Location: Apachi Day Camp
Date: June 4th, 2025 – August 8th, 2025 (dates vary based on location)
Time: Monday – Friday / 8:45am-3:45pm (times vary based on location)
Summary:
JCC Chicago is looking for an enthusiastic Inclusion Intern for our Apachi Day Camps. This enriching experience offers invaluable insights into the field of special education and a positive impact inclusion has on the lives of children with disabilities. Join us to grow as a professional outside of the classroom as you gain invaluable knowledge and skills, as well as heartwarming memories! Our inclusion leadership team is comprised of educators in special education and mental health professionals.
The inclusion intern works under the direct supervision of the Inclusion Site Director and Camp Director to advance the agency’s efforts in creating a culture of welcoming and inclusion for campers with disabilities at our JCC Chicago Apachi Day Camps. The intern will collaborate with inclusion leadership team, which is comprised of educators in special education and mental health professionals, to ensure campers with disabilities, including but not limited to, cerebral palsy, autism, visual or hearing impairment, Down Syndrome, and Williams Syndrome, are provided with the accommodations or modifications needed for an amazing summer camp experience. The intern will evaluate, plan, implement, and oversee new and continuing inclusion interventions as it relates to specific campers.
Learning Goals:
- Gain insights into the diverse needs of children and best practices for inclusive practices through hands-on experience and expert mentorship.
- Develop and implement evidence-based approaches and tools to meet campers’ social emotional, behavioral, communication, and sensory needs.
- Strengthen communication skills by engaging regularly with adults and children. Model positive relationships and create a welcoming and safe environment for everyone.
- Enhance collaboration skills by engaging with families and staff members to provide the supports necessary for campers to have meaningful engagement.
- Develop reflective capacity and professional flexibility through communication with colleagues and supervisor to monitor and adjust strategies as needed.
Key Areas of Responsibility:
- Observe and evaluate the needs of campers to help create and implement interventions to support them in the group environment.
- Assist in creation and implementation of personalized support plans tailored to each child’s specific needs. These may include visual schedules, Social Stories, positive behavior plans, and sensory breaks.
- Actively participate in problem-solving discussions with staff and families to explore strategies for improvement.
- Keep the inclusion leadership team informed of camper issues.
- Assist in documenting interactions and interventions for data collection purposes.
- Attend weekly meetings with the inclusion team.
- Engage as an active member of the camp community.
- Other duties as assigned.
Requirements & Essential Duties:
Must be a current undergraduate student studying special education, early childhood special education, or a related field. Must have experience working with children in a school or camp environment, or during extra-curricular activities.
- The following physical skills are helpful but are not required to successfully perform the core duties of this role.
- Demonstrate physical stamina and agility required to be mobile for long periods throughout the day.
- Move from sitting (chair and floor) to standing position easily and quickly.
- Stand for long periods of time and be able to actively engage physically with children.
- Clearly and effectively communicate in a manner that children understand.
- Supervise children, keeping them in sight and sound at all times.
- Know the difference between appropriate and inappropriate behaviors. Prevent, circumvent, and deal with problem behaviors appropriately and effectively.
- Maintain a sense of calm and perspective with physical and mental alertness during stressful times.
- Patient, empathetic, and aware of the intricacies of working with children with diverse needs.
- Consistently demonstrate and reinforce the values of caring, respect, honesty, and responsibility.
- Willingness to perform other camp-related duties and responsibilities.
Compensation: Stipends vary based on location