As the wind blows the snow drifts into miniature mountains, and we shake the salt off our boots, we must remind ourselves that summer is just around the corner. The first month of 2016 has already come and gone and plans are being made for summer. As the deadline fast approaches, we urge those individuals seeking summer employment or volunteer opportunities to visit the Department of Parks and Recreation website to apply.
Summer employment with the Department of Parks and Recreation is a great opportunity for those seeking seasonal employment, from educational professionals to high school students. The department runs a full spectrum of summer day camps and clinics that require oversight and personnel. Every summer, the department manages and oversees the Summer Parks program which in 2016 includes New Albany Recreation Center, Baker Elementary School, Roberts Elementary School and the Upper Elementary School. Each site functions with a Site Supervisor that is a state certified and licensed educator, and a full professional staff of adults, college and high school students. The sites are operational from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily and offer youth ages 5 to 12 years a relaxed camp atmosphere filled with friends and fun summer activities.
Additionally, the department offers the Summer Special Needs Camp for individuals with special needs ages 5 to 21 years which is staffed by licensed, certified special needs educators and caregivers. This camp runs Monday through Thursday from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. an extension of the Extended School Year, for Moorestown Township Public Schools, and 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Fridays and will take place at the Moorestown UES in Summer 2016. Caregivers and educators facilitate this daily program in a loving and supportive environment, which provides stability and consistency for special needs students. Under the direction of special needs teacher and supervisor Catherine McCarthy-Devone, this program teams professionals and students together.
The Recreation Summer Theater Program is another summer camp that provides professional oversight and staff to the campers. Under the Direction of Sarah Dugan, the Summer Children’s Theater program, ages 7 to 13 years, offers budding performing artists the opportunity to explore their creativity from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. Overseeing a staff comprised of experienced high school, college and post-collegiate thespians, Dugan combines their talents with the talents of the youth actors and the Special Needs student participants and over the course of five weeks creates a true community production. This year, the Children’s Theatre production is “Shrek Jr.” The Teen Theater Program is in its second season and will be performing, “James and the Giant Peach.”
For the third consecutive year, Four Is Fun will run both a morning and an afternoon session for the Pre-School set. This program has grown and developed over the last two years and harnesses the talents of certified, Early Childhood Development professionals and teachers. This program offers 4-year-olds developmentally appropriate activities and opportunities in a safe and nurturing setting from June 27 through July 28, Monday through Thursdays.
In addition to these day camps, the department offers specialized sports camps that run at various time throughout the summer. From the weekly basketball camp, to the sports camp, to the girls lacrosse camp, and boys and girls soccer camp, these specialized sports camps offer children an opportunity to work on fundamentals and approach sports in a balanced and educated manner. Certified educators and sports coaches run these programs with the help of young athletes who enjoy working with children.
Find out more about summer employment with the Department of Parks and Recreation, or about the CIT Program (Counselor In Training), the departments’ jobs training for youth ages 13 to 15 who wish to work with children and gain valuable work experience are great ways to spend the summer.
For those interested in applying in either capacity, please visit the Departments website at www.moorestown.nj.us/370/Employment-Information. Deadline for applications is March 11.
