YMCA Day Camp Behavior/Inclusion Specialist Position & Volunteer Opportunity

YMCA Day Camp programs for Pierce and Kitsap counties:

Over the past few years, we have seen an increase in a need for parents of children with special needs to find a place for them to attend camp. Last summer, we piloted a behavior/inclusion specialist position at our Y in Silverdale for our day camp program and it was a huge success. This summer, we want to include this position at all of our YMCA day camp programs (Sumner, Puyallup, Lakewood, Tacoma, Gig Harbor, Bremerton, Silverdale)

We want to hire a behavior/inclusion specialist for each of our summer day camp locations ( 7 total). The role of this staff member is to meet with parents and their campers who need a little extra help to be successful in camp before summer and then offer that assistance over the summer by either working directly with the camper as needed, or assisting the camp staff in working with that camper. We are not able to provide a one on one inclusion specialist, but do believe that with prior planning and working with the parents, we can help the campers be successful in camp. Day Camp runs from June 18-August 31st, but we would like this position to come on by late April for 20-25 hours a week to help prep for camp, then 40 hours a week once camp starts.

A new idea for this summer – we have a large number of parents in need of a one on one aid for their child in camp. Since it would be expensive to hire a staff as a one on one aid for the summer, I am exploring the idea of volunteer one on one aids. Perhaps students in need of practical hours who would be willing to do those hours in a day camp setting. We have 10-11 weeks of camp total – 40 hours a week, so they would get a large number of hours. I did this version previously when I worked at the Y of San Diego and it was a very successful partnership with our local university.

Please note that Graduate Students would not be able to receive formal clock hours for the experience.