SZARVAS INTERNATIONAL JEWISH YOUTH CAMP – STAFF APPLICATION

PLEASE READ THIS THOROUGHLY BEFORE YOU APPLY

WORKING AT SZARVAS CAMP IS A BIG COMMITMENT

Know what you're committing to before you apply — read our Staff Guidelines and Procedures 2024

Once you have read this document and feel like these are the guidelines you want to work with, you are ready to take the next step and send your application. 


Dear potential Szarvas Camp Staff Member, 

Thank you for your interest in joining our team at Szarvas International Jewish Youth Camp! Since 1990, our camp has been an ultimate fun Jewish identity building institution, serving close to 1600 campers from 30+ countries each summer for a duration of 4 times 12 days.

SZARVAS 2024 DATES:

Precamp: 21–28 June
Session 1: June 30 – July 12
Session 2: July 14 – 26
Session 3: July 28 – August 9
Session 4: August 11 – 23


Your safety at camp:

At Szarvas, we wish to ensure that you as a staff member have appropriate supervision to keep you safe at all times and that you are aware that you should only do a job you are properly trained for. That means before or during pre-camp, we want to make sure you have received any additional training you may need for your job. 

We will make sure, where appropriate, our equipment is inspected and maintained in good condition. However, if you have safety equipment, make sure that you wear it, such as lifejackets at canoeing/stand-up pedaling. These precautions are not just for the kids. They are for staff too! Your participation in emergency procedures is also as much for your protection as they are for the campers. In addition, it is essential to remember that you are a role model for the participants.

Always make sure safety rules are in place at your activity. Always report any incident, or potential incident, accident or injury immediately. Alert us to anything that could potentially endanger your safety. “Always challenge safety,” means constantly being on the lookout for potential hazards and unsafe practices and communicating ideas to the directors about safety for both yourself and the kids. If you have any idea or suggestions on how to make your job safer please let us know.

Your health matters. We do not want you, for example, getting sun burned or ill when it can be prevented. Use common sense and follow all the rules in the camp manual, remembering that anything we discuss for the safety and contentment of our campers applies to you.

***

We are concerned how campers grow. Our ultimate concern at Szarvas Camp is what campers take home with them: how they grow. We are especially concerned with growth in human relations and interactions, relationships with others. We are very concerned with the safety and well being of all people at camp.

It is also essential that leaders understand the overwhelming public concern regarding abuse and sexual conduct issues.

Discretion is expected in discussing these issues and concerns. The statement will be used as a backdrop for specific discussions with individuals whose behavior runs counter to what is expected at Szarvas Camp.

Admittedly this policy may be viewed as, conservative. It must be, for the following reasons:  Members of the camp community, including campers and staff, must not be made to feel uncomfortable with their own impressions and reactions to the sexual behavior of others.

The impression that campers (who come from a wide variety of backgrounds) take home with them and pass along to their parents, or that parents gain when visiting camp, helps determine whether the campers will return or recommend the camp to other families. These same parental impressions or perceptions affect the reputation of Szarvas Camp. Most importantly we have an obligation to ensure children are treated with respect according to the norms of society.

Please read the full text of the rules and policies connected to safety in the Camp Manual.


To join our team, please follow these steps in order.

Should you have any questions please contact us.

Wishing you the best of luck!

Szarvas Camp Team
info@szarvas.camp


Description of the positions

  • Your role will include teaching alternative dance styles (e.g., salsa, tango, hip-hop, contemporary, or street dance) to campers of various ages and skill levels. You will choreograph routines, lead dance workshops.
  • Requirements and skills needed: proficiency in one or more alternative dance styles, experience teaching dance to children and teenagers, creativity in choreography, and the ability to inspire and motivate campers.
  • Additional: Basic English communication skills, experience in dance education or performance, knowledge of music selection and editing for dance routines, and a dynamic teaching style that fosters creativity and self-expression. You might be asked to run extra projects for teenagers.
  • Your role will include creating and leading art activities for children from various countries and age groups, creating decorations for camp-wide and unit evening programs, and running extra projects for teenagers.
  • Requirements and skills needed: inspiring creativity and self-expression among campers. Experience in art education, ability to plan and execute engaging art projects, and a passion for fostering creativity in young individuals.
  • Additional: Basic English communication skills, open to learning new techniques, patience, and paying attention to details.
  • Your role will include creating and leading informal educational activities about Israeli culture, food, landscape, politics, history, and people for children from various countries and age groups. You will need to be ready to answer in-depth questions about Israel and be politically correct.
  • Requirements and skills needed: finished hadracha training, fluent Hebrew speaker. In-depth knowledge of Israeli history, culture, and traditions, along with the ability to communicate effectively with campers of various backgrounds. Knowledge of informal and experiential educational methods.
  • Additional: Basic English communication skills, lived in Israel in the past few years.
  • Your role will include maintaining a safe aquatic environment for campers during water activities. You will be responsible for maintaining the swimming pool area, including keeping the rules and opening hours.
  • Requirements and skills needed: Hungarian lifeguard certification, strong swimming skills, and experience in water safety.
  • Additional: basic English communication skills.
  • Your role will include facilitating a positive and inclusive environment for campers from different countries. You will be responsible for campers’ well-being, preparing and running informal educational activities for the group together with your co-madrich(a). Please read the additional information about the role of madrichimot in the camp manual (szarvas.camp/camp-manual).
  • Requirements and skills needed: Hadracha training, strong interpersonal skills, fluency in English, and experience in cross-cultural communication. Understanding group dynamics and the ability to reshape and rethink existing programs according to them. Problem-solving skills. Knowledge of Jewish terms, concepts, rituals, and important historical events.
  • Additional: experience in communication with parents.
  • Your role will include capturing and documenting memorable moments at camp through photography and/or videography. Creating a final collection of processed photos and/or final video (for reference, check out Facebook albums and YouTube channel) during the session.
  • Requirement and skills needed: proficient in photography and/or video editing, familiar with photo/video editing software, creative and proactive approach.
  • Additional: Basic English communication skills, existing portfolio, available previous works, team player, ability to fly a drone.
  • Your role will include leading singing activities for children from various countries and age groups. You need to be proactive in leading these activities by showing a personal example, inspiring and energizing the campers with your music and singing (reference video 1 and video 2). Additionally, you will be responsible for leading 3–5 camp-wide singing sessions in the dining hall after the meals (reference video).
  • Requirements and skills needed: knowledge of Jewish and Israeli songs, musical expertise (singing and playing an instrument), experience in leading group activities, the ability to teach songs to shy children of various ages, experience performing in front of a big crowd.
  • Additional: Basic English communication skills, example videos of you playing musical instruments and singing and/or teaching kids; running extra projects for teenagers.
  • Your role will entail providing counseling and support services to campers and staff members, addressing social, emotional, and behavioral concerns within the camp community. You will conduct individual and group therapy sessions, assess campers' mental health needs, and collaborate with camp leadership to create a supportive environment.
  • Requirements and skills needed: licensed psychologist with experience working with children and adolescents, expertise in assessment and diagnosis, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and a compassionate and empathetic approach to therapy.
  • Additional: Basic English communication skills, training in trauma-informed care, crisis intervention skills, familiarity with camp settings and youth development principles, English and other Eastern-European language knowledge, and the ability to work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team.
  • Your role will involve providing spiritual guidance and Jewish education for campers from diverse backgrounds. You will lead religious services, facilitate discussions on Jewish values and traditions, and organize educational programs related to Judaism. You will also advice our educational team (including unit heads and madrichim) on a variety of religious topics.
  • Requirements and skills needed: rabbinic ordination or equivalent qualifications, expertise in Jewish texts and traditions, excellent communication skills, and the ability to engage campers of all ages in meaningful Jewish learning experiences.
  • Additional: Basic English communication skills, experience in informal Jewish education, familiarity with contemporary Jewish issues, and proficiency in Hebrew.
  • Your role will include creating and leading sports activities for children from various countries and age groups, creating the schedule for the camp-wide championships and supervising them, and being responsible for the camp’s sports equipment.
  • Requirements and skills needed: background in sports, strong organizational skills, the ability to create a positive sports environment, and familiarity with the rules of various sports games (football, basketball, volleyball, etc.).
  • Additional: Basic English communication skills, Hadracha training, previous coaching experience.
  • Your role will involve providing stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) instruction and safety guidance to campers participating in water sports activities. You will conduct SUP lessons, supervise campers on the water, and ensure adherence to safety protocols.
  • Requirements and skills needed: Hungarian SUP license, basic English knowledge, experience in water sports instruction, strong swimming skills, proficiency in water rescue techniques, and knowledge of SUP equipment and techniques.
  • Additional: Basic English communication skills, CPR and first aid certification, familiarity with local water regulations, and a passion for outdoor recreation and water sports.
  • Your role will include working with other team members, supporting camp and program needs in setting up and maintaining the tech equipment, and ensuring everything runs smoothly and no technical issues occur. You will collaborate with program coordinators to set up and support various camp events, ensuring all technical aspects are seamlessly integrated.
  • Requirements and skills needed: Technical expertise, problem-solving and troubleshooting skills, and a proactive approach. You will need to ensure the functionality and maintenance of camp equipment.
  • Additional: Basic English communication skills, effectively communicate technical information to non-technical staff and campers in a clear and understandable manner, maintain an organized inventory of all technical equipment, track usage, repairs, and replacements.
  • Your role will include leading tennis activities for children from various countries and age groups.
  • Requirements and skills needed: tennis coaching certification, playing experience, and the ability to teach and engage campers of varying skill levels.
  • Additional: Basic English communication skills, a creative approach to leading tennis activities and running extra projects for teenagers.
  • Your role will include ensuring the smooth operation of camp technology and providing technical support as needed, troubleshooting skills, and the ability to adapt to various technological needs within the camp.
  • Requirements and skills needed: deeper knowledge of how to use Microsoft Office, managing printers of various brands, familiarity with both macOS and Windows operating systems.
  • Additional: Basic English communication skills, coding and development skills.
  • Your role will entail managing inventory, organizing storage spaces, and overseeing the distribution of supplies throughout the camp. You will be responsible for conducting inventory checks and ensuring that all equipment and materials are readily available for camp activities.
  • Requirements and skills needed: strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and basic computer literacy for inventory management.
  • Additional: Basic English communication skills, experience in warehouse management or logistics, familiarity with inventory software, and a proactive approach to maintaining a well-stocked and orderly warehouse.
  • Your role will involve leading yoga sessions for campers of all ages and skill levels, promoting physical and mental well-being through the practice of yoga. You will create and implement yoga programs that cater to the needs and interests of diverse campers, focusing on Judaism, relaxation, mindfulness, and physical fitness.
  • Requirements and skills needed: yoga instructor certification, proficiency in various yoga styles and techniques, ability to modify poses for different abilities, familiarity with informal education methods, and excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Additional: Basic English communication skills, experience teaching yoga in a camp or educational setting, familiarity with youth development principles, and a passion for holistic wellness.

  • Apply here: