Psychology Intern
Promise Camp is a highly relational, Christ-centered residential summer camp. Campers range between 6 and 17 years of age and are frequently from unchurched, single-parent families, and from various cultural backgrounds. The camp program is divided into 6 one-week sessions. Family Guidance offers ten days of on-site paid training as well as supervision and assistance throughout the camp season.
Position Summary: The psychology intern is an integral part of the daily operation of the camp. He or she will work directly with youth from historically underserved neighborhoods, providing mentorship, friendship, and fun activities. Psych interns work alongside counselors as the “front line” ministers with the kids, and provide a Christ like example and leadership in every aspect of the camping week.
The Position Requires:
- A devoted relationship and mature walk with Jesus Christ.
- Progress towards a degree in psychology, or other related field.
- Satisfactory criminal & civil background check (Promise Camp provides).
- Being at least 18 years of age and graduated high school.
- This Position Also Requires Strong Relational Skills Including:
- Ability to connect with, encourage, challenge, direct and redirect youth while practicing trauma-informed care.
- Demonstrated leadership ability while working as a part of a team.
- Being a strong role model.
- Having a positive upbeat attitude toward other staff and the youth who are served.
Specific Responsibilities and Duties:
- Dedicate each day to God through prayer, and rely upon God’s strength and leading throughout each day of camp. Commit to pray for the children regularly.
- Lead the campers by personal example and behavior. Be a role model of following Jesus while providing enthusiastic, patient, compassionate, and appropriate friendship and guidance.
- Work with fellow staff and campers to establish relationships that honor Jesus. Work closely and cooperatively with their co-counselors and lead them with Christ-like grace and humility.
- Participate in the Promise Camp orientation and training. Participate in all staff meetings. Be on time for all camp activities. Follow camp policies, training, and instruction.
- Apply in-classroom learning in this field experience setting. Practice skills in a real-world setting.
- Learn the campers’ names, and make it a priority to get to know them personally. Know where the campers are at all times, and provide supervision for the campers assigned to your cabin.
- As a counseling team, plan and implement cabin activities. Lead the campers through all daily activities, and help with additional tasks when needed.
- Plan and provide cabin Bible talks and devotions with campers and share your faith story.
- Help campers experience the wonder of God’s natural creation, and make use of the camp’s beautiful natural setting to draw their attention toward its Creator.
- Be mindful of the opportunity this “away from home” setting provides for campers to independently make a personal choice regarding faith in Jesus.
- Lead the campers in the daily cleanup time to keep cabin areas neat and clean. Help the campers maintain a schedule of proper personal hygiene.
- Provide camper evaluations at the conclusion of each week.
Essential Functions:
Able to assist campers in emergency (fire, injury, etc.); walk several miles in a day; observe loading and unloading of buses; assist with camper luggage and belongings; and possess strength and endurance required to maintain constant supervision of campers.
Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The employee is frequently exposed to:
- outdoor weather conditions
- noise
- stressful oversight of campers which requires quick critical thinking skills
Promise Camp by Family Guidance has reviewed this job description to ensure that essential functions and basic duties have been included. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by the Camp Director as deemed appropriate.