Camp Chronicler (Teaching Artist/Actor) at Outdoor Mythology Camp

Title: Camp Chronicler

Employment Status: Exempt/Seasonal

Reports to: Director of Story

Plato Learning operates outdoor mythology-based day camps for kids ages 7-15. They create a world where monsters, myth, and magic transport kids out of the mortal realm into one where they are empowered to develop new skills, take risks, solve problems, and ultimately become Heroes. Now in ten locations spanning from NYC to California, Plato Learning uses actors, live-action role-play, and physically and mentally engaging activities to bring myths to life. Are you ready to join the team and accept our call to adventure?

Plato Learning is seeking Camp Chroniclers for all camp locations including, Manhattan, NY; Brooklyn, NY; Staten Island, NY; West Orange, NJ; Washington, D.C.; Richmond, VA; Philadelphia, PA; Glendale, CA; Los Angeles, CA; and San Francisco, CA. The Camp Chronicler is a combination of a traditional “Counselor” (but will not oversee any group directly), an Actor/Storyteller, as well as a Journalist/Archivist. The Chronicler is a resource to all campers for daily story engagement, facilitating discussion, understanding, and deepening of each camper’s experience of story throughout their week and summer at camp.

The Camp Chronicler is inspired by many infamous mentor characters of mythological and fictional heroes of all kinds. Some of these mentor characters are:

• Chiron: Wise and just, measured and disciplined. Destined to be a mentor, a teacher. Would die for his heroes, but would much rather teach them to live.

• Circe: An initially reluctant but ultimately inimitable magical mentor, this is the Circe of Madeline Miller: always up for good company with good stories, but still independent in nature. Fiercely loyal, but never blindly.

• Gandalf (Lord of the Rings): Gandalf is a mentor, wanderer, and storyteller. He knows the story is not about him, he is not the hero anymore (if he ever was), but instead sees the hero inside of the young hobbits, even if they don’t see it in themselves yet.

• The Mrs. W’s (Wrinkle in Time): Fighters for the light, there to help but not to intervene. An amalgamation of select traits from each creates a balance of wisdom, enigma, and warmth.

Required Skills; Every Chronicler is:

• Wise & knowledgeable, with a deep understanding & appreciation for stories of all kinds:

• Greek and Roman classics

• Mythologies and folklore from around the world

• Historical characters and narratives

• Modern mythology, fiction, and fantasy

• Stories for kids and young adults (especially the Riordan-verse)

• A world-class storyteller

• Calm & patient

• Mysterious/enigmatic

• Approachable & warm

• An excellent teacher

• A curious mind

• A lifelong lover of learning

• A loyal servant-leader

• Witty & funny

• Selfless & humble

• Kind & generous

• Willing to fight

• A great listener

• A mentor, not a hero

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Help to foster lifelong literacy in our campers through immersive and active story engagement

• Activate & enhance campers’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills through story engagement

• Help to initiate campers to the world of camp and mythology, especially aiding new demigods who may not have prior knowledge/experience to find their demigod identities and role(s) as their own brand of hero at camp

• Facilitate & track camper understanding and engagement with the stories and characters encountered on Quest

• Provide additional story and lore context to everyday camp activities

• Facilitate discussions and debates around camp and at structured activities like Small Council Meetings

• Always be open and available to campers to hear and discuss their questions, theories, and ideas

• Be a resource to staff to help them find ways to better engage their campers on story

• Collect, maintain, and organize the lore of camp (artifacts, stories, backstories, etc.)

• Develop end-of-week post-camp story deliverables to be shared with families and our community (what happened on Quest, new camp lore, mortal parent QUEST-ions, etc.)

• Assist with content capture on the ground (photo/video/audio)

A typical camp week:

• Opening Day (Monday): help to initiate campers to our world, lead storytelling activities

• Training Days (Tuesday-Wednesday): guide groups on Scouting Missions

• Quest Day (Thursday): Facilitate & enhance camper understanding and engagement

• Closing Day (Friday): prep “newsletter”, help with camper share-out

Additional Details:

• This is a full-time seasonal position from June-August (in-season)

• Pre-season (April-June): part-time availability required, flexible hours outside of scheduled meetings, trainings, and rehearsals

Qualifications:

• At least 18 years old

• At least 2 years of experience working with kids in a camp or equivalent educational setting

• Improv experience preferred

• Completed 1 year of college or equivalent professional experience preferred

• Demonstrated leadership experience in a camp or educational setting

• Basic knowledge of Greek (and other) mythological stories, as well as the Percy Jackson novel universe, is preferred

• CPR/First Aid certified- trained (recertification will be provided if current certification expires before Summer 2021)

• Pass Federal Background Checks

Application:
Please visit https://camphalfbloodbklyn.com/work-with-us/ to fill out an application. Only candidates selected for an interview will be notified of the next steps.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Temporary

Pay: $18.00 – $20.00 per hour

COVID-19 considerations:
Please visit https://camphalfbloodbklyn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/COVID-19-Jan-UpDate.pdf to be kept up to date on our COVID-19 precautions.