Social Justice Youth Camp Facilitator at the Tatamagouche Centre (Volunteer position – with possibility of remuneration)

Role:
To be part of a dynamic and diverse team of facilitators that will ensure the ongoing function of the Social Justice Youth Camp (SJYC).  Facilitators will monitor group dynamics, ensuring that relevant workshops and activities are prepared and delivered at the camp.

Supervisors:  Camp Coordinators

Primary Responsibilities
Programming:

• Facilitators participate in up to two training and planning sessions prior to the camp.  The sessions both strengthen the facilitation team, and begin to outline that year’s camp.

• Participate in the planning of group learning experiences.
• Facilitate the implementation of planned workshops.
• Participate in the evaluation of group activities.
• Contribute to the group debriefing session following the camp.

Group Dynamics:

• Ensure that living and working spaces are safe for the purposes of the SJYC.
• Foster, facilitate and maintain an environment of emotional safety that encourages group living and exploration.
• Facilitate the participation of youth in daily workshops.
• Ensure that participants respect established community standards, both during formal programming and during unstructured leisure time.
• Remain attentive to varied participant responses to camp experiences, and intervene as appropriate to ensure that the camp responds to participants’ needs and strengths.
• The facilitation team is made up of 6-8 facilitators. Facilitators are expected to provide mutual support to colleagues throughout the training, and camp.

Criteria:

• Interest in, and ability to apply, the Tatamagouche ASPIRE Model of Education, Design and Leadership (or other similar model). (Facilitators will receive training in this methodology prior to the camp).
• Experience with group facilitation.
• Prior experience, or interest in, working with youth.
• Active interest and involvement in Social Justice, Social Transformation and Environmental Issues.

Conditions:
Facilitators must be available:

• To receive training during the Leading Innovative & Engaging Summer Youth Program (Thursday May 26th, 7 pm – Sunday May 29th 1 pm) in coordination with Heartwood Centre for Community Youth Development and St. George’s Youthnet
• To participate in Camp planning and orientation session (Saturday July 16 – Sunday July 17)
• To facilitate the Social Justice Youth Camp (Wednesday August 24th – Sunday August 28th) plus facilitators must be available for preparation and set-up Tuesday August 23rd.

• This is a volunteer opportunity.  Your meals and accommodations and the training and camp expenses will be covered.  Efforts will be made to provide facilitators with honorariums following the camp dependent upon the success of fundraising initiatives.

Diversity:
Camp coordinators, facilitators and participants are drawn from a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences and communities.  A tenant of the camp is to ensure we reflect the range of diversity in this region in our program (including ethno-cultural heritage, gender spectrum, sexual orientation, geographic location, linguistic diversity, religious affiliation, economic strata, etc)

To apply:
Email your resume and a letter of interest to sjyc2011@gmail.com, with SJYC Facilitator Application as the subject line, outlining:

• Your connection and involvement with any community or social organizations;
• why you would like to participate in this experience;
• Your experience facilitating discussion;
• Your involvement with social justice issues in your community
• the skills and background you would be able to share with participants;
• What social justice or community issues are important to you, and how to they affect you? How can you respond to these issues?

Timeline:
Deadline for applications is April 21, 2011
Interviews will be conducted the week of Apr 25th, 2011
Successful candidates will be notified in the first week of May.

This opportunity is available through the Tatamagouche Centre. Visit the SJYC webpage for more information about the centre and the Social Justice Youth Camp.