Lead Woodworking JR Counselor

Ages 7-10 - Washington, DC

Who We Are

At DEAN Adventure Camps, we create life-changing opportunities for young people to discover their passions, explore endless possibilities, achieve meaningful goals, and navigate thrilling adventures, all while developing character and skills that last a lifetime.

Guided by our core values of Compassion, Trust, Growth, and Creativity, we foster an environment where learning, discovery, and personal development thrive. Our vision is to inspire generations of resilient, compassionate, and confident individuals who contribute positively to their communities and the world.

We operate across DC, MD, NJ, PA, and VA, offering all-inclusive programs that make summer exciting for children and easy for families. Learn more: DEAN Adventure Camps.

What You’ll Do

As a Lead Woodworking JR Counselor, you'll teach woodworking skills and guide hands-on projects for campers ages 7–10. You'll lead and mentor assistant counselors, regardless of their woodworking experience, while creating a safe, engaging, FUN, and well-managed classroom environment using effective behavior management, e.g. positive reinforcement and instructional strategies. You'll supervise campers and staff in the proper use of hand and power tools (drills and sanders), ensuring safety remains the top priority. By adapting your teaching to different ages and skill levels, you'll help younger campers build confidence with foundational techniques while challenging older campers with more advanced, multi-step projects.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Teach from our diverse weekly woodworking catalog of projects and support in customized projects based on ages and abilities. Campers can select from our catalog of builds suited to their skill level, ranging from simple to advanced, such as small boxes, signage, toys and games, stools, benches, and keepsake boxes.
• Teach and reinforce woodshop safety practices for campers and assistant counselors, adjusting supervision levels based on age, skill, and tool use.
• Manage group behavior and classroom dynamics, especially during hands-on tool use, redirecting off-task or unsafe behavior and resolving conflicts between campers.
• Manage campers at a 1:7 to 1:8 counselor-to-camper ratio depending on age group, with support from assistant counselors when camper enrollment goes beyond 7. 
• Support campers in planning, measuring, building, testing, and refining their projects at an age-appropriate pace.
• Foster independence in older campers while providing close guidance and encouragement for younger builders.
• Train, supervise, and support assistant counselors or junior staff assigned to the classroom.
• Successfully manage your schedule to ensure projects will be finished in a timely manner and up to the DEAN standard. We do not expect perfection but we do expect campers projects to stay together, nails are not exposed unsafely, boards do not have rough splintering edges, etc.
• Able to keep the classroom clean and organized on a daily basis: sweep sawdust, organize camper projects, teach campers how to leave a clean workspace at the end of each day, and return tools to their proper place.
• Maintain a calm, organized classroom that supports focus, creativity, and collaboration.
• Oversee the classroom operations, including attendance, recess, lunch, materials management, and communication with leadership.

What Makes You a Great Fit

You're confident teaching a wide age range and skilled at differentiating instruction so all campers feel challenged, supported, and successful.

• Teaching Experience – Minimum 4 years of experience (two prior camp seasons, school years, or equivalent) teaching or leading structured activities for groups of 15 or more children ages 7-10, in a camp, classroom, or similar youth program setting. Woodworking skill alone does not meet this requirement.
• Woodworking Expertise