Summer Enrichment Program 2015
Residential Counselor Application
Job Description
The Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) is an academic, residential program for gifted students in
grades 5 – 11. Please consider joining our dynamic, professional counselor staff for summer 2015.
DATES:
SALARY:
June 14 – August 1, 2015 (includes development/planning week and wrap up)
$2600 for new counselors; room and board included
Residential counselors work directly with head counselors and have the following responsibilities:
● Supervise approximately 8 children (grades 5 - 8 or 9 - 11) 24 hours/day
● Accompany campers to meals, classes, scheduled seminars, field trips, and special events
● Plan and lead afternoon and evening recreational/social activities for small groups of campers
● Plan and lead a two-day mini-session on a topic of interest
● Participate actively in all orientation week, staff and session transition meetings
● Follow and reinforce all non-negotiable rules and camp policies as set forth in our Counselor
Manual
Experience working with gifted children is not required; however, experience working with children in
camp, recreational or school settings is desirable. To apply, UVa students should submit this form.
Non-UVa students should apply at UVa Jobs@ posting “SEP Counselor” at http://jobs.virginia.edu
Applications will be available starting November 2014. The deadline for submitting an application is
January 10th by 5 PM. Interviews will be held January 30th-Feb 1st and Feb 6th-Feb 8th. Skype and
phone interviews will also be conducted for applicants who are unable to interview in person.
To Apply:
● Submit the Summer Enrichment Program Residential Counselor application
Applications will be available on our website (http://curry.virginia.edu/sep), from our office
(434.924.3182), or by request from curry-sep@virginia.edu. You may submit the SEP
Residential Counselor application directly to curry-sep@virginia.edu .
●
Submit two recommendations
Each reference must submit the Residential Counselor Reference Form, found below the
application, or write a letter that addresses the qualities/characteristics indicated on the form.
Recommendations should be from present/past employers, supervisors, professors, clergy –
someone who is able to address your suitability as a residential counselor. Recommendations
should be emailed directly to curry-sep@virginia.edu with the subject heading:
“Recommendation for Applicant Name”.
Summer Enrichment Program 2015
Residential Counselor Application
Applicant Information
Name:
Full Mailing Address:
Cell Phone: (
Email:
)
Alternate Phone: (
)
Alternate Email:
Age Group You Prefer to Work With: Grades 5 – 8 Grades 9 – 11
Either
Dates Available for Interview (check all available dates):
January 30 _______ January 31 ________ February 1 ________
February 6 _______ February 7 ________ February 8 ________
Applicants not available on scheduled interview dates will be contacted individually to arrange Skype
or phone interviews.
List all high schools, colleges/universities you have previously attended or are currently attending.
Begin with the most recent.
Name of
Location
Dates From-To
Major Field of
Degree
Institution
City/State
Month/Year
Study
Received
List previous experiences in camping, group counseling, or any employment working with children.
Also list one person at each site who could evaluate your performance.
Employer
Location
Dates From-To
Contact
City/State
Month/Year
Person
PLEASE ANSWER EACH QUESTION IN 250 WORDS OR LESS
1. How did you hear about the Summer Enrichment Program?
2. As a camp that focuses on the social and academic development of its campers, why do you want
to be a residential camp counselor at SEP?
3. Why would you make a good counselor? Please list three qualities you have that would make you
a good counselor to middle and/or high school students and elaborate on one of those. Be sure to
specify how each personal quality reflects your suitability to be a residential counselor with the age
group.
4. Choose one academic topic that interests you and describe how you would organize and
implement an activity around that topic to share with a group of children. Some past successful topics
have included: rock theory; science of superheroes; film-making; the architecture of UVA; the history
of board games; Spanish language and culture; DJ-ing; poetry slams; dance instruction, etc.
5. Describe three non-athletic recreational activities (evening) you would feel
comfortable presenting to and involving a group of 16 children. These are meant to be CREATIVE
activities, with past ideas including: human checkers; create-a-water-balloon-launch; telephone
pictionary; or trash-inspired Project Runway. Be specific in how you would go about leading one of
these types of activities.
6. Choose ONE of the following questions to answer:
1. Sometimes campers form cliques. What would you do to ensure that students are
interacting with each other and not leaving some campers outside of the group?
2. Sometimes campers get homesick. How would you handle a child who says he/she is
homesick and would like to go home?
3. Sometimes campers don’t get along. As a counselor you will be in charge of eight
campers. How would you handle two campers in your group whose frequent arguing
disrupts activities?
7. There are often many benefits, as well as challenges that come along with this position. What
potential challenges do you foresee, and how would you handle them? What benefits do you hope to
gain?
8. Choose TWO of the following questions to answer (250 word maximum for EACH unless
specified). Have fun with these and feel free to be as creative as possible to show us a little more
about yourself!
1. If you were a fly on the wall, where would you be and what would you be looking at?
Explain.
2. Make a top ten list of a category of your choice (Examples: top 10 favorite movies,
celebrities, foods, personal facts, pet peeves etc.)
3.
If you could share a hot tub with three people of your choice (fictional or nonfictional), who would it be and what would you all eat and drink? Give a brief
explanation of your choices.
4. Imagine your life is given a soundtrack. What five songs must be included; which is the
title track? Explain briefly each track.
5. Within a 100 word limit, CREATE something that expresses something about yourself.
This could be a story, a poem, an opinion, a persuasive argument, or even a song. Feel
free to write whatever you would like while staying within the 100 word limit.
This application will NOT be considered complete without two recommendations from people who
know you well enough to comment on your ability to be a successful counselor at SEP. Please list the
names your two references below. Remember to give the attached forms to the two references and
have your references return those forms directly to us.
Reference #1: _______________________________________________________
Reference #2: _______________________________________________________
For further information:
Website:
Email:
Phone:
http://curry.virginia.edu/sep
curry-sep@virginia.edu
(434) 924-3182
Summer Enrichment Program 2015
Residential Counselor Application
Reference Form
Name of Applicant: _________________________________
In each of the areas below, please make an honest judgment of the applicant’s potential to be an outstanding
Residential Counselor in a program for gifted/high ability 10 – 16 year olds. Specific examples are important to
the reference.
Takes Initiative/Self Motivation: Comment on the ease and vigor with which this applicant approaches a new
situation and carries the work to completion.
Cooperation: Comment on the applicant’s ability to work with others, accept supervision and constructive
criticism, and adapt to changing situations.
Responsibility: To what degree is this person dependable and conscientious in completing all job duties?
Problem Solving/Decision-Making/Sound Judgment: Comment on the applicant’s ability to solve problems
and make thoughtful, sound decisions.
Emotional Stability: Comment on the applicants’ emotional maturity, general disposition and mood, and
ability to manage stress.
Social Sensitivity: Comment on the applicant’s sensitivity to and understanding of reactions and feelings of
individuals and groups along with the applicant’s ability to respond appropriately.
If you were in a position to entrust your child’s care to this individual, would you do so
_______ eagerly _______ without concern _____ with reluctance _____ not at all
What is your relationship to the applicant?
How well do you know this applicant?
_______ know very well through personal contacts outside classroom or office
_______ know fairly well through classroom or office contacts only
_______ have general acquaintance but do not know well
Additional Comments: Please summarize your judgment about this applicant’s suitability for this position as a
Residential Counselor.
__________________________________
Electronic Signature
_______________
Date
Return form directly to: curry-sep@virginia.edu with subject heading: “Recommendation for Applicant
Name”.