Eliot Institute Children's Program Director

Eliot Institute Children's Program Director
Time Line

Selection: The Children's Program Director is selected and appointed by the Dean, and is responsible directly to the Dean.

Qualifications: The most desirable candidate for this position loves and understands children; wants to work with children; and has successful experience as a children's R.E. program leader. Good organizational and interpersonal skills are required. Experience as a teacher or recreational leader is also useful. Some experience as an Eliot camper is helpful but not essential. Preference may be given to a candidate with a specific children's program in mind.

General Responsibilities: The Children's Program Director is responsible for planning, implementing, and supervising a daily morning Children's Program that supports the Mission Statement and traditions of Eliot. During conferences with a low enrollment of children, the Children’s Program Director should expect to work directly with a group of children, either as a lead or assistant teacher, and will be included in the child to staff ratio. The program should include varied and creative activities for all conference registrants aged birth to 13 years.

Specifc Responsibilities:
Consult with the Registrar or Dean to determine the number of children registered, the staffing allocation, the remuneration available, and the supplies budget for the Children's Program.

Determine, with the Registrar, the number of children who will be in group, according to age/grade as of September, using the following guidelines:

These age/grade groupings are guidelines only. The Children’s Program Director, in consultation with the Dean, has the latitude to shift the groupings according to enrollment or other program issues.

Select (with the Dean's approval), recruits, assigns, and supervises the necessary staff. (Every effort should be made to have men and women represented on the staff.) The Board recommends one staff per 3 children aged 3 and under, one staff per 5 children in pre-school through Grade 5, and one staff per 6 children for MAGs. Works with the Registrar to gather children’s staff contracts, Code of Ethics forms, and background checks.

Establish a Children's program and time schedule for the 9:00 a.m. to noon period each day of the Conference and remains on site for the entirety of their morning program.

Consult with the Registrar to determine the existing inventory of Eliot supplies. Purchases additional supplies only as required -- and within budget.

Ensure that required supplies and equipment are transported to, or are available at, the Eliot facility. In consultation with the Dean, assigns program space for each group of children.

Obtain from the Registrar prior to the Conference the names and ages of all registered children.

Write a letter of welcome to each child before the Conference, informing them and their parents of the kind of program and experiences to expect, and what they might bring along to complement the program. This letter can be sent with the Registrar’s pre-camp newsletter, or sent separately.

Ensure that all Children's Program expenditures are within budget as determined by the Dean. Toys, supplies, and snacks come under these expenditures.

On the first evening of the conference, convene a meeting of all children and their parents or sponsors. Explain to parents the morning program provided by Eliot. Introduce children’s staff and arranges for brief meetings that evening for each children’s group. Assist parents in organizing their own cooperative babysitting, as required, after 12 noon. This may simply require putting parents in touch with one another, and explaining that Eliot does not provide babysitting beyond noon. It may also include helping them contact young campers who might be available to babysit for a fee. Beyond this initial assistance, the Children’s Program Director need not be responsible for babysitters. Parents are responsible for all costs incurred after 12 noon.

Ensure that all supplies and equipment used by the Children's Program and belonging to Eliot Institute are accounted for, re-inventoried, and returned at the end of the Conference to a storage location approved by the Registrar.

Provide the Registrar, at the end of the Conference, with a written inventory of remaining supplies, for use by the next Children's Program Director (and for inclusion in the Dean's Report to the Board). A dated copy of this inventory should also be stored with the surplus supplies.

Be familiar with Health and Safety Guidelines for children. Keep medical forms for each child in an easily accessible location. Inform children’s staff of any allergies or medical conditions of children in their group. Assist teachers in performing minor first aid and knows the location of Eliot’s volunteer doctor during the morning hours.

Within two weeks after the Conference, submit to the Dean a written report on the Children's Program, including recommendations for subsequent conferences.

Apply for camp, sign a contract and a Code of Ethics, and provide a background check (see “Background/Police Check for Conference Staff”)

Consult with the Dean to determine:
staffing allocation
“camp credits” available
supply budget for Children's Program.
which of you will keep in contact with the Registrar regarding staff

Obtain the names and ages of all children registered and the number of children in each group, according to age/grade as of September, using the following guidelines:

[These age/grade groupings are guidelines only. The Children’s Program Director, in consultation with the Dean, has the latitude to shift the groupings according to enrollment or other program issues.]

Recruit (with the Dean's approval), and assigns the necessary staff. (Every effort should be made to have men and women represented on the staff.) Minimum expectations:

Let staff know they must apply for camp, sign a contract and Code of Ethics and undergo a background/police check. (See “Background/Police Checks for Conference Staff”)

Either you or the Dean need to let the Registrar know the names of those you have appointed as staff. The Registrar will then send out the necessary forms to those staff person.

Either you or the Dean need to check on a regular basis with the Registrar to be sure each staff person is a registered camper and has submitted a contract, an ethics form, and undergone a police background check.

Consult with the Registrar to determine what supplies are currently on hand at camp (ask for Inventory list).

Establish a Children's program and time schedule for the 9:00 a.m. to noon period each day of the Conference.

Purchase additional supplies, toys and/or snacks as required. [This task can be delegated.]

Ensure that all Children's Program expenditures are within budget as determined by the Dean. Write a letter of welcome to each child before the Conference, informing him/her and his/her parent(s)/sponsor of the kind of program and experiences to expect, and what they might bring along to complement the program. This letter can be included with the Registrar’s mail pre-camp newsletter or sent separately.

First Day Of Camp:

Ensure that required supplies and equipment are transported to, or are available at, the Eliot facility.

Obtain medical forms for each child from the Registrar. Check them carefully to make note of any allergies or medical information the staff needs to be aware of. Keep these forms in an easily accessible location. Inform children’s staff of any allergies or medical conditions of children in their group.

On the first evening of the Conference:
convene a meeting of all children and their parents or sponsors. Explain to parents the morning program provided by Eliot. Introduce children’s staff and arrange for brief meetings that evening for each children’s group.

Assist parents in organizing their own cooperative babysitting, as required, after 12 noon. This may simply require putting parents in touch with one another, and explaining that Eliot does not provide babysitting beyond noon. It may also include helping them contact young campers who might be available to babysit for a fee. Beyond this initial assistance, the Children’s Program Director need not be responsible for babysitters. Parents are responsible for all costs incurred after 12 noon.

During Camp:

Supervise Children’s program staff and remain on site for the entirety of their morning program.
Attend daily staff meetings
Provide a morning snack for the children
Assist teachers in performing minor first aid and know the location of Eliot’s volunteer doctor during the morning hours

Last Day of Camp:

Ensure that all supplies and equipment used by the Children's Program and belonging to Eliot Institute are accounted for, re-inventoried, and returned at the end of the Conference to a storage location approved by the Registrar.
Provide the Registrar, at the end of the Conference, with a written inventory of remaining supplies, for use by the next Children's Program Director (and for inclusion in the Dean's Report to the Board). A dated copy of this inventory should also be stored with the surplus supplies.
Tidy up space used by Children’s program

After Camp:

Within two weeks after the Conference, submits to the Dean a written report on the Children's Program, including recommendations for subsequent conferences.