Youth Activity Instructor - Southwest YMCA

GENERAL FUNCTIONS

Our Youth Activity Instructors play a key role in fostering a fun, healthy, and safe environment for youth of all ages! Whether your interests are caring for littles, instructing sports classes, engaging with preschoolers, instructing dance or gymnastics, helping run our branch family nights, or facilitating birthday parties, this position provides the opportunity to contribute to quality programming and make a difference in the lives of youth. You can select from a variety of roles, making work both fun and engaging! Evening and weekend hours are a requirement. If you enjoy working with youth, we have a role for you!

POSITIONS BASED ON AVAILABILTIY:

• Child Watch Attendant
• Youth Sports Instructor
• Special Events Staff
• Youth Enrichment Instructor
• Dance & Cheer Instructor
• Youth Attendant
• Gymnastics Instructor
• Birthday Parties

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: 

1. Supervise, lead activities, facilitate lesson plans and serve as a role model for children and youth – ages vary based on position.
2. Create an environment that is welcoming, nurturing, and safe for all participants, members, and guests.
3. Based on position, provide expertise and guidance in sports, gymnastics dance, childcare, preschool, and support to family events and birthday parties.   
4. Encourage and involve children in appropriate group and/or individual play.
5. Model and explain appropriate behavior. Address and redirect inappropriate behavior of children.
6. Maintain participant attendance, emergency records and other documentation as assigned.
7. Ensure safety and cleanliness of equipment and facilities.
8. Maintain positive public relations with program participants and the community at all times.
9. Attend and participate in required trainings and staff meetings.
10. Follow all YMCA policies, rules, regulations and procedures, including emergency and safety procedures.
11. Complete incident and accident reports as necessary.
12. Find a qualified substitute in the event of your absence or illness, when applicable.
13. Exemplify the YMCA core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility in all aspects of job performance and in relationships with others.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

1. Individuals in this job must be at least 16 years old (or 15 years old for Child Watch only) and have a passion for working with children.
2. Must be able to exercise mature judgment and sound decision making, relate to people in a positive, but firm manner, and effectively communicate information to members and participants.
3. Must be able to work with parents and children of diverse backgrounds.
4. Ability to successfully complete CPR/First Aid certification as may be required. Training provided by the YMCA.
5. Must be observant and safety conscious, and able to react calmly and quickly in an emergency.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Must be able to lift a minimum of 25 pounds, stand for extended periods of time, as well as sit on the floor, bend, reach, actively engage with children on their level, and have full range of body movement. Must be able to effectively communicate information concerning safety and YMCA programs to members and participants.

The Y: We're for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility