Staff

Our Staff and Employment Opportunities

Each year young men and women from all over the world (15 countries in 2008) come to work at Shady Oaks Camp. The staff range in age from 18-30, many of whom have never had experience working with someone with a disability. Most of them come with drastically different cultural, educational, religious, and family backgrounds. Despite these differences, they do have one thing in common, and that is the need to want to help make a difference in the life of someone other than themselves.

Shady Oaks is run by a Director, Assistant Director, and a cast of support staff. Each support staff member has a specific position at camp and assists the Director in the supervision of the counselors. Counselors work directly with the campers in each dorm. Each counselor is responsible for one camper a day, which ensures that the campers will receive individualized attention.

A training period is provided before the campers arrive to help prepare new staff for life at Shady Oaks. Because of this orientation, experience with working with someone with a disability is a plus, but not a requirement. More importantly an ideal S.O.C. staff member is someone who is caring, a good listener, and willing to learn. The ability to be oneself and a good sense of humor are also very important.

Every summer many positions at camp are available. All staff at Shady Oaks are required to live on camp grounds for the entire camp session (9 weeks). Each staff member is given a salary, room and board, and 7 days off during the summer. Some require specific certifications, others do not. These positions include:

ASSISTANT CAMP DIRECTOR (1)
-At least 21 years of age
-One or more years of previous experience working at S.O.C
-Reports to Director
-Direct supervisor to other support staff and counselors
-Acting Director in absence of Director
-Assist Director in Staff recruitment, balancing accounts,
planning orientation, days off schedule, and other duties
assigned by Director

ACTIVITIES PROGRAMMER (3)
-Lifeguard, WSI, or comparable certification required
-Aid campers in getting in and out of pool
-Plan and implement daily activity schedule for camp season
-Responsible for arranging entertainment for camp
-Locate priests/ministers for Sunday services
-Work within allotted programming budget for summer
-Develop/create various games and activities for campers to
participate in
-Responsible for planning 4th of July picnic and camp banquet
-Any other duties assigned by Director

COOKS (2)
-Food and sanitation certification required
-Experience with menu planning required
-Experience with ordering and cooking food for at least 60
people preferred
-Prepare 3 meals a day for staff and campers
-Prepare menus and order food from distributor
-Supervise and plan work schedule for kitchen/laundry staff
-Ensure kitchen is kept clean and sanitary
-All other jobs assigned by Director

KITCHEN/LAUNDRY STAFF (3)
-Responsible for general cleanup before and after meals in
dining hall and kitchen
-Responsible for washing of campers clothes during morning
rounds
-Assist cooks in preparing and serving meals
-Ensure all condiments, juice, milk, utensils are available
throughout meals
-Report any problem with equipment in kitchen and laundry to
Cooks or Director

CQ'S/Evening Staff (3)
-Must be female
-Conducts hourly rounds from 9:00p.m. to 8:00a.m., in order
to assist campers with positioning and toileting
-Directly responsible for safety of campers from 10:00p.m. to
8:00a.m.
-Keep nightly log of dorm activities
-Immediate supervisor to staff in evening
-Reports any rule violations by staff in evening to Director or
Assistant Director
-Any other duties assigned by Director

FIRST-AID STAFF (2)
-Current first-aid certification required
-Ability to assess medical emergencies required
-Knowledge of medications preferred
-Transport staff with minor injuries to local hospital
-Administer campers medication throughout the day
-On call 24hrs a day
-Perform daily rounds to remind staff on proper care and
hygiene for campers
-Keep daily log of staff and camper illnesses and injuries
-Any other responsibilities assigned by Director

HEAD DORM COUNSELORS (3-6)
-At least one year of previous experience working at S.O.C is
preferred
-Good leadership ability required
-Supervisor of 3-9 counselors in dorm
-Educate and train counselors on how to work with campers
in your dorm
-Assist counselors in general camper care
-Responsible for safety of all campers and staff in their dorm
-All other jobs assigned by Director

COUNSELORS (20+)
-Energetic, fun loving, responsible individuals needed
-Ability to lift at least 50lbs a must
-Responsible for care of one camper a day
-Assist camper in bathing, eating, dressing, toileting, and
activity participation
-Required to do dorm duties (1 to 6 hours a week)

As you can see there are many positions to choose from at S.O.C. All have their own individual rewards and challenges. If you are interested in finding out more information about S.O.C. please feel free to contact us. If you would like to apply for a position, fill out an application and send it to us.

A job at Shady Oaks will not be an easy one. It may be physically as well as mentally challenging. One thing you can be guaranteed of is what thousands of other staff the past fifty three years have found out. If you give 100% of yourself to the campers you will receive in return 200%. After each night of work you may ask yourself why you are working at camp, your question will be answered the next morning in the faces of all the campers when you walk into the dorm. Each summer young men and women come to camp as strangers not knowing what to expect and every year they leave as family with memories to cherish for a life time.

Telephone:
708-301-0816

	Fax: 708-301-5091
	Postal address: Shady Oaks Camp 16300 Parker Road Homer Glen, IL 60491
	E-mail Address: soc16300@sbcglobal.net