and swimming/water aerobics, etc., they can be responsible for planning and running the on-site tennis programme (extra-activity), or for supervising the on-site horse-riding activity that is run by site staff (extraactivity). Magic Village Monitors in Magic Village are responsible for running on-site sports sessions such as uni-hockey, football, Gaelic football, and swimming/water aerobics, etc. The campers enjoy a variety of activities throughout their sports sessions and the monitors have a chance to lead something different every day. Little Village Little Village is the only camp where in non activity moments (i.e. social ones) where we enforce the constant use of English in conversation between campers (in our other camps we enforce it in conversations with staff but not between campers). Therefore all LV monitors are expected to play a much stronger, and efficient, role than in other camps in the constant 24/7 enforcement of English which will at times no doubt be an extra strain. They will also lead a variety of on-site sporting and non-sporting sessions. Monitors in Little Village will be required to come up with and run a non-sporting activity of their choosing, which generally would be something that they are already knowledgeable in (Irish dancing, karate, yoga, first aid, debating, etc.)
Differences in Activity Types/Specializations On all TECS Summer Camps monitors run between 3-4 hours of activities in the afternoon. There are four different types of activities that a monitor may be assigned to: 1. Multi Activity 2. Off-Site Extra Activity (Arsenal Football, Supercool, Padel) 3. On-Site Extra Activity (Music+Dance, Tennis) 4. Other (Lifeguard Monitor, TEFL Monitor) Generally a monitor will be assigned before camp starts to what type of activity they will run depending to their experience, background, and staffing needs. In most cases staff will usually do the same activity type for their entire contract due to the fact that their training will be more focused on that activity, although monitors may need to change activities during the summer. Multi-Activity The vast majority of monitors on TECS Summer Camps are multi-activity monitors. Multi-activity monitors will be responsible for planning and running their sports activities on TECS camp groups each day as assigned. Usually a multiactivity monitor will run between 2-4 activities with their assigned group although some days this might be taken up with taking your group on a trip to the beach. Off-Site Extra Activity (Arsenal Football, Supercool, Padel, Horse Riding) In Family Camp, Go Gamp and Family Camp Gredos there are some children who sign up to do a specific activity off-site run by a collaborating company (e.g. Horse Riding, Supercool, etc.). Off-Site Extra Activity monitors are responsible for ensuring that all of the campers get to and from the activities safely, either by hired bus or being driven by one of our drivers, and to look after our campers and participate in the activity with them. Extra-Activity Monitors are not responsible for the running or instructing of the activity (although they must help out). The off-site extra activity monitors that are listed below are required to go off site with campers and as a result they have all of the responsibilities of a normal monitor plus the following extra responsibilities that they have to follow: 1. Recording the number of campers going to the activity. 2. Controlling the sending off and coming back of all the campers, ensuring the safe and organised loading of buses. 3. Participating in the activity and constantly speaking English to the campers to ensure their English exposure. 4. As required running small parts of the activity. 5. Quality control of the activity, giving regular feedback to your director about how you think the programme is being run by the contracted supplier. All off-site extra activity monitors must have a keen interest in the specific activity and be able to participate competently. However, no formal qualification in instruction is required as the main instruction is provided by the contracted company. On-Site Extra Activity (Music + Dance, Tennis, Robotics) In Family Camp, Go Gamp and Family Camp Gredos there are some children who sign up to do a specific activity on-site run by our TECS monitors (e.g. Tennis, Music + Dance, Basketball, etc.). On-Site Extra Activity monitors are responsible for planning and running a programme for their speciality that is to a high standard.
a) Music + Dance During the sports sessions the Music and Dance monitor is responsible for running the Top Musical Star program where campers of different ages can sign up to develop their performance skills instead of doing sports. The responsibilities include: 1. Planning a a 1 or 2 week program performance programme which they will do with a group of kids and come up with and practice a routine that they will then perform in front of the rest of the campers during the Awards Ceremony on the last day of camp. 2. Setting up and packing away the equipment prior to/and after the sessions. 3. Running all the sessions in a professional and imaginative way. 4. Monitoring the progress of the participants and ensuring that improvement in the taught skills takes place. Requirements: Qualifications or Experience The Music Specialist must have a keen interest in Music and Dance. They should have previous experience in undertaking these activities in a work or social situation. They must be quality orientated as maintaining the standard of the classes is their principal responsibility. They must also be imaginative with a desire to put their ideas into practice. b) Tennis In Family Camp Gredos the tennis specialist monitor is responsible for taking those campers who have signed up to do the tennis programme where campers of different ages can sign up to develop their tennis skills instead of doing a variety of different sports. The responsibilities include: 1. Planning a a 1 or 2 week program performance programme which they will do with a group of kids where they will practice a variety of tennis skills. 2. Setting up and packing away the equipment prior to/and after the sessions. 3. Running all the sessions in a professional and imaginative way. 4. Monitoring the progress of the participants and ensuring that improvement in the taught skills takes place. Requirements: Qualifications or Experience The Tennis Specialist must have a keen interest in tennis. They should have previous experience in playing tennis, preferably in a coaching manner. They must be quality orientated as maintaining the standard of the classes is their principal responsibility. They must also be imaginative with a desire to put their ideas into practice. Other (TEFL Monitor, Nurse/Admin Monitor) Lifeguard Monitor We have on lifeguard specialist monitor. During sports in the afternoon this person will always be based at the swimming pool during any sports sessions assigned there. When there are no pool sessions in the afternoon they will either help in camp office or join in sports with the other monitors. During the afternoon, the lifeguard monitor has the first aid kit with them at all times as this is the camp nurses time off. We will usually have one lifeguard with more experience who will have some added training duties during staff training week. For this they will receive 50.
Their responsibilities will include: 1. Plan and run all activities sessions in the swimming pool. 2. Be based by the pool at all times whilst there are kids there. 3. Report to Camp Directors, Camp Coordinators and Nurse on any issues-problems. Requirements: Qualifications or Experience For this position we are looking for someone who has a lifeguarding certificate and first aid experience. TEFL Monitor TEFL Monitors, one for each age group on each camp, cover as TEFL teachers once or twice a week for the TEFL Coordinators of each age group. TEFL Monitors would also cover classes for other teachers in case of sickness or other situations. On these days they follow the time off of TEFL teachers but at all other times act as normal monitors. These responsibilities involve: 1. Teaching up to 4 hours of English as a Foreign Language to an allocated group of around 10-12 children. (The age and level of the group will be determined before the Camp and communicated to you to assist in your planning.) 2. Plan and organise above mentioned classes, doing as much planning as you can before coming to camp. 3. Monitor the progress of the students and keep a record of progress. 4. Report back to the relevant teacher on class progress. 5. In Family Camp, one the TEFL Monitors may not have Arts & Crafts/Projects responsibilities and will use this time work on updating the camp social media. Requirements: Qualifications or Experience For this position applicants must have a full TEFL qualification but need not have any previous experience teaching. They should have all the skills of normal monitors. This is the perfect position for young teachers looking for their first break into the TEFL world. Wage: Due to the fact that this position requires a specific qualification and has more responsibility attached the wage for a TEFL Monitor is higher than that of a regular monitor. See statement of written particulars for details. Benefits of Working on a TECS Summer Camp BENEFITS OF WORKING ON A TECS SUMMER CAMP Ambience of summer camp environment- team work and spirit! Fulfilment of working with kids and of managing people in that environment. Professional and personal development Friends from around the world. Sun and fun! TECS PROVIDES:
Staff uniform- enough so you won t have to rewash them yourself! Staff events- weekend trips, sport and game competitions during camp. Management Bonding Meal at before camp starts and reward meal at end of summer. Staff final meal these are big things and for many staff the highlight of the summer so DON T LEAVE CAMP UNTIL THE DAY AFTER WORK FINISHES. Knowledgeable year round central office management. The top management were ALL once staff members and mid-management themselves at one point. Supportive management structure. Guiding hand on the rewarding path to professional development and personal development. Job Review and Performance Management For all monitor positions, regular feedback will be provided from the Activity Coordinator and TEFL Coordinator about job performance and objectives. Also the Activity Coordinator and/or the TEFL Coordinator will be available at any time to discuss concerns or problems that may occur, or to offer support in situations when help is deemed necessary. One to one meetings can also be arranged with the Camp Director at any time. What we re looking for: Requirements + Knowledge/Skills EXPERIENCE 1. Experience of working with children in previous employment. 2. Preferred summer camp experience, but not essential. 3. Experience of organising activities for small groups of children and preferred experience of working with foreign language children. 4. Experience of working in a fast moving environment where stress levels can at times be very high. 5. Experience for Extra Activity Positions: as mentioned below the job profile notes above. QUALIFICATIONS/ REQUIREMENTS 1. A Level or Higher qualifications or another nation s equivalent. Applicants with special: Arts and Crafts, Music or Sporting qualifications will be looked upon favourably. 2. Any Camp Monitor must be 19 years of age before the starting date of contract (applicants under 19 should apply to the Assistant Monitor post). KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS 1. First class interpersonal skills with ability to control children in a motivational and fair way, which enables campers to integrate into the English environment smoothly and encourages them to speak English. 2. The ability to manage continually conflicting priorities in a high pressured environment. 3. High energy levels and a young but responsible mature outlook on life and work. 4. A positive attitude and ability to put yourself in other s shoes, in order to work effectively as a key part of a large diverse team. 5. Adaptability and ability to think on the spot in what can be at times a highly unpredictable and spontaneous environment. *** Spanish is NOT a requirement to work on TECS Summer Camps as staff are not allowed to speak Spanish in front of the kids***
POSITION: CAMP MONITOR DATES OF WORK STATEMENT OF WRITTEN PARTICULARS All Camps Starting Dates Arrive on Monday the 25 th of June 2018. Staff Training Week: 26 th June 30 th June Camp Work Start Date: 1 st July (camper s arrival). 1 Work Dates Fortnight 1: 1 st July 14 th July 2017 Fortnight 1+2: 1 st July 28 th July 2017 (until the end of the Fortnight 1-3: 1 st July 11 th August 2017 day) Fortnight 1-4: 1 st July 25 th August 2017 (There will be an end of camp dinner and party for Anglo Camp on the 14 th July, for Little Village, Magic Village, and Family Camp Gredos on the night of the 28 th July. In Family/Go/Day camps there will be a dinner on the night of the 28 th July for those working in July and another one on the 25 th August for those staff also working in August. Staff are permitted to sleep on site the night of their end of camp dinner and party but must leave before 12 noon. In Family/Go/Day Camps staff are permitted to stay on site on August 25 th and 26 th but must leave on the 27 th before 12 noon.) NOTE: Apart from our summer camps we also run various school camps in the month of June so there are options for extra weeks of work for those who are available. If interested, please indicate on application and in interview. WAGE (for stated contract length as above and all are NET figures): Position Camp Monitor TEFL Monitor No. of fortnights worked Wage Possible Performance Bonus 2 TOTAL POSSIBLE WAGE Fortnight 1 275 75 (Ex), 45 (VG), 20 (G) 275 350 Fortnight 1+2 550 100 (Ex), 60 (VG), 30 (G) 550-650 Fortnight 1-3 825 125 (Ex), 75 (VG), 40 (G) 825-950 Fortnight 1-4 1100 150 (Ex), 90 (VG), 50 (G) 1100-1250 Fortnight 1 325 75 (Ex), 45 (VG), 20 (G) 325 400 Fortnight 1+2 650 100 (Ex), 60 (VG), 30 (G) 650-750 Fortnight 1-3 975 125 (Ex), 75 (VG), 40 (G) 975-1100 Fortnight 1-4 1300 150 (Ex), 90 (VG), 50 (G) 1300-1450 Other Conditions: Accommodation and food are included in the conditions. TECS believes in professional development and for that reason extensive training is given to all our staff who will be as well trained as is possible for the taking on of all their responsibilities. All as stated above in benefits of the job. 1 As this is start of camp, this is the start date which will appear on Spanish contracts. 2 This is a possible performance related bonus. TECS provides standard reference gradings (Exceptional (E), Very good (VG), Good (G), To Standard Required, Below Standard Required, Unsatisfactory) and believes in reward staff, with the bonuses stated above, should their performance be deemed to be above the minimum standard required (i.e. Good and above). These bonuses will be based on the reference grading as decided on by the camp director. An employee is NOT entitled to any bonus should they be deemed to have done a performance that is deemed to be To Standard Required, Below Standard Required or Unsatisfactory.
RECRUITMENT PERIOD Application Process For summer positions TECS accepts applicants all year round but below is a guideline for what is the normal application date period for this position. Returnees: o Recommended reapply date: December. o Main interview period: January-March. New Applicants: o Recommended date to apply: February/March. o Main interview period: March-April. o Ireland Interview Dates (TBC): 9 th -15 th April 2018 Date by which all posts for this position are normally filled: April/May. INTERVIEW PROCESS In order to apply to work with us as a monitor you are required to apply online by completing an online application form. From the selection of people that we have, those who show the suited background to what we might be looking for will be contacted to do an interview. The majority of interviews will take place by skype or landline call, although candidates from the main cities in Ireland may be contacted to do their interview face-to-face in either Cork, Limerick, Galway or Dublin during the Ireland Interview dates mentioned above. If you are offered an interview you will be required to do certain reading before your interview in order for you to be the best prepared and to show that you are committed to being the best staff member you can be with the kids. If it is clear that you have not done this reading before the interview you will be asked to reschedule until you have done so. You will generally hear back from us about whether you are successful in getting a contract offer with us within 2 weeks of doing an interview. PRE-INTERVIEW READING FOR A MONITOR Any candidate that is asked to do an interview for any TECS position will be asked to read a pre-interview document. The reason for this is to allow the candidate to be as fully informed about the position as possible allowing them to display this knowledge gained about the position during the interview and also, perhaps more importantly for the candidate, allow them to check the position is really right for them (not all of us suit summer camp work!). All documents can be accessed at https://tecsemployment.com/manuals/. If you were invited to do an interview, you would receive the log in password in the interview email. Required: Monitor Pre-Interview Document Also Recommended: General Manual Sports & Games Manual READING IN EVENT OF A CONTRACT OFFER Any person contracted as a Monitor is required to read all the following manuals before coming to camp:
General Manual (all in detail) Evening Entertainment Manual (general notes in detail and review individual event write ups) Arts and Crafts (general notes in detail and review individual A+C activities write ups) Sports + Games Manual (general notes in detail and review individual Sports activities write ups) Camp Structure Manual (General Docs for all camps and the section specific to their camp in detail) Get Ready for Camp (review all) CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS + REFERENCES As we are an educational company that works with children we do take the safety of the campers in our care serious and will require to certain information in order to ensure that the staff working for us are capable of being responsible for children. Any person contracted with us will be required to provide us with: Two references or referees that we can contact. A police or criminal background check gotten within the last two years. For more information please read the Candidate Background Check Policy document available on https://tecsemployment.com/getting-ready-forcamp/criminal-background-check/ ARRIVING TO CAMP As training for staff will take place in our base camp in El Puerto de Santa Maria all staff must make their own way to either the camp itself (See address below), the train station in El Puerto de Santa Maria or the airport in Jerez de la Frontera where we can organize for them to be collected if organized with us in advance. Location of Central Office: (Arrival for training weeks at this venue) TECS Summer Camp (El Centro Inglés) Crta. De Fuentebravia, Km 1 Apdo. Correos 85 11500 EL PUERTO DE SANTA MARÍA Cadiz (Province) Tel: 956 853 000 Fax: 956 860 553 Email: employment@tecs.es Web: www.tecsemployment.com *** Our Spanish in Spain Partners, Spark, offer special discounts on Spanish programmes and TEFL training for TECS applicants. If interested, visit their web, www.sparkspanish.com, and don t forget to mention you have applied for work with TECS for special discounted prices. ***