Apply as a Camp Counselor

We're looking for some great new counselors!

Job Description: Camp Counselor for Sun Camp, July 25-August 7

We're seeking skilled and enthusiastic counselors for Silicon Valley Down Syndrome Network's inclusive summer day camp for children with Down syndrome and their siblings, now in its third year. Our aim at Sun Camp is to facilitate long-term friendships, increase interest and skills in art, music, and performance, and provide a fun summer day camp experience for children that gives some respite to parents.

Counselors will lead one or two children at this small, fun, and active day camp in Palo Alto. They will facilitate friendships, participate in group recreational activities, guide campers through art, music, and performance instruction, maintain communication logs between camp and parents, and be responsible for their campers' safety. We expect counselors to have significant experience with children with special needs, and caring for children in a camp, class, or other group environment. They should be well-versed in transitioning children from one activity to the next.

We value backgrounds in speech, occupational, or physical therapy, child development, elementary education, special education, and a knowledge of ASL or AAC devices. Inclusion aides and aides in special day classes will have especially pertinent experience. A background in music, performance, or art and special talents that can be shared in group activities are also pluses. About a third of Sun Campers are siblings to children with Down syndrome.

Camp will be from 9am-2pm, and counselors will work from 8:30am-2:30pm Monday through Friday. There will be a required Saturday training and camp set-up on July 25th, from 8:30am-2:30pm, and counselors will also be required to stay until 4:30pm on Friday, August 7th to strike camp. First-time counselors will be paid $1020 for 11 days' work ($15/hr). Staff alumni will be paid more, based on their direct experience with Sun Camp.

Please send a cover letter detailing why you would be a good fit for our camp, as well as a resume including two references with contact information, to Rachel Matta for the Silicon Valley Down Syndrome Network, at rachelmmatta@gmail.com. Hiring will be contingent on a clear background check.

Qualifications:
2 years of experience with children with special needs
High school degree

The ability and willingness to run after children, and personal care, including assistance with toileting, is required. Counselors should be able to lift an elementary-aged child.

Sun Camp 2015 Description and Registration

Sun Camp

…growing up together                                                                                                     

An inclusive day camp for children with Down syndrome and their brothers and sisters

Silicon Valley Down Syndrome Network sponsors a summer day camp, now in its third year, for children with Down syndrome and their siblings entering grades K-6. This will be a two-week program from July 27-August 7 at Mitchell Park in Palo Alto, based at the Mitchell Park Field House. It will run from 9am-2pm.

The focus will be on building friendships through fun activities and building interest and skills in art, music, and performance. The rest of the time will be spent in fun and social activities inside, and especially outside the classroom in Mitchell Park. We will continue to do many of the popular fitness activities from last year. Families are welcome to visit our art gallery before seeing a short talent show each Friday!

Counselors will support and lead kids in a ratio of 1:2, with a few 1:1s available. Our on-site director of the last 2 years, Karie Philips, intends to return this year.

Cost will be $325 per week per child. SVDSN subsidizes the cost of camp, in particular the cost of having more staff, to keep camp affordable and safe for our kids.

Please register your child(ren) online at:

http://form.jotform.us/form/31747235944157 for Sun Camp Week 1 and/or

http://form.jotform.us/form/40706319460148 for Sun Camp Week 2

and send the $75/wk per child deposit (SVDSN c/o VMCF) to Emi Mason by Friday, April 24^th (Address on online form). A hard copy form is also available. Camp has filled all spots with a waitlist for two years running, so we advise signing up sooner if you are certain you want to register your child.

Registrations will be counted as having been received when the deposits are received. If you cannot afford the deposit and want to register your child, I will connect you with Marcy Mamiya about a possible scholarship.

Please contact Rachel Matta (rachelmmatta@gmail.com or 650-321-1257) if you have questions. (Se habla español.) We’re looking forward to camp!

Possible dates, times, and location for 2015 Sun Camp

Right now we're thinking July 27-August 7, Mon-Fri, 9am-2pm for camp this year, at the same location as last year, the Mitchell Park Field House in Palo Alto, at 600 East Meadow Drive. Comments or suggestions? Email rachelmmatta@gmail.com

Planning for 2015 Sun Camp

Sun Camper

Our kids love Sun Camp, the Palo-Alto-based summer day camp for kids with Down syndrome and their siblings, and talk about it and their friends there year-round. We'd like to start planning for it year-round, as well, and welcome your help and input.

We've learned that we'll need to raise an additional $2,500 to make this year's budget in addition to the very generous funding of the Silicon Valley Down Syndrome Network, as well as camper fees. Do you have ideas for fundraising? Feel free to leave a comment.

Dog visitors on August 6th

We're delighted to announce that two pet assisted therapy dogs will visit campers on Wednesday, August 6th! Campers will visit the dogs in small groups with their counselors, and will practice reading to the dogs from the camp library. If you like, feel free to bring your own book!
Campers, don't worry if you can't read yet! You'll get to pet and visit with the dogs no matter what. Parents, would you like to know more about this program? You can read here about it, and if you'd like to meet these and other dogs during the rest of the year, check this schedule.

Sun Camp description

Sun Camp

…growing up together 

                                                                                                     

An inclusive day camp for children with Down syndrome and their brothers and sisters

Silicon Valley Down Syndrome Network sponsors a summer day program, now in its second year, for children with Down syndrome and their siblings entering grades K-6. This will be a two-week program from August 4-15 in Palo Alto, and will run from 9am-2pm.

The program will include fitness and sports instruction, and the rest of the time will be spent in fun and social activities inside, and especially outside the classroom in a local park, which has lots of grass, three playgrounds, and a fun water play area. The focus will be on building friendships through fun activities and building interest and skills in health and fitness. We’ll participate in music therapy with Spencer Hardy, and enjoy a visit from Captain Johnny Fox from the Santa Cruz Fire Department. Our fantastic instructor from last year, Karie Phillips, will be returning, as well as staff alumni Brittney Funghi and Eli Purpura-Pontoniere.

The overall staff:child ratio is between 1:1 and 1:2, and cost per child is $275/wk.

Week one is full, with a waitlist. One spot in Week 2 has just opened up. Members of the Silicon Valley Down Syndrome Network can register online at:

http://form.jotform.us/form/40706319460148 for Sun Camp Week 2

and send $275, payable to VMCF (Valley Medical Center Foundation), to Rachel Matta as soon as possible (details on the form). A hard copy registration form is also available on request.

Registrations will be counted as having been received when payment is received. Some scholarships are available for SVDSN members.

Please contact me if you have questions. We’re looking forward to camp!