The Tourette Syndrome Camping Organization is seeking volunteers to staff our 2024 summer camp program, Tourette Syndrome Camp USA.
Travel restrictions and other safety protocols may change based on the current situation with COVID as camp approaches. All staff must be COVID vaccinated.
The staff application period opens on January 1st. If you are a returning staff member you can go directly to the online Staff Application and fill out pages 1 and 4.
This year's program runs from Sunday, June 23, 2024 to Saturday June 29, 2024 at YMCA Camp Duncan near Fox Lake, Illinois (35 miles north of Chicago). All staff will be required to attend a training session on Saturday, June 22, 2024 at Camp Duncan.
If you are interested in applying, please fill out the online staff application. You should also review ouronline staff manual (link below) which provides details, expectations and responsibilities of our staff. There is no cost for our volunteer staff and we can assist with travel costs.
Upon receipt of your application a follow up interview by phone will be required for new staff. Interviews will start in mid-March. Reference and background checks will also be conducted.
Staff selection will be done by our camp committee and is also based on the number of campers that will be attending this year's program. We do give preference to returning staff.
You must be able to participate in pre-camp training the day before camp begins. Counselors also must be able to attend post-camp evaluation meeting and complete camp and camper evaluation forms prior to leaving camp.
SENIOR COUNSELOR
The Senior Counselor is directly responsible for continual supervision of campers. The counselor is to facilitate the group process, while ensuring camper safety and creating a positive camper experience. Counselors need to be willing and able to participate with their campers in the majority of camp activities. Camp counselors need to demonstrate sensitivity to the needs of campers, interact appropriately with campers in a variety of situations and use positive behavior management techniques. Counselors are expected to model and demonstrate mature, appropriate, adult behavior. Enthusiasm, a sense of humor, patience and self-control are the model behaviors for our camp counselors. Counselors must have the ability to communicate/coordinate tasks and responsibilities with co-counselors or seek assistance from Camp Director. Must be at least 18 years old by the time camp begins.
JUNIOR COUNSELOR
The Junior Counselor role is to model positive behavior and interactions for campers. They are to assist the counselors with tasks, but are NOT directly responsible for campers. Neither is a Junior Counselor expected to be exclusively responsible for errand-running, menial tasks or "go-fer" work. Junior Counselors are expected to show mature, appropriate behavior. The oldest cabins may have a Junior Counselor if that person is 2 years older than the campers. Junior Counselors must be at least 17 years old by the time camp begins.
