Summer Camp Counselor

Company: Mississippi Aquarium
Location: Gulfport
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

Start Date: May 2 5 , 202 6 – July 2 4 , 202 6 Position Summary: Camp Counselors deliver engaging STEAMfocused educational experiences for campers and aquarium guests. The role provides opportunities to gain hands on experience in STEMbased education and hospitality. Selected candidates will support the implementation of Camp Aqua programming and may advance to independently facilitating activities. This position also involves regular collaboration with the Guest Experience & Education team and assisting with on campus interpretation. Responsibilities: Support the facilitation of Camp Aqua in a high demand environment. Must be comfortable with public speaking and engaging with large groups. Conduct and supervise daily activities for campers that are fun, interactive, and engaging. Supervise campers for short periods of time; monitor behavior to ensure safety and wellbeing. Immediately report all accidents/incidents and behavior issues to the direct supervisor. Care for and organize camp supplies and materials including biofacts, craft supplies, microscopes, and other miscellaneous camp items. Assist with delivery and pick-up of snacks. Assist and help manage camper drop-offs and pick-ups. Maintain clear and appropriate communication with parents/caregivers to ensure paperwork is completed; campers have necessary gear each day, and any accidents/behavior issues are relayed. Perform general clerical duties including photocopying, faxing, filing, phone calls, message taking, data entry, submitting daily reports, and sending emails. Help maintain a clean, safe, and exciting experience for all campers. If/when necessary, support the Interpretation team with guest experiences and crowd control. Willing to be a part of a collaborative team environment that includes working closely with co-counselors, cross-training across departments, supporting other internal teams, and completing other duties as assigned. Minimum Qualifications: Comfortable with public speaking Sincerely interested in working with diverse audiences Willing to work in an outdoor environment in a variety of weather conditions Previous experience working with children Must be available to work holidays and evenings Possess strong verbal and writing skills; interpersonal and public speaking skills are also necessary to engage with various audiences Ability to organize, manage time, set priorities, and meet deadlines Must be an innovative thinker who is willing to embrace challenges High school diploma or GED Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) Preferred Requirements: Current knowledge of wildlife conservation, scientific research, education trends, and environmental issues. Experience working with school-age children or teenagers in a formal or informal setting. Other Personal Attributes Include: Consistently looking forward, focused, and ready to listen. A heart for service, always willing to provide support to fellow team members Make important and tough decisions with resilience and grace Communicate a strategy well, oversee execution, and celebrate results. Highly organized self-starter maintaining high standards. Have an awareness and interest in the conservation of aquatic environments and their inhabitants Innovative, creative thinker; not afraid to propose something new and inspire others to do the same Ability to proactively find solutions, be productive, and efficient. Team Requirements: Safety & Security - All Team Members are required to adhere to all Mississippi Aquarium safety and security standards. Attendance & Appearance - To maximize the guest’s experience, all Team Members are required to adhere to Mississippi Aquarium standard operating procedures regarding attendance and dress code policies as it relates to individual job functionality. Tattoos and piercings must be appropriate and in keeping with a professional image. Depending on the work area, management reserves the right to determine that tattoos will need to be covered during your shift. Sales & Guest Services - Our forward-thinking business model requires listening to and understanding the needs of our guests both internal and external. To that end, we must always be focused on the guest experience, which is the key driver for return guest visitation and increased sales. Team Partnership - All Team Members are focused on supporting each other to complete the guest experience. Therefore, supporting, facilitating, and participating in activities that promote team effectiveness is vital to our organization. Physical Demands & Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. View all jobs at this company

Keywords: Mississippi Aquarium, Gulf Port , Summer Camp Counselor, Hospitality & Tourism , Gulfport, Mississippi