Club Kodiak Staff
The success and healthy growth of those we support begins from the quality of our staff-our “Advisors”.
As an advisor you will live in 1 of 5 cottages with 1-2 more advisors. You will perform many duties and roles of a typical camp counselor while also teaching life and social skills and offering more subtle supervision to promote independence of our guests.
Each year the returning staff provide invaluable insight in the nuances of our guests and the distinct flow of Club life and continue to be part of our staff family.
At Club Kodiak you will work in a unique atmosphere, gaining valuable experience providing care and recreational opportunities for young and mature adults with neurodiversity.
"By its nature, Club throws you into an unknown environment where you have to adapt: to a new home, new people, a new workplace. Club has taught me that adapting to this new environment means constant communication! Adapting to changing situations can be hard as an advisor and as a guest, but communicating with each other as you go along really helps. Club has definitely improved my communication skills! I have made friendships at Club which I know will last long beyond our time here."
- Niamh O.
So, Why Be An Advisor?
First off...it's FUN in the outdoors
Club Kodiak is nestled in the beauty of nature, amidst a range of fun and engaging activities and local day trips and special events.
Growth is not one way
Our guests come with diverse experiences that benefit our staff with either a new understanding or appreciation for a point of view, topic, or creative ability.
Benefits beyond The Bank
While receiving a competitive salary, a summer of meals and accommodations are provided, and no-cost laundry facilities are on site.
Friendships and Bonds
The connections made in a single Club summer continue for months and even years-it is what brings people back.
Self-Discovery and Growth
Time as an advisor and working with like-minded colleagues offers the opportunity to strengthen your mind, heart and professional skill-set.
Making a genuine difference
It's not simply what you do for or give to someone it's how you make them feel. Club is a safe and inclusive home away from home for our guests.
FaqS
Where is Club Kodiak Located? Club Kodiak is located about 25 minutes north of Huntsville, ON, just outside of Burk's Falls. We have 49.4 acres with 3,500 feet of shoreline on spectacular Jack Lake. We have guests that come from Canada, the USA and around the world and have been coming for many years.
Who are the guests of Club Kodiak? Guests at Club Kodiak range in age from 19 years and older, with Learning Disabilities, ADHD, ASD (low support needs), MID. Some of guest have other diagnoses, and we feel they would experience success in our program. Our guests come from across Canada, the USA and around the world, and have been coming for years and years.
How are staff selected and trained? Our staff go through a rigorous interview process before being hired. Our staff includes professionals from fields that work with our populations (teachers, child & youth care workers, social workers, PSW's, etc.), and mature university students who may be working towards a career in one of these fields. Staff go through a significant training period that is led by instructors that have both experience with Club Kodiak and working with the population of guests that attend Club Kodiak. All staff are required to complete a criminal record check prior to arrival at Club Kodiak
What certifications or qualifications are required? As Club Kodiak employs advisors who are experienced professionals as well as college and university students heading towards a profession working with vulnerable adults, qualifications in these areas are certainly an asset. Professionals, such as teachers, educational assistants/teachers aid, sports instructors, lifeguards, and child & youth care workers, etc. are given special consideration when applying. Also, applicants who have camp-related certifications are strong candidates for employment. Certifications in lifeguarding, swimming instruction, music instruction, boat-driving (pleasure craft operator), canoeing, sailing, etc. are an asset.
What are the responsibilities of staff members? Advisors live in 1 of 5 cottages, with up to 6-12 guests. Advisors share responsibility for our guests physical, emotional, psychological and social well-being. Advisors will have the opportunity to be selected to teaching various sports, art or social activities based on their skills, experience and interest.
What activities are offered at Club? Our Club activities are planned with empowerment in mind-teaching skills, building confidence and improving self-esteem. Our craft, social and life skills activities follow lesson plans that experienced or inexperienced staff can follow. All sports related activities; soccer, rugby, basketball is non-competitive and recognize effort before scores; this feature, along with co-operation and sportsmanship, appropriate behaviours, attitude and respect is stressed and modelled by our instructing advisors
Are there medical staff on site? We have a First Aid Responder staff on site to provide any necessary care to guests or staff.
How is the food? Club Kodiak has a dedicated modern kitchen cottage that carters to our snacks and evening dinners. We provide three excellent meals a day, and snacks. We can meet many dietary requirements, including vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free. Staff take turns helping to prep dinners, special event meals, any snacks outside what is given in the cottages, and kitchen/meal cleanup.
What is the housing like? Is there internet available? Kodiak staff live in 1 of 5 cottages, and anywhere from 6-12 guests and 1-2 other advisors. The cottages have full kitchens, 1-2 full bathrooms (depending on the cottage) and a large porch that overlooks Jack Lake and forest horizon of trees. Internet access (Starlink) is limited at Club location, and cell reception is unreliable directly on the site, and therefore it is generally reserved for office use. However, we do provide internet and computer access for staff on time/day off when they need to complete school registration, pay bills, connect with family or other business that requires the internet.
When is the Club camp season? Do I get time off during the season? Staff training begins towards the end of June, and our camp sessions run through from the end of June or early July and until around the end of August. Staff are given one day off a week, not including the transition weeks. This totals 7 days off for the summer. Days off begin the night before, once guests are settled in at lights out, and run through to the morning the day after, before guests wake up.
How much will I get paid? Our staff are paid competitive camp salaries, with experience and qualifications as considerations. For more information, please contact the Camp Kodiak office.
What does a typical day look like for staff? The days are long and jam-packed for our staff, yet they are also very rewarding. Our staff wakes up before the guests (around 8:00 am) to prepare for the day. There is time in the morning for advisors to help their guests prepare breakfast, tidy up the cottage and get cleaned up and prepared for the day. Our mornings consist of 2, 1-hour activity sessions; the first hour is our Small Group Life Skill SGLS activity (that runs each day for a week) and the second hour is a recreational Elective that the guests will choose each day. We set aside a 1/2 hour at the end of the 2 activities hours, that allow guests rest and free time. Lunch is at 12 noon, prepared in the cottages, and lunch is followed by a 1-hour rest period. Our afternoon activities are two more 1-hour activities-Choice followed by a second recreational Elective. We finish the afternoon with a 1.5 hour of snack and 'Sun and Swim' - which is a time for all guests to have some beach or pool (inground) time in case they've chosen other activities for the day. During ‘Sun and Swim’ we also begin our dinner preparation, which we cook and eat together as a whole group. We have two more activities in the evening, and then it's back to the cottages to settle in for the night. As we offer 24-hour supervision, ‘On-Duty’ responsibility is scheduled from 10:30pm-12:00pm and on a weekly rotation; while staff not ‘On Duty’ can enjoy free time in the Staff House. Upon returning to their cottage non ‘On Duty’ staff resume joint supervision of the guests.