ESP CAMP: Who we are and what we do

ESP CAMP: Who we are and what we do Extra Special People (usually referred to as ESP) empowers children and young adults with developmental disabilities to cultivate skills, self-confidence, and relationships through recreational therapy, community involvement, and the arts. At ESP, participants and their families don t just survive, they thrive! ESP Summer Camp is our largest and most popular program. ESP is the place of exceptions as we strive each year to provide a safe and fun environment for all our participants, casting aside the limitations often seen with a developmental disability. ESP Camp focuses on the ability of our campers, giving all kids the chance to share in a complete summer filled with friends, fun, and LOTS of Hip, Hip, Hoorays! ESP serves individuals with: Cerebral Palsy, Behavior Disorders, Down Syndrome, Autism, Asperger s, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, William s Syndrome, Spina Bifida, and many more. No child with a developmental disability is turned away from ESP! Campers are divided by age into five units: youngest group (4-7), younger middle (8-10), older middle (11-14), oldest camp-track (15+), and oldest vocation-track (15+). Camp is a total of 9 weeks. The first week serves as Staff Orientation, where counselors are assigned to a unit, learn to work as a team, and become familiar with the needs of the campers in their unit. During camp, each counselor is paired with one to three campers within their unit for the week. For the first four weeks of Day Camp, units rotate through Music Therapy, Creative Arts, Sports & Games, and Unit Time activities in the morning. Following lunch on site, ESP ventures out into the community for afternoon activities that include bowling, multiple days of swimming, and special field trips. During CLUB Field Trip Week (Under 15) and NKA Field Trip week (15+), campers are introduced to new, age-appropriate activities and opportunities off site in the community. During weeks of residential camp at the Will-a-Way site in Ft. Yargo, ESP partners with Camp Twin Lakes to facilitate a fun, life changing experience away from home. ESP Camp is high energy! We provide a typical summer camp experience to our kids while continuing the practice of life skills worked on throughout the year. Social and functional goals are embedded into camp activities to avoid regression of those skills. Camp is a place to learn, make friends to try new things and increase each camper s confidence. ESP provides a place of complete acceptance that campers can call their own. It is truly special! Each year, campers, families, and ESP Counselors are changed due to the magic that happens at camp! We hope you will consider joining us in the fun this 2013 Summer Season! Page 1 of 10

Instructions for Completing your Application: Due April 1 st, 2013 (If interested in a leadership position, the application and leadership attachment are due March 15th @ 5:00pm) 1 Fill out the following application completely. You may submit a resume to cover some of the information, but all information on the application must be completed to be considered for an interview/employment. 2 Include your letter(s) of recommendation in a separate sealed envelope with the application to the ESP address (listed below). Otherwise the recommendation may be emailed directly by the referrer to the Camp Director, Eli Hill, (eli@extraspecialpeople.com ). References must be received before consideration. 3 If you are selected as a potential candidate, you will receive an email to set up a face to face interview. Those out of state will be scheduled for an interview over Skype. Interviews will be scheduled between April 1- April 19. 4 Your employment offer will be contingent upon a background check. After mailing your application, but before your scheduled interview, you must apply for and complete a background check (fee is $5 cash only) at the Oconee Sheriff s Office on Experiment Rd in Watkinsville. Visit http://www.oconeesheriff.org/faqs/ for more information. 5 Drop off completed application in person or mail directly to Extra Special People (postmarked by March 27th): Eli Hill Extra Special People P.O. Box 615 Watkinsville, GA 30677 Page 2 of 10

Camp Counselor Application Application must be complete in order to be considered for the position. Applicant Information: Name: Date: Current Address: City: State: Zip: Is this your mailing address: Yes No Permanent Address: City: State: Zip: Is this your mailing address: Yes No Are you eligible to work in the United States: Yes No Are you at least 16 years of age: Yes No Social Security Number: - - Primary Phone Number: ( ) - Other Phone Number: ( ) - Email Address (one checked frequently): _ Education: High School Name: Grade Completed: College Name: Graduation Date (month / year): Degree Seeking: Page 3 of 10

Previous Experience and Employment: Please list the previous camp or volunteer experiences you have had working with children, including ESP: Name of Camp/ Volunteer Organization Type of Camp/ Volunteer Organization Length of Time Worked/ Volunteered (Summer, Week, Day) Year(s) Worked Please list any previous places of employment. Name of Workplace Position Employer s Name and Contact Information* Length of Employment 1. 2 3 *Employers may be contacted* Page 4 of 10

References: *References/ Letter of Recommendation not required for returning ESP Summer Staff* Please list two references that we may contact. Do not list relatives, roommates, or ESP staff. 1) Name: Phone: Address: Email: Relationship: 2) Name: Phone: Address: Email: Relationship: *Please include one letter of recommendation from a past employer.* Personal Data: Have you been convicted of a crime? Yes No If YES, please explain: Please note: Any offer of employment is contingent upon the applicant successfully passing a background check. Additionally all applicants must agree to pre and post-employment drug screens in order to be considered for a position with ESP. Employees who are minors will be required to obtain parental consent for background and drug testing in order to be considered for a position. I acknowledge that should I be offered a position with ESP, it will be contingent upon successful completion of my background check, including employment references. If necessary, I will consent to a pre-employment drug screen and additionally give my permission to be tested, in line with ESP s policy. Applicant Signature: Date: Printed Name of Applicant: Signature of Parent (Minor): Date: Printed Name of Parent of Minor: Page 5 of 10

Questionnaire (ALL APPLICANTS MUST COMPLETE) : Please describe any experience you have had working with individuals with special needs OR If you are a returning summer staff, please describe your favorite experiences from last summer. Why do you wish to work at ESP camp and what qualities do you have that would make you a good candidate? OR If you are a returning summer staff, what has made you apply again? What has the last year taught you or what qualities have you developed since last summer? What is your goal for the campers this summer and what do you hope to gain from the experience as a camp counselor at ESP? OR If you are a returning summer staff, what do you plan to do differently this summer to help kids excel and bring your experience to the next level? Please rank (1-4; 1= Most preferred, 4= Least preferred) the age groups you are most interested in working with. (This does not guarantee that you will be placed with a particular group.) 4-7 8-10 11-14 15+ Page 6 of 10

Staff Requirements Regular day camp hours are from 8am to 4pm. NKA Field Trip Week & Club Field Trip Week mirror regular day camp hours with slight extension of those hours depending on location of trips. Residential Weeks with Camp Twin Lakes (CTL) are continuous 24/7 support on site. Required dates for one ESP camper overnight in June (Friday evening), ESP Prom (Saturday evening), and Staff Banquet following camp (evening), TBD before interview. Leadership is required to arrive early, stay late, and put in hours of work outside all normal hours. All dates will be given to you before signing your commitment agreement. ESP counselors are required to work in very demanding environments, both physically and mentally. Each counselor will need to demonstrate the ability to handle any camper s physical safety, both onsite at the ESP building and out in the community. This could include lifting and positioning a child (w/ assistance) into transportation equipment or keeping up with an energetic child exhibiting a predisposition to run, explore, and hide. Each counselor will need to demonstrate the mental acuteness/ sharpness necessary for their camper s safety. This could include keen observation for adverse behavior or personal needs. Consistent respect, empathy, and patience are required in any stressful situation affecting a camper or yourself. The counselor works to help increase the campers confidence, continuously teach and reinforce skills, and to lead/assist in recreational activities inside and outside daily. This requires an enthusiastic and engaging energy at all times, one that can last the FULL camp season. This daily energy must always be present regardless of the weather, personal happenings outside of work, or challenges faced at work. The counselor s most important role is to provide the necessary care and support for each camper s individual needs to allow for their full participation in camp. Often times this may require a counselor to step outside of their comfort zone to manage both personal care needs and aspects of challenging behavior commonly seen with this population of individuals. Each counselor will have to handle diaper changing, clothing changes, and toilet assisting including physical lift transfers and repositioning. Counselors will be asked to help feed, assist with medication administration, and manage cleanup of other personal care needs. Each counselor will have to handle situations where exceptional behavior could be exhibited in the form of escape/ running away, aggression (hitting, biting, spitting, kicking, scratching) towards self or others, screaming, stripping, foul language or other inappropriate displays. During Staff Orientation, ESP will provide ample training and preparation for all of the situations listed above, but requires any applicant seeking employment ready, willing, and able to approach any of these occurrences with open minded professionalism. Page 7 of 10

Personal Appointments: Personal appointments are to be made outside of the ESP schedule. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this rule. The needs of ESP campers require us to staff appropriately and there are no days off from your responsibilities to your peers and our campers. Please see ESP Summer Dates below to confirm availability for all camp dates & programs. Obligations established prior to this application need to be listed in full detail below. Such conflicts may affect applicant s consideration for employment. Conflicts: Leadership : Each summer ESP hires between 8-10 staff to serve as Leadership for the Summer Camp Season. These elite positions are chosen at the discretion of the Camp Director & Executive Director based on the following qualifications: Applicant s continued involvement in ESP volunteer events and in ESP year-round programming Applicant s demonstration of leadership skills throughout the summer and at yearround programs Applicant s ability to balance the need of a group of campers, fellow staff / volunteers, as well as their potential to manage the big picture vision for the summer along with individualized care Those interested in consideration for Leadership should fill out the Leadership Application attached to this application and return it to ESP by March 15th th @ 5:00pm. I certify that all responses on this application are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I authorize investigation of all statements contained in this application as may be necessary in arriving at an employment decision. In the event that I am hired by ESP, I understand that false or misleading information given in any application or interview(s) may result in my discharge. I also understand I am to abide by all of the rules and regulations of ESP. Applicant s Signature: Date: Page 8 of 10

Leadership Application If you are interested in applying for leadership, please fill out this page. Otherwise, you may leave it blank. Your entire application must be received by March 15th at 5:00pm if you wish to be considered for Leadership this summer. Please Check the Leadership Position(s) You Are Interested In: Unit Leader Specialty Youngest (4-7) Younger- Middle (8-10) Older- Middle (11-14) Music Sports and Games Creative Arts Oldest- In Camp (15+) Oldest- Out of Camp (15+) What is your biggest strength that sets you apart? Specific to the position you are applying for, how would this strength allow you to be a strong leader at ESP this summer? In what areas do you wish to improve in and grow as a leader this summer? What is the most challenging aspect of being a leader? What is the most gratifying aspect? *Interviews for Leadership will be conducted between March 18- March 29* Page 9 of 10

ESP Summer Dates 2013 Staff & Family Meet & Greet: April 28, 2:00pm (Save entire afternoon & evening) Staff Orientation: May 28-June 1 (One Staff overnight) Week 1: June 3-7 Week 2: June 10-14 Week 3: June 17-21 Week 4: June 24-28 Counselor Break: July 1-5 Week 5: July 7-12 (Camp Twin Lakes- Under 15) Week 6: July 15-19 (No Kids Allowed Field Trip- 15+) Week 7: July 22-26 (Club Field Trip- Under 15) Week 8: July 18- Aug 2 (Camp Twin Lakes- 15+) *Camper Sleepover / Prom/ Staff Banquet: TBD* Page 10 of 10