Although the “Zoo for You” may be out on the horizon, still in the planning phase, the North Alabama Zoological Society (NALZS) continues to be quite active in the community. Starting May 31st, NALZS will host their “Be a Little Wild” Nature Camp sessions and they are seeking a few good volunteers to assist as Nature Camp Counselors. Untitled design 3

NALZS is specifically seeking interested candidates, students ages 15 – 21. This includes students entering 10th, 11th, and 12th grade in high school and college undergrads. Each Nature Camp is targeted towards a select age group, along with varying themes and schedules.

Nature Camp Counselors are responsible for leading designated camp groups, as well as ensuring the safety of the campers. Counselors are leaders with regards to presenting educational curriculum, setting behavior expectations, and monitoring transition times during the camp day.

It takes teamwork, flexibility, and clearly defined roles to successfully run the Nature Camps. Ideal candidates should have a strong knowledge of the subject matter and a willingness to participate in training sessions. They also should be able to share decision-making and responsibilities with campers.

All applicants must demonstrate enthusiasm, patience, and a dynamic personality. Applicants must also be willing to establish and maintain positive relationships with both the campers and their parents. Prospective candidates must also have experience working with children other than their own siblings.

There will be two “Be a Little Wild” sessions for campers ages 8-11: May 31-June 3 and June 14-17; June 27-29 are the session dates for campers ages 6-7. The July 14-16 session for campers ages 12-14 has already been filled.

After applications have been reviewed and accepted, selected individuals will be invited to participate in the three required training sessions, which are listed below. All prospective camp counselors must attend Virtual Sessions A and B, as well as the live, all-day group training. Deadline for applying is Wednesday March 15th. The final selection will be made based on participation in the required training sessions; selected individuals will be notified via email.

Virtual Session A: 7:00pm-8:30pm (select one session)

Tuesday, April 12th and Wednesday, April 13

Virtual Session B: 7:00pm-8:30pm (select one session)

Tuesday, April 19th and Wednesday, April 20th

Live, in person Session C: 10:00am-3:00pm (everyone must attend)

Saturday, April 30th

Camp season is fast approaching. What seems far off in the distance is just a few months away. Come out and join the fun while making a difference as a NALZS Nature Camp Counselor. For more information and to complete the online application, go to: www.nalzs.org/yltraining