About Camp Ben Frankel

Camp Ben Frankel (CBF) is an overnight summer camp located in Makanda, Illinois for children and teens ages 7-17 who are in search of a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive Jewish community. Camp Ben Frankel has consistently rated #1 amongst Jewish camps in North America according to surveys of customer and employee satisfaction as administered by the Foundation For Jewish Camp, including in measures of mental health support.

At CBF, campers build lifelong friendships, have wholesome fun, and learn valuable life skills. We serve children of all genders and generally enroll about 120 campers and work with a staff of about 55 talented people.

Founded in 1949, CBF’s vision is “for every Jewish child, a place to belong,” through a community that is loving, diverse, and helps all feel safe. CBF welcomes Jews from any background.

Camp Ben Frankel’s Vision:

For every Jewish child, a place to belong

Camp Ben Frankel’s Mission:

To build a lifelong community for Jewish children of all ages and backgrounds to explore their identities in a fun and inclusive environment, one amazing summer at a time.

Compensation:

• $7500 plus camp tuition for children (valued at $6500 per child), room and board, and travel reimbursement

Dates:

• Part-time remote hours beginning in mid-March, 2025
• Summer full-time dates onsite: June 3 - July 20, 2025

Qualifications:

• Graduate-level or higher degree in a mental health field. Including, but not limited to: social work, mental health counseling, psychology, youth psychiatry, family therapy, etc.
• 3-5 years of post-graduate work experience in a related field.
• Prior camp and/or school experience in working with children, teens, and young adults is strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to plan, originate, and organize programs.
• Proven ability to provide emotional support to a wide range of ages.
• Strong understanding of, and a willingness to be creative with, strategies to ensure that campers of varying needs can be part of a mainstreamed program.
• Be a leader, self-starter, and strong collaborator.
• Ability to accept guidance, constructive feedback, and support from teammates.
• Must be able to think critically and act swiftly in high stress situations.
• Must be skilled at working in a fast-paced, fast changing environment that required flexibility and adaptability.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The Camp Mental Health Professional, in tandem with the Community Care Director (also a mental health professional) and our summer Leadership Team, is responsible for ensuring the positive resolution for any and all camper and staff issues that may arise during the camp season. The Camp Mental Health Professional is expected to provide campers and staff with meaningful and critical guidance and tools to help them thrive at camp. The Camp Mental Health Professional plays a key role in training and supporting the other camp staff.

This role is a seasonal summer full-time non-exempt position with part-time hours before the summer session begins and reports to the Camp Director.

Primary responsibilities:

• Together with other members of Camp Ben Frankel’s Community Care team serve as a resource to campers and staff throughout the summer in facing mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health (MESSH) challenges, and creating environments where campers can thrive. Examples may include:
  • Determine appropriate responses to all camper and staff issues related but not limited to: anxiety, behavior management, interpersonal disputes, homesickness, hygiene, and previously diagnosed disorders.
  • Assist staff members with challenging camper situations and provide ongoing support to staff to respond to campers’ MESSH needs.
  • Debrief and provide guidance to campers and/or staff after crises or stressful and traumatic events.
• Serve in a leadership role in the planning and implementation of staff training and ongoing staff learning related to mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health (MESSH). Examples may include:
  • Help develop and present training modules and/or coordinate ongoing staff development opportunities to give camp staff the tools and skills to meet the MESSH needs of campers.
• Managing information about camper needs, and communicating those to staff, as well as documenting communication and plans within Camp Ben Frankel’s systems.
• Communicate with and manage relationships with parents/caregivers in regards to camper needs.
• Prepare reports to funding agencies in relationship to mental, emotional, and social health of Camp Ben Frankel and its campers, including sharing high-level understandings of interactions and interventions taking place throughout the summer.
• Participate in the Foundation for Jewish Camp’s Community of Practice as part of our camp’s place in the Yedid Nefesh program, including two or three virtual gatherings and one in-person gathering per year with other Jewish camp mental health professionals.
• Adaptability and flexibility are paramount.
• Be an active presence on-site at camp as a part of the community. 

Duties of all members of Leadership Team:

• To act as a positive Jewish role model at camp.
• To be ethical and act with integrity at all times. To do the right thing.
• To ensure that our staff members deliver a high-quality program that is safe, secure, and has great impact on the children we serve.
• To be an outstanding leader of our team.
• To always wear the hat of the “organization,” and advocate for initiatives that may benefit our overall mission, even if it sometimes produces short-term challenges.
• To provide clear direction and training to your team, so they know exactly what is expected of them – and they feel comfortable gaining clarity when required.
• To provide direct reports with recognition of their accomplishments, constructive feedback when necessary, and celebration when goals have been met.
• To make our staff members feel recognized and appreciated for their tremendous contributions to CBF’s mission.
• To provide leverage to the director by displaying ownership over areas of responsibility, and providing the director with good visibility to how we are doing, where there are concerns, and seeking input when needed.
• Participate in activities with camp.