Child Development Institute

Summer Support Counsellor, Camp Towhee

Camp Towhee - Toronto, ON, Canada - Seasonal

Who we are
As the need for mental health services grows, Child Development Institute (CDI) continues to be the steadfast support and leading provider of specialized mental health services for children and youth aged 0-18 and their families. All of our services are guided by a strength-based approach that incorporates the family and the community into the journey of supporting children and youth.

Trusted with the mental well-being of our community's most sensitive members, infants and children, all of our programming is backed by rigorous research. Science is the backbone which informs our work as we evolve alongside the needs of our community.

We are committed to providing services that are respectful of racial, cultural, religious, ethnic and linguistic diversity, as well as sexual orientation, age, gender and family differences. All our services are delivered by a deeply caring and compassionate team that guides children, youth and families along a mental health journey in a safe, respectful and welcoming space.


About Towhee
Camp Towhee is a member of the Ontario Camps Association (OCA) and employs individuals that believe in and uphold the OCA core values. These values are integrity, respect, responsibility, inclusiveness, caring, and openness. All Camp Towhee staff members are expected to carry themselves in a way that represents these values and aligns with the OCAs mission to have camp staff who are honest, responsible, and fair to all.

Camp Towhee/Towhee Summer Therapeutic Program treats youth with Mental Health issues complicated by Learning Disabilities. Located in Haliburton, Ontario, Towhee positively changes the trajectory of kids and staffs lives. This will be one of the most rewarding, magical and hardest places you will ever work. We provide 12 days of training covering behaviour management, counselling skills, CPI, mental health and learning disabilities.

If you are interested in a career in the social services, psychology or teaching and/or want to play a pivotal role in supporting children and youth in feeling safe enough to be their genuine amazing selves - Towhee is the place for you to get real experience, skill building, and be part of that change.

Who we need
The Support Counsellor is a dynamic relationship builder and team player with a passion for understanding and supporting children/youth, a willingness to learn about the impacts of mental health and learning disabilities, and a passion for helping campers experience success.

Working both independently and as a team, with the help of the Counsellor Supervisor, Support Counsellors act as the go to resource for both cabin counsellors and programmers. They will assist with supporting campers, with covering programs, and helping wherever extra staff are needed. They are also responsible for helping to plan and facilitate all camp-wide activities, under the supervisor’s direction. Support Counsellors are the go-to people, who help campers and staff create the fun, fulfilling, and therapeutic experience of Camp Towhee.

As our new Support Counsellor, you will:

  1. Assist cabin counsellors and campers by stepping in to provide support, behaviour management, and supportive counselling, as required.
  2. Assist programmers and camp-wide programs by stepping in to facilitate and/or assist with programs, as required.
  3. Assist in other areas of the camp by providing direct support and supervision of campers during mealtimes, evening programs, bedtime routines and night supervision.
  4. Support specific higher needs campers and step in to challenging situations as a reliable extra resource
  5. Assist with planning and running camp wide activities and special events.
  6. Work as part of the overall staff team by participating in the planning and implementation of special, camp-wide theme programs and activities.
  7. Adhere to and interpret to other staff and campers the policies, practices and procedures of Camp Towhee.
You bring
  • Two (2) or more years in a post-secondary degree or equivalent experience.
  • Previous professional experience working within a camp environment, strongly preferred.
  • Experience working with children and/or youth.
  • Experience with behaviour management and supportive counselling, strongly preferred
  • Personal, professional, or educational experiences in a related field (education, recreation, social work, psychology, etc.).
  • Ability to assume responsibility and exercise good judgment in making decisions within the scope of authority of the position.
  • Must have/acquire a current and valid police records check with vulnerable sector screening.
  • Must have/acquire Standard First Aid with CPR C.
  • Demonstrated ability to work in a respectful and aware manner with groups from diverse background and experiences.
Working Conditions
  • Fast-paced camp environment with frequent interaction with campers, staff, supervisors, families, and visitors.
  • May require lifting children (up to 45 lbs.), as well as bending, stooping, stretching, squatting, pushing, pulling, sitting, walking, and climbing stairs.
  • Participation in daytrips as needed
  • Moderate to loud noise levels.
  • Frequent physical activity, including standing, walking, running, lifting, and actively engaging with campers and staff in various camp activities and games.
Other requirements
  • All applicants are advised that offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a Vulnerable Sector Check OR Board Record Check.
Camp dates are as follows:
  • Supervisors Training: June 15th - June 17th
  • Departure date: June 18th, Transportation from Toronto to Towhee will be provide 
  • Pre-Camp, All Staff Training: June 19th - June 30th
  • Session 1: July 4th - July 17th
  • Session 2: July 20th - August 2nd
  • Session 3: August 5th - August 18th 
  • Staff onsite for Cleanup: August 18th 12:00 PM until August 20th at 5:00 PM, Transportation form Towhee to Toronto will be provided
Location: 
1393 Camp Towhee Road, Haliburton, ON   K0M 1S0
Round-trip bus transportation from Toronto to Haliburton will be provided at the beginning and end of the camp.

Contract Period
  • Start date: June 18, 2026
  • Contract end date: August 20, 2026
  • Compensation: $4,550 for the term of employment, including a base salary of $2,800 and a completion bonus of $1,750 at the end of the contract. Room and board are included at no additional cost
Apply now
Thank you in advance for your interest. However, due to the volume of resumes received, only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Accommodation:
CDI is firmly committed to diversity within its community and welcomes applications from racialized persons/persons of colour, Indigenous People of North America and the world, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ persons, and those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. We are committed to providing equitable opportunities in employment and to providing a workplace which is free from discrimination and harassment. We are equally committed to providing an inclusive and accessible workplace. If you require accommodations, please reach out to us at [email protected].

All applicants are advised that offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a Vulnerable Sector Check.

Note: All CDI employees are required to be fully vaccinated against measles as a condition of hire in accordance with CDI Mandatory Vaccination Policy. 
Apply: Summer Support Counsellor, Camp Towhee
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Cover Letter
1.) Are you legally eligible to work in Canada on an ongoing basis?*
2.) Are you an internal candidate or have you previously worked at the Child Development Institute?*
3.) What position(s) are you applying for? (If interested in more than one, please rank them for most to least interested, only including jobs you would do if offered).*
4.) If applying for an Assistant Director Position, what is your availability between June 1 and August 20, 2026?

If applying for a Supervisor Position, what is your availability between June 15 and August 20, 2026?

If applying for a Staff Position, what is your availability between June 19 and August 20, 2026?
5.) Please indicate which of the following activity skills you are confident in Camp; where needed qualified to, facilitate.*
6.) Which of the following qualifications do you currently have?*
7). Which of the following qualifications are you able to achieve by June 19, 2026?*
8.) Why would you like to join Camp Towhee this summer?*
9.) What makes you a good fit for the position(s) you have selected??*
10.) What do you hope to accomplish/learn from working at Camp Towhee this summer?*
11.) Is there anything else you want us to know at this time?
Help us maintain an inclusive culture.

We want anyone, anywhere to have the same chance and opportunity to build a life they love and that they are proud of. We are proactive in creating a belonging environment that anyone can be a part of. Thoughtful, data-driven decision-making is core to this success. We ask these questions to strengthen our practices by using data to identify and mitigate unconscious bias in our hiring process.

If you choose to answer them, the responses are ONLY used in aggregate to help us identify areas for improvement in our processes. Your responses, or your choice to prefer not to say, will not be associated with your application and will not in any way be used in the hiring decision. For one, that’s illegal, and we’re really not into breaking the law. Keep being awesome, and thank you for considering work at the Child Development Institute.

12.) Indigenous peoples: Based on the definition below, are you an Indigenous person?

"Indigenous peoples" means First Nations, Inuit or Métis peoples of Canada.*
13.) Do you identify as a person with a disability?

Disability covers a broad range and degree of conditions, and may be temporary, sporadic, or permanent.*
14.) Members of visible minorities: Based on the definition below, are you a member of a visible minority?

"Members of visible minorities" are persons, other than Indigenous peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour, regardless of birthplace.*
15.) To which gender identity do you most identify?*
16). The salary displayed in the job ad is fixed and non negotiable for this role. Please confirm if you are okay to proceed with your application.*
17). Our campsite is located in Haliburton, Ontario. Round-trip bus transportation from Toronto to Haliburton will be provided at the beginning and end of the camp.

Please confirm if you are comfortable with this arrangement and would like to proceed with your application.*
Human Check*