Join our Staff
Learn more about open roles below.
Working at The Main Idea
At The Main Idea, we create a magical summer for 130 girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Are you ready to grow, learn, and change, digging deep into yourself to discover the values you want to pass forward to the next generation? Can you balance self-care with the incredible energy and excitement of a roaring camp environment? Are you ready to enter into community with fifty-three years of wacky traditions and the people who love them?
All counselors are specialists, teaching in one of our eleven activity departments. Female counselors live in the bunks with campers, while male counselors have separate accommodations.
In addition to role specific responsibilities, all staff members
Model appropriate behavior and peer relations at all times
Maintain and uphold all policy and procedures laid out in the staff handbook
Participate in the unpacking of materials, inventory collection and packing up of all material at the end of the session
Bunk Responsibilities
In addition to the roles outlined below, each activities counselor of the staff will have a bunk responsibilities designation.
-
Live in assigned bunk with campers
Set up bunk in preparation for the campers arrival:
Make beds, prepare job wheel, make name tags, label cubbies
Prep for: cabin rules poster, ice-breakers and get to know you games
Provide daily care and supervision to campers in the bunk
Ensure that the campers get up by the warning bell
Ensure that the campers get dressed and ready for the day
Ensure that the campers who take meds get to the nurses station when meds need to be administered
Help the campers with inspection chores; teaching and giving support on how to correctly complete their assigned chores
Supervise campers during rest hour when scheduled
Attend and participate in the evening activity
Supervise your bunk of campers during milk line, make sure that campers who take night time meds get to the nurses station
Assist campers with night time routines for bed and supervise until asleep
If you are on bunk duty you are responsible to stay in the bunk the duration of the night even after campers are asleep
If you are on camp duty, you must stay in the bunk until campers are asleep, once they are asleep, you are then allowed to leave the bunk
Model and guide campers through conflicts and disruptions in the bunk
Supervise and mentor the junior staff assigned to your bunk
Attend all meals and participate in table talk with the campers
Report any maintenance issues to the office
-
Provide exemplary role modeling of expected behaviors and peer relations during all on duty time
Attend all scheduled activities during the day
You are responsible for checking your schedule daily
Report to the office on your assigned Rest Hour duties
Report to all evening activities on the nights that you are not assigned off (2 nights off a session)
Set up milk line every night that you are not assigned off
Report to night duty when scheduled and follow night duty expectations
Support and guide campers during times of peer conflict
Engage with campers during all activity times, fostering a positive and appropriate counselor/camper relationship
Remain in public areas of camp at all times. Male staff are only allowed in the grove when accompanied by another female staff or in case of emergency
Maintain cleanliness of the male bunk house
Roles
-
Work as a team with department head and fellow activity instructors to create and present daily lesson plans
Supervise and mentor the junior staff assigned to your activity area
Check and follow your schedule prior to the start of the day
Show up to activities on time and ready to work
Participate in all activities and actively interact with the campers, modeling enthusiasm and engagement
Help keep activity area clean and organized
Report any maintenance concerns to Department Head
Model and guide campers through conflicts and disruptions during activities
Uphold standards of any certifications held for job requirement (department specific)
-
Help manage supplies at camp. Check in daily with the Assistant Director about what supplies are needed
Enter all purchases into the Main Idea purchase log
Be a resource for counselors and junior staff looking to decompress, process, and have informal conversations. Push any concerns to the Head Counselor or Head of Junior Staff.
Check in with the Director daily
Help with transportation as needed
Model appropriate behavior and peer relations at all times
Be available around camp and at activities
Manage lice checks during Camper Intake Day
-
Responsible for all programming related to the Leadership Program
Commit to a maximum of 20 hours of individual preparation for the upcoming session during the off-season
Work directly with the Scheduler on any specific scheduling needs for leadership campers
Work with Drama on facilitating the leadership play OR find appropriate alternative
Work with Trips on facilitating the L1 and L2 trips
Work directly with leadership in planning and facilitating occasional evening activities
Schedule and facilitate meetings with leadership campers
Provide mentoring and support as the leadership campers learn and master their roles at camp.
Responsible for consulting with appropriate department heads and then filling out a brief evaluation on each leadership camper
Maintain appropriate and non-biased mentor relationships with each leadership camper
Serve as the lead bunk counselor in a leadership bunk and follow expectations outlined for Bunk Counselors
Fill in and help out with anything needed assistance in the office or around camp
Check in daily with Assistant Director
Must be available during activity times around camp to support activities
-
Responsible for the planning, assembling, and implementation of a 2-day overnight trip and activities, including rain alternatives.
Unpack Camp Craft at the beginning of Pre-Camp
Support the Head of Leadership in making reservations for Leadership-specific activities during the trip
Supervise Trips staff, and communicate any concerns with the Head Counselor
Manage the set up of the two lean-tos on Camp Walden’s property
Work with the Scheduler and communicate the schedule of bunk trips
Work with the Head of the Kitchen to prepare the menu and packing of food for the trips
Ensure each trip has a fully stocked first aid kit for the van
Work with the Camp Nurse to create binder with medication list, emergency contacts, and other health information needed when leaving camp
Manage the daily cleanliness of Camp Craft. Make sure that the space is clean before closing each day.
Work with each bunk to prepare for their trip prior to departure.
Work with the Assistant Director to make sure all supplies are purchased
Unpack, clean, and fuel vans for each bunk trip
Work with the Head of Operations on van assignments for bunk trips
Return medications and MARs to the Health Center, and all receipts and cash to the Director after each trip
Communicate with Maintenance any issues with the leantos
Check in with each campsite between 8:30p-9:30p before the end of each night.
Coordinate all payments with vendors.
Wash all sleeping bags and clean leantos and tents after each trip.
Make sure the vans return to van parking lot after each trip
Make sure fires are safely put out
Facilitate Trips Skills training during Pre-Camp
Commit to a maximum of 20 hours of individual preparation during the off season for the upcoming camp session
Take inventory and pack Camp Craft at the end of the session.
-
Primary qualifications include:
Current RN certification and license from the Maine State Board of Nursing or a license from compact state
Current CPR/AED certification
Valid driver’s license
21+ years of age
Primary responsibilities include:
Work as part of a team of 2-3 nurses to care for both campers, junior staff, and staff (around 135 minors and 45 adults)
Perform first aid, as necessary
Oversee and administer medication
Maintain health care log
Help educate activity and bunk counselors on their role in healthcare plan
Manage the health center
Prepare and maintain first aid kits in camp
Accompany injured or sick campers and junior staff to the hospital
Chaperone sick campers and junior staff back to their homes, if necessary
Ensure proper implementation of standing orders
Assist with the preseason set-up and the postseason closing of the Health Center, which includes performing an opening/closing inventory of all supplies and equipment and ordering supplies/equipment as needed and approved
COVID-19: The safety of our staff and campers is our top priority. We have extensive plans and a multi-faceted policy to deal with the pandemic at The Main Idea. We are following the CDC, ACA and the State of Maine guidelines very carefully and keeping up to date with changes.
-
Review all camper paperwork and ensure 100% completion
Call camper families and fill in blanks for any missing information
Call all camper families and remind them of the transportation information for pick up and/or drop off times and locations
Review all staff paperwork and make sure that all items are filed in their employee file
Collect all missing paperwork for staff
Collect receipts from staff for travel reimbursement
Answer phones, return phone calls, manage messages, answer emails in the Director’s inbox as instructed, assist administrative staff with any other needs
Update Google calendar with camper and staff birthdays
Complete any paperwork filing
Manage credit and debit cards
Manage the bell schedule for camp
Work with the Director in collecting I-9/W-4’s
Work with the Director in collecting all paperwork needed for state health inspection (if applicable)
Work with the Director to record SFSP claims
Work closely with the Assistant Director on assembling camper transportation packets for chaperones to and from camp
Support the Assistant Director in assembling and organizing camper roster for check in day
Work with administrative staff on any additional office needs
-
Schedule all campers to a full day of activities
Coordinate with Head of Leadership on scheduling the Leadership Program (ie. Leadership play, meetings, etc.)
Coordinate with the Head of Trips in scheduling the bunks to do trip prep and to be out on trips
Model appropriate behavior and peer relations at all times in the presence of campers
Maintain and uphold all policy and procedures laid out in the staff handbook
Schedule all staff to activities
Schedule all staff one period off during the day
Schedule bunk staff
Schedule non-bunk staff
Print and distribute EAPs with bunk maps and fire location maps to all activities and bunks
Schedule all staff two evenings off during the 10 day session
Coordinate with the Head of Operations for all scheduling for transportation needs
-
Position Purpose
The camp social worker / licensed counselor / licensed professional is responsible for monitoring the emotional wellbeing of all campers and support the staff in the camp community during the course of the camp session by assisting individuals to eliminate or replace ineffective (disruptive) or negative behaviors with appropriate and positive actions.
Essential Job Functions
Participate in mandatory staff training and develop a thorough understanding of the behavioral challenges and expectations of the campers as it relates to camp
Assist in providing training to staff during pre-camp
Review every camper’s file for the purpose of assessing and anticipating specific individual needs. Identify individual needs of campers and discuss behavioral plans with camp counselors prior to the campers’ arrival
Observe and interact with campers and staff to promote a positive experience at camp
Work one-on-one with campers who are experiencing difficulty participating in the program
Intervene if campers are experiencing significant behavioral challenges
Help campers and staff resolve conflicts appropriately
Provide support and guidance to staff as they deal with camper’s behavior problems
Be available to debrief campers / staff in situations where emergency actions are needed or advised
Be available to step in situations that may arise during the camp and provide necessary assistance to the camper prior to allowing the camper to return to activities
Consult and guide staff to monitor the overall emotional and social wellbeing of the community
Provide emotional support to staff as they deal with camp-related personal challenges.
Provide assistance in mediating staff conflicts and monitor staff morale
Work as liaison with parents referencing camp behavior policy in communicating problem behaviors
Be available to contact parents with Camp Director to address observed problem behaviors and/or campers' failure to adapt to camp setting
Assist in communicating to parents along with camp Director regarding potential camp dismissal
Keep Director and appropriate supervisory staff informed of all situations and issues as they arise
Provide daily updates through informal conversation and formal documentation to Director and supervisory staff
Be proactive and keep the Camp Director informed regarding any potential issue that might question our ability to have a participant remain at camp
Make recommendations to the Camp Director in making sure that any necessary follow-up with families occur
Other Job Duties
Contribute to documentation of any verbal and written communication as requested
Relationships
Camp Social Worker / Licensed professionals have regular relationships with campers, staff, nurses, and parents/guardians.
Qualifications (Minimum Education and Experience)
Suitable candidate must have a licensure (at least Masters Degree) in Social Work / Counseling / or Psychology and have previous experience of working with children and/or young adults.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Working knowledge of working with children and youth with special emotional, behavioral, cognitive, communicative & or physical challenges
Comfortable working in an outdoor setting where campers and staff live and experience developing a positive community and active camp activities. Work hours may be beyond a typical eight hour day
Able to work in an informal manner without the typical clinical life-style
Willing and able to work as part of a team with both professionals and committed people
Able to identify and use opportunities in the daily life of camp termed “teachable moments”
Physical and Emotional Aspects of the Job
Work hours may go beyond a typical eight hour day
Comfortable with extensive participation in active camp activities; such as, swimming, boating, archery, group games, crafts and art, singing, team building activities
Able to work in natural settings with heat and rain
Limited time off during the two week camp session
Able to share living quarters with other staff of the same gender
Physically and emotionally stable and healthy
-
Assemble the summer yearbook for campers and staff by the given due date
Organize pictures of campers and staff for the yearbook. At times, will need to take pictures necessary for the yearbook
Work with Director and Assistant Director to ensure all necessary components are included in the yearbook
Create the slideshow for the end of the year and manage its presentation on the last night of camp.
Utilize personal computer for purposes of organizing and assembling the yearbook and slideshow.
Be available to support the office and/or other departments as needed.