Posted 22 days ago
Winter Break Camp Program Support Counsellor - Helping Hands
@ YMCA of Niagara
St. Catharines, Ontario
Overview
YMCA of Niagara is hiring a part-time seasonal Program Support Counsellor for its Winter Break Day Camp across several Niagara sites. The role supports campers with diverse behavioural, physical, developmental and medical needs and coaches frontline staff. Pay is $17.95-$18.50 per hour for 24 hours per week, mainly weekday daytime shifts with some evenings and weekends for training and events.
Pay:
$17.95–$18.50 an hour
Responsibilities:
- Support campers with behavioural, physical, developmental or medical needs
- Model behaviour management and de-escalation for camp staff
- Modify activities and routines for diverse abilities
- Maintain camper notes, behaviour records and incident reports
- Support program continuity during staff absences
Requirements summary:
- Current Standard First Aid/CPR(C) certification
- Police Vulnerable Sector Check issued for YMCA of Niagara
- Child, youth or education background an asset
- Experience working with children an asset
- Non-Violent Crisis Intervention training an asset
Tools & skills
Source and dates
Employer career site / ATS feed · ultipro
- Employer posting date
- 2026-10-15
- First seen by our source
- 2026-10-16
- Source record updated
- 2026-11-06
These dates describe the source record, not a live verification that the employer is still hiring. Check the original posting.
Job details
| Seniority | Entry level |
| Department | Social & community services |
| Hours per week | 24 |
| Schedule | day, evening |
| Seasonal | Yes |
| Travel | air: none · ground: minimal |
| Work setting | Outdoors, Client sites |
| Position | Sitting and standing |
| Physical demands | physical moderate · computer low |
| Licences & certifications | Standard First Aid/CPR(C), Vulnerable Sector Check, Non-Violent Crisis Intervention |
| Background checks | vulnerable sector |
| Fields of study | Child & Youth, Education, Early childhood education, Child and youth care |
Summary and details written by AI from the posting; the employer’s posting is the authority.
YMCA of Niagara
Saved company profile
Historical company information from a saved The Jobs API profile (LinkedIn/Crunchbase fields). It is not live-verified; figures may have changed. Missing values remain unknown.
- People associated on LinkedIn
- 317
- Other recorded names
- YMCA of Niagara
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Industry | Non-profit Organization Management |
| Headquarters | St. Catharines, Ontario |
| Open jobs on Jobsy | 5 |
| View page |
Winter Break Camp Program Support Counsellor - Helping Hands
Location | YMCA Day Camp at sites in St. Catharines, Grimsby, Welland, Port Colborne, and Niagara Falls |
Pay | $17.95-$18.50 per hour |
Employment Type | Seasonal Contract – 24 hours per week. Hours of work are primarily Monday to Friday daytime, with some evenings and weekends required for training, recruitment and promotional events |
Vacancies | 3 |
Placement Date | December 21, 2026, plus hours of paid pre-camp training |
Work for a charity that ignites the potential in people. Every. Single. Day.
At the YMCA of Niagara, you’ll be part of a purpose-led organization with a clear focus on community well-being. Our work is powered by relationships and grounded in inclusion. We support people of all ages and circumstances with opportunities that build health, belonging, and connection so individuals and families can grow, lead, and give back.
For more than 165 years, we have been part of the fabric of this region, evolving alongside Niagara and showing up where the need is greatest. With a presence in over 125 program sites, we continue to expand what well-being can look like, creating welcoming spaces where more people can participate and feel they belong.
Guided by our shared values of caring, health, honesty, inclusiveness, respect, advocacy, and responsibility, the YMCA offers meaningful roles where your work is felt every day. If you’re ready to bring energy and care to a team that keeps moving forward, you’ll find purpose here.
NATURE & SCOPE
The Program Support Counsellor supports the successful integration, safety, and well-being of campers with diverse needs while strengthening staff capacity through modelling, coaching, and collaborative problem-solving. The role emphasizes proactive behaviour support, integrated program delivery, and consistent application of YMCA standards across camp environments.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Program Support & Integration
- Support campers with behavioural, physical, developmental, or medical needs through individualized and group-based strategies.
- Read, interpret, and apply camper profiles and integration plans to provide appropriate, responsive support.
- Modify activities, routines, and transitions to accommodate diverse abilities while maintaining engagement and program quality.
- Monitor and evaluate camper progress, adjusting strategies to promote positive outcomes and meaningful participation.
- Identify early signs of behavioural stress and implement proactive, preventative, and restorative approaches.
- Promote emotional safety, positive behaviour, and successful integration throughout all camp activities.
- Ensure maximum camper integration while supporting regulation breaks as needed.
- Model effective behaviour management, de-escalation, and integration strategies during daily program delivery.
- Support frontline staff with group dynamics, proactively addressing bullying, isolation, conflict, and behavioural concerns.
- Provide in-the-moment guidance and feedback to staff to reinforce best practices in supervision, integration, and emotional safety.
- Act as a collaborative resource to staff, supervisors, and volunteers, demonstrating flexibility and shared responsibility.
- Step in to support program continuity during staff absences or unexpected situations.
- Reinforce YMCA values, professionalism, boundaries, and confidentiality through role modelling.
- Maintain accurate, detailed, and up-to-date documentation, including camper notes, behaviour records, washroom logs, incident reports, and integration plans.
- Submit clear and timely incident reports and required documentation.
- Maintain records of strategies implemented and outcomes achieved.
- Contribute to end-of-season summary reports as requested.
- Other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Current Standard First Aid/CPR(C) Certification.
- Completion of High School or some Post Secondary education in Child & Youth, Education, RECE, or related field an asset.
- Experience working with children is an asset.
- Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (Crisis Prevention Institute) Training is an asset.
- Current Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC) issued for the YMCA of Niagara if above the age of 18.
Working Conditions:
- Work is in an outdoor environment in various weather conditions.
- Typically work Monday through Friday, scheduled for shifts between the hours of 7:30am and 5:30pm.
- Evening and weekend work will be required during training and for staff meetings.
- This role requires participation in activities involving varying levels of physical activity. Accommodation will be provided in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
COMPETENCIES:
Child and Youth Focus
Demonstrates a commitment to supporting the growth, development, and well-being of children and youth through positive engagement, supervision, and role modelling.
Service Orientation
Proactively creates positive, inclusive experiences that enhance the quality of service for campers, families, and staff.
Quality & Outcome Focus
Ensures YMCA programs meet established standards, responds quickly to issues that threaten quality or values, and supports program outcomes and relevance.
Relationship Building & Collaboration
Works effectively as part of a team, builds positive working relationships, and contributes to a respectful, supportive, and accountable camp environment.
Health and Safety
Understands and applies health and safety practices, risk mitigation strategies, and emergency procedures to maintain safe environments for campers, volunteers and other staff.
Diversity
Values and promotes diverse perspectives and inclusive practices that strengthen the YMCA community.
DAY CAMP OVERVIEW
Camp operates Monday to Friday with shifts scheduled between 7:30am-5:30pm. Most camp staff are scheduled to work between 7.5 and 8.5 hours per day.
For more information on this and the variety of camps we offer, please visit our website ymcadaycamp.ca.
Successful applicants must attend all pre-camp meetings and training including training on YMCA Child & Youth Safety and Protection Policies and Procedures.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Interested applicants are invited to submit an application by noon on November 27, 2026.
Internal applicants are encouraged to apply on our internal job board by logging into their UKG portal and navigating to Myself > My Company > View Opportunities. Internal applicants are also encouraged to notify their supervisor before applying.
All applicants are thanked for their interest. Only those applicants being considered for an interview will be contacted by email.
Accessibility accommodations and materials in alternate formats for individuals with disabilities can be arranged upon request.
For more information on other opportunities at the YMCA of Niagara, please visit: ymcaofniagara.org
Journal
Only you can see this. Kept on this device, and in your account when you sign in.