JB’s Beyond Camp Jr. Counselor Program Teaches Practical Workforce Skills and Sets Alumni Up For Success

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Julie Billiart Schools just kicked off its award-winning, 4-week Beyond Camp with more than 80 campers in grades Pre-K through 8th grade. While fun and full of social activities, Beyond Camp is a specially designed, data-driven experience that measures growth, development, and mastery of new skills. That development of new skills and competencies goes beyond our campers - it also extends to our Junior (Jr.) Counselors.

The Jr. Counselor Program, led by Danielle Manzeo, JB Intervention Specialist, offers JB alumni a paid opportunity to develop job skills during the summer months For years, our Jr. Counselors have been an integral part of what makes Beyond Camp so successful for campers.

Each summer, JB hires up to nine Jr. Counselors depending on the number of campers enrolled. JB plans to expand Beyond Camp and the number of Jr. Counselor openings in the future as interest in the number of openings will continue to grow.

To apply to the Jr. Counselor Program candidates must be 16 or 17 years old at the time of Camp. Candidates submit a cover letter and resume. This teaches and reinforces necessary workforce skills. From there, candidates participate in a 15-minute phone interview. This is an important part of the process so that applicants can showcase their ability to communicate via email, commit to deadlines, and be responsive. Many JB alumni come back to interview to be Jr. Counselors and continue to be connected to the JB community.

Once candidates are selected based on their phone interview and resume, they receive a packet of paperwork in the mail to complete and return. This is good practice for their future and it’s important they meet the return deadline.

During Beyond Camp, there are two main components to the actual Jr. Counselor program. The first is a small group where Jr. Counselors focus on four main topics throughout the four weeks of Beyond Camp.

• Professionalism and Communication
• Social and Emotional Awareness
• Executive Functioning
• Interviewing Skills and Resume Writing

The other main component is applying these skills or generalizing these skills within their assigned camp group.

Junior counselors are expected to communicate regularly and plan and complete the daily jobs they’re assigned within their group.

Typical activities and structure for Jr. Counselors include:

• Planning and executing a group activity that they lead with the campers
• Participating in mock interviews that are recorded and watched
• Participating in weekly evaluations in which they rate their work and discuss with the Program Director
• Meeting and working toward individual goals

“My favorite part about this program is witnessing their confidence improve throughout the four weeks,” said Manzeo. “We start most days with a reflection, whether it be a quote or song lyrics. I say every year, whatever effort and energy you put into these four weeks, you get equally as much out of it. Junior Counselors who set goals and actively make changes to achieve those goals can grow so much in a short period of time. When you give students responsibilities and provide feedback daily, there are a lot of opportunities to learn and grow.”

To learn more about Beyond Camp or our Jr. Counselor Program, visit our website here and be the first to know when registration is open for next year!

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