A Teacher Volunteer supports counsellors who are conducting activities at STEM Camp. Counsellors can be as young as fifteen (15) years of age but are typically eighteen (18) to twenty-three (23). Some counsellors come to STEM Camp with instructional and/or summer camp experience, but most do not. In many cases, counsellors are on an educational track to become the next teaching generation and are working at STEM Camp to gain experience for that eventual goal. A teacher volunteer is responsible for guiding these counsellors by facilitating positive and memorable moments for them while at STEM Camp. As such, the teacher volunteer should be someone who has classroom experience that includes activity preparation and execution as well as classroom management. The teacher volunteer should also demonstrate enthusiasm, have an outgoing and engaging personality and a positive attitude at all times.

STEM Camp will train its teacher volunteers on its program and provide guidance and resources to aid in implementing the activities. The teacher volunteer will work directly with counsellors to support activity delivery, help build their confidence and make a positive difference for them and the campers while at camp.  

Volunteer Requirements

The successful applicant should…

• Have experience in a K-8 classroom as a teacher’s college candidate, a full or part-time teacher, and/or an educational classroom assistant (or the equivalent)
• Have a successful Police Vulnerable Sectors Check within the past year
• Be available to attend training
• Be willing to commit to volunteering between June 27th – August 23rd
• Adhere to STEM Camp Policies and Procedures and
• Demonstrate a history of working with children  

Volunteer Skills

The successful candidate should possess the following skills (hard and soft)…

• Demonstrate excellent abilities to work in a team environment
• Excellent communication (written and verbal), time management and organizational skills; and
• Competent at using Email, Office 365 (including Outlook, Excel and Word) and possess basic computer knowledge

Bonus Skills

Skills that would be a bonus but are not required include:

• Experience conducting activities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics subject areas
• Experience with Minecraft Education
• Experience with Coding and Robotics

Volunteer Responsibilities

The responsibilities of a teacher volunteer include…  

• Assisting staff with the delivery of inquiry-based learning and explaining the challenges as they come
• Being prepared to assist in conducting activities
• Mentoring counsellors with how to assist campers with hands-on activities efficiently and in a fun and engaging way
• Encouraging counsellors who are not leading activities to participate through observation, engagement, and eventually leading activities themselves 
• Coaching counsellors on classroom management techniques, including crisis management situations
• Mentoring staff with how to turn bad moments into wow! moments
• Adhering to STEM Camp policies and procedures  
• Providing feedback and encouragement, and
• Sharing information, advice, and resources