Summer Camp Sports Intern/Specialist

JOB SUMMARY

This position entails 2 days a week of Alpine Programming, 2 days a week of Lake Programming, and 1 day a week of general responsibilities. This person may facilitate wake boating 2 days a week, though there may also be a need to spend 1 day per week working on the wake boats and the other weekly lake day facilitating our shore sports rotation teaching and facilitating kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding (SUPing). On Friday mornings, the Hybrid Sports Specialist Intern will serve as a direct service provider at the pool or other activity or help with general operating duties which may include shopping for weekend food, cleaning and vacuuming vehicles or camp spaces, setting up for awards, and more. This position works in proximity with our campers and may need to assist with behavior prevention and mitigation and activities of daily living such as toileting and hygiene.

ALPINE DUTIES

The Hybrid Sports Specialist Intern works closely with the Alpine Manager to provide safe, facilitated rock climbing experiences for our campers. They are constantly monitoring the climbing site to ensure the safety of campers and staff alike. Duties include but are not limited to:

• loading and transporting gear to the climbing site
• building anchors, and setting up ropes
• top rope belaying campers
• coaching campers to guide them to success
• cleaning up the climbing site
• returning to the tow and storing the gear

LAKE DUTIES

Provide a safe and fun experience for the participants. Lake Sports Specialists constantly monitor the lake location to ensure the safety of campers and staff alike. They help the Lake Team facilitate lake activities with our participants including but not limited to:

• driving boats
• towing participants (wakeboarders, wake surfers, water skiers, and tubers)
• towing boats on the highway
• monitoring the safety of the campers while on the boat

***If circumstances arise with staffing or camper needs dynamically changing over the course of the summer, the person in this role may be asked to shift responsibilities to support our camper teams more and spend less time working with our sports teams. However, this will be done equitably to ensure all involved with the change are comfortable and set up for success. This will be on a daily or weekly basis and will not be permanent. As much proactive communication as possible will be provided.

TASKS

• Work directly with clients who have challenging behaviors that may include physical aggression toward others.
• Act as direct support to someone with autism through a full day of outdoor recreational
• Work in an outdoor environment requires situational awareness and quick
• Collaborates with Ascendigo Coaches and Interns to create sport lessons plans and goals that meet the client’s needs.
• Act as a teacher and advocate for clients
• Accompany and teach clients skill acquisition, and behavior reduction in social, community, recreation, leisure, and other program settings
• Build a positive rapport with clients and facilitate FUN!
• Oversee client wellbeing and safety in a camp
• Work positively as a team with all Ascendigo staff members
• Attend client and staff meetings and training as necessary
• Communicate with staff effectively
• Analyze and monitor climbing sites for risk and mitigate risk
• Be proficient in common rope systems and top rope anchor setup

IN ADDITION

• Must be 16 or over and have legal working status
• Must maintain a valid driver’s license and excellent driving record
• Must have a clean background check with no felonies or flags
• Must provide a current CPR/First Aid certification.
• Applicants are required to have and use their own phone for work duties
• Basic computer skills (MS Office, email, social media)
• Must be able to lift and move heavy objects (up to 25 pounds)

DESTINATION ASCENDIGO: Ascendigo’s mission is to elevate the spectrum by empowering people, inspiring lives, and shattering expectations. We apply this mission to both the people we serve and the people we work with.

Ascendigo is a nonprofit organization that enhances the lives of children and adults living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) through therapeutic recreation, employment, community integration, education, and an array of behavioral health services. We are head-quartered in Carbondale, CO.

The ASCENDIGO PROMISE to our employees is to provide meaning and purpose in the work we do. We support high performance through thoughtful onboarding and training and acting with integrity. We offer 360° compensation with a path to financial security, personal well-being and fulfillment, and housing assistance.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: should be committed and passionate about the Ascendigo mission of holistic, active, community-based, independent, and person-centered life. Belief in the dignity and potential of our clients. Ascendigo is committed to a culture of R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

• R-Recognize the inherent worth of your coworkers.
• E- Eliminate derogatory words and phrases.
• S- Speak with people- not at them- or about them.
• P-Protect the culture of your organization- report and support!
• E- Empathize- consider what it is like in others’ situations.
• C-Consider your impact on others before speaking and apologize when you make a mistake.
• T- Treat everyone with integrity, dignity, and respect.