BAX is seeking LEAD COUNSELORS for its 2021 SUMMER ARTS PROGRAM 
(Candidates must be at least college-aged) 

BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange is a community based performing arts center dedicated to developing artists of all ages from children to professionals. BAX Education provides expert instruction in building technical skills in dance, tumbling, and theater with an emphasis on cultivating creative expression. Working with professional performing arts faculty, BAX students develop improvisation, original composition, and performance skills, working independently and in collaboration. BAX Youth classes, school breaks programming, festivals and events embody BAX’s overarching mission to provide the space and support for “artists-in-progress” to explore, hone, and share their unique voice. 

BAX’s Education Department actively engages in discussions about how race, class, gender, sexual orientation, and other aspects of identity affect access to, representation in, and experience within all of our programs and curriculum. BAX is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating and developing an inclusive staff team. People of color and individuals of diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. 

SUMMER ARTS PROGRAM OVERVIEW 
Our Summer Arts Program (SAP) draws from our year-round education programs to provide young artists with opportunities to explore different forms of mixed media art and performance each week. Arts Specialists teach daily workshops, while a well-trained, creative staff supports a healthy balance of fun indoor (at the BAX Building in spacious, well ventilated studios) and outdoor (in JJ Byrne Park) play, performance, and art-making activities. Children entering 1st through 5th grade participate in two different groups, organized by age: NanoBAXers (rising 1st and 2nd graders) and MegaBAXers (rising 3rd to 5th graders). 

PROGRAM DATES 
Monday July 16 – Friday August 6, 2021 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm (4 weeks) 

PROGRAM STRUCTURE 
Approx. 24-30 children entering 1st through 5th grades (age range: 6-10) separated into two groups: 
NanoBAXers – entering 1st and 2nd grade (max group size per week is 12-15)
MegaBAXers – entering 3rd through 5th grade (max group size per week is 12-15) 

No special talent or experience is required of students – students come in with all levels of skill and interest in any given discipline. 

The Summer Arts Program is overseen by the Education Department staff. Additionally, each group is supervised and supported by a core staff with one Group Leader, and one Lead Counselor. These staff members remain with students throughout the day and throughout the summer, provide support to the arts specialists, and facilitate additional activities and projects that relate to the weekly discipline/theme and support the culminating performance/gallery. 

LEAD COUNSELOR POSITION DESCRIPTION 
We are seeking one Lead Counselor to work with each of our groups: NanoBAXers and MegaBAXers. 
Lead Counselors will be a primary support to their assigned Group Leader and work in close collaboration with their Group Leader to establish daily program structure and build an inclusive student, group, and staff culture. To do this job successfully, Lead Counselors should have familiarity with the educational and age appropriate needs of children in the program and demonstrate a collaborative, flexible spirit and willingness to engage proactively in issues of diversity and inclusion as it relates to our student and staff populations. This includes employing adaptive and diverse teaching and learning strategies. Lead Counselors will be expected to be the primary supervisor of students in their Group Leader’s absence (during a break or in the event of illness, etc.) and should have sufficient teaching/facilitation and experience working with children. 

Responsibilities include (varies slightly from group to group):
- Participate in one week of training, which will occur the week prior to the beginning of the program (July 6-11; specific schedule TBD in contract).

- Assist Group Leader with establishing the daily schedule, including arrival and departure procedures, program and workshop transitions, travel to and from the park, facilitating snack and lunch, and clean-up; 
-Support Group Leader and Guest Arts Specialists during their lessons/activities as necessary; 
- Lead activities during Group Leader breaks (most likely taking place during Arts Specialist Workshops; 
- Plan and facilitate original artistic Counselor-led lesson plans and activities (“CLA”) that supplement weekly performing arts curriculum and appeal to different kinds of learnings; 
- Resolve conflicts among children; 
- Communicate incidents (physical, emotional, etc.) that take place during the day to Group Leader and Administrative Staff to ensure proper follow up; 
- Supervise and organize children in small groups; and 
- Daily cleaning of space before and after program. 

POSITION REQUIREMENTS: 
Lead Counselors must be at least college aged students or early career teaching artists/educators with prior experience working with youth in a leadership role and expertise or experience in a specific arts or recreation discipline. Prior experience within a summer camp and/or classroom setting is strongly preferred. Experience working with children with special needs is a strong plus. 
Lead Counselors must be able to commit to working the entirety of the 4-week Summer Arts Program. Priority may be given to applicants who have previous experience working at BAX. 

HOURS & COMPENSATION: 
Hours for Nano and Mega Counselors 
Hours for counselors are 8:00am – 4:00pm, Monday through Friday. 
Lead Counselors will receive an hourly wage of $20/hour, and a flat rate of $250 for the training period (during July 6-11, TBD). 

TO APPLY 
Please send the following materials via email only, and address the Director of Education and Artist Programs, Lucia Scheckner: education@bax.org. Please write “Lead Counselor SAP 2021” in the subject line. You will receive an auto-reply confirming our receipt. Due to high volume of applicants, however, we will only contact candidates we are inviting to interview. No phone calls. Positions will be filled on a rolling basis. 
Include: 
1. A cover letter including the specific Lead Counselor position you are interested in and why. Cite specific professional experiences that make you qualified for this particular leadership position; 
2. A current resume highlighting your related experience and education; 3. Two Employment/Character references including professional titles, contact number and/or emails. 

The most successful applicants will become familiar with BAX, our education philosophy, and our summer program. More information is available on our website: www.bax.org 

COVID-19 SAFETY AND COMMUNITY COMMITMENTS 
The below information and included Building Guide will serve as a guide of BAX’s Covid-related safety protocols for the 2021 Summer Arts Program. Please take the time to read through it in its entirety to help us keep you and all of our community members safe. Questions? Feel free to email summer@bax.org 
Following CDC covid safety guidelines of at least 3 ft of social distance, groups will be limited to 12-15 children with three program staff assigned to each group: Group Leader, Lead Counselor, and Assistant, providing at least a 5:1 child-to-adult ratio. 

The Summer Arts Program will split its programming day between in-door studio time (spacious and well ventilated studios) and outdoor park program (JJ Byrne Park). In case of extreme weather (a “feels like” of 100+, under 30 degree weather, or severe rain), BAX will adjust the outdoor time to be predominantly indoors. BAX will utilize open windows, air purifiers, and AC ventilation, as necessary to maintain healthy and CDC recommended air-flow. 

COMMUNITY COMMITMENTS 
- Families agree that during the weeks their children are enrolled in the program that they will follow CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), New York State Department of Health, and NYC Department of Health guidelines for mask wearing and social distancing, to the best of their ability. 
- Families will adhere to current New York State Guidelines for COVID-19 Travel Activity: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory 
- Children must be tested for COVID-19 in the 72 hours prior to the start of each program week, and documentation of the negative result must be provided to BAX before or at drop off each Monday. If you need support finding free testing locations, please contact BAX Education 
(summer@bax.org) and we will assist you. 
- Before drop off each day, families will need to e-submit a simple daily health screening form for their child. 
- Masks will be worn at all times during the program, except when eating and drinking. If children need a brief “mask break” staff will be prepared to help them do this. 
- Children also agree to follow CDC social distancing guidelines of 3-6 feet, to the best of their ability. 

STAFF EXPECTATIONS 
All SAP direct program staff (Group Leaders, Lead Counselors, and BAX Admin Staff)...
- Are following CDC building safety and vaccine guidelines and recommendations to the best of their ability. 
- Will comply with all stated Community Commitments including testing, health screenings, mask, travel, and following of national, state, and city guidelines.
- Staff agree to follow CDC social distancing guidelines of 3-6 feet to the best of their ability while also prioritizing the safety of the children for whom they are caring. 

A program phone and number will be shared with enrolled families so that they can contact the Group Leader and vice versa in case of emergency at any time during the program, including when the groups are outside. BAX is on the second and third floors of the building. Physical access is restricted due to stairwells that extend from the ground floor entrance to the building’s third floor. There is no elevator or ramp at this time. BAX is committed to finding ADA compliant solutions that open the spaces to all bodies. For accessibility requests or information, please contact info@bax.org. 

ABOUT BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange 
BAX welcomes students, families, faculty, and artists to BAX, an organization with a core commitment to social justice. In keeping with BAX’s mission as “a multigenerational arts organization nurturing creative expression and artist process through education, residencies, and performance at the intersection of arts and social justice,” we intentionally and purposefully support the voices of under-represented individuals and groups of all origins, ages, abilities, races, sexual orientations, and genders – including trans identified individuals, or those with varied immigration statuses. All our constituents join an organization whose staff and Board is actively engaged in challenging the manifestations of whiteness, able-bodiedness and privilege as part of our ongoing anti-racist efforts and our other anti-oppression, pro-inclusion work. As an equal opportunity employer committed to creating and developing an inclusive staff team, people of color and individuals of diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.