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Visit our list of current available positions and select the job that most interests you. Read the job description, answer a few questions, and then submit your contact information and resume online. If you are interested in more than one job, submit your information only once, and make note of other jobs that interest you in your cover letter. If you are unable to submit your information online, you can fax it to 727-461-4387. Please include the job title on your cover page.

Outdoor Youth Counselors or “chiefs” work and live in the woods with their groups 24 hours a day. An Outdoor Youth Counselor typically works four or five days a week, and then receives two or three days off — not always on weekends. Occasionally, the schedule will vary depending on coverage and activities, which could result in working for an extended time. For example, when a group is on a canoe trip, the Outdoor Youth Counselor may work up to 21 days.

Each group of 10 to12 youth occupies its own campsite. A campsite consists of three sleeping tents for the youth, a separate chiefs’ tent, sitting logs (a meeting area), a cooking tent, a work tent, a “pow-wow” campfire area and outhouses. Sleeping tents are solid structured tents with hard wood floors built by the campers and Outdoor Youth Counselors themselves. (See camp photos and View a Day in the Life for more information.) Night watch personnel provide for safety after lights out.

Campsites have running water but no hot water. Shower facilities with hot water and electricity are a short walk away. Each group has a scheduled time to take showers every day. There is no electricity in the campsite and, in some instances, the bathroom is an outhouse. Youth counselors have their own outhouse. Every campsite has a trail leading to the community area which includes a main office, kitchen, dining room and library. Classes with resource teachers may be held in the library or in a separate teaching facility. There are phones, computers and bathrooms in the main office.

Eckerd provides time-off quarters. This is a house either on or near the program that is shared by all counselors. It has all amenities such as electricity, hot water, phone and TV. Some have additional features such as a pool, basketball court or barbecue grill. All counselors have the option to use the time-off quarters, so rooms typically are shared. Time-off quarters are for Outdoor Youth Counselor only. Guests are not permitted. While at the time-off quarters, Outdoor Youth Counselors pay for their own food and long distance phone calls.

Initial training for Direct Care Staff takes place in several phases. It begins with New Employee Orientation (NEO). This training is where new staff learn the necessary skills such as crisis intervention/de-escalation, first aid, CPR, and suicide awareness. After NEO, staff return to programs to learn the day-to-day, on-the-job skills for their role.

Often the youth coming to Eckerd have experienced frustration in a standard classroom setting so at camp we give them an on-campus alternative school with individualized academic plans tailored to their needs. Daily experiences provide the framework for cooperative learning, allowing students to progress at individual rates and to receive the one-on-one attention they need. The focus is to keep learning fun, relevant and action-oriented. Each group works with a trained, degreed resource teacher. Outdoor Youth Counselors work closely with the resource teacher to support and reinforce what the kids are learning. Eckerd also has adopted curricula in Community Living, Parenting and Adolescent Sexuality, and Substance Abuse.

When assigning new counselors, our priority is to place them in the location with the greatest need. We do, however, understand the need to accommodate personal interests and lifestyle, and positions are offered with your preferences in mind. If you require a specific geographic location, you may be placed on a waiting list.

Step one is resume submission. If selected for an interview, candidates will go through a 2-step interviewing process. All offers are contingent on candidates passing a comprehensive background screening.

Eckerd provides initial training, yearly workshops, education meetings and leadership programs for administrators. Also, you may have the opportunity to attend local conferences, workshops and training sessions.

Many of our Outdoor Youth Counselors also pursue positions that interest them in any of our services: Outdoor Therapy, Juvenile Justice, Prevention and Aftercare Services – or Corporate headquarters in Clearwater, FL. There are many potential career ladders at Eckerd in education, program, counseling and management. Positions throughout Eckerd are posted internally and all are encouraged to apply.

Your salary is supplemented with a comprehensive benefits package. Full-time employees and their dependents (if coverage was elected) will be effective the 61st day of employment. In addition, Eckerd offers an employer-sponsored pension plan to regular full-time employees.

Outdoor Youth Counselors receive some additional benefits including camp-provided room and board, and access to time-off quarters. To learn more about the great benefits we offer, please contact us or visit our benefits page.