Lead Counselor

BAX is seeking LEAD COUNSELORS for its 2023 School Breaks Arts Programs:
President’s Week, Spring Break, and Summer

About BAX’s School Breaks Arts Programs
At BAX, we foster creativity and encourage playful exploration in a positive and nurturing environment. Our School Breaks Arts Programs (President’s Week, Spring Break, and Summer) draw from our year-round education programs to provide young artists with opportunities to explore different forms of mixed media art and performance around a specific themed week thoughtfully designed for active and fun engagement. 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 (at the Old Stone House in Washington Park/JJ Byrne Playground during Spring Break and Summer) play, performance, and art-making activities.

2023 School Breaks Program Date

  • President’s Week: Tuesday, February 21 to Friday, February 24, 2023
  • Spring Break: Monday, April 10 to Friday, April 14, 2023
  •  Summer: Monday, July 10 to Friday, August 4, 2023

Program Structure
Approx. 40 children entering K through 5th grades (age range: 5-10) separated into two groups:

  • NanoBAXers – entering K through 2nd grade
  • MegaBAXers – entering 3rd through 5th grade

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

Program Daily Schedule

  • Drop Off 8:30 to 9:00am
  • Main Program Hours 9:00am to 3:00pm (sample daily schedule below, subject to slight
    changes)
    • 9:00am – Morning Meeting & Community Building
    • 9:30am – Performing Arts Workshop with Specialist
    • 10:30am – Snack
    • 10:45am – Transition to Park
    • 11:15am – Outdoor Activities & Games
    • 12:30pm – Lunch & Play
    • 1:00pm – Transition to BAX
    • 1:30pm – Visual Arts Workshop with Specialist
    • 2:30pm – End of Day Sharing
  • Dismissal 3:00pm
  • Optional Extended Day Add-On 3:00 to 5:30pm

The Summer Arts Program is overseen by the Education Department administrative staff (Senior Manager of Education Programs and Director of Education & Artist Programs). Additionally, each group is supervised and supported by a core staff that includes a Group Leader, Lead Counselor, Senior Counselor, Junior Counselor, and Counselors in Training. An additional team of a Lead Counselor and Senior Counselor facilitate the Extended Day program. These staff members remain with students throughout the day and throughout the program, provide support to the arts specialists, facilitate additional activities and projects that relate to the daily/weekly performing arts disciplines and theme, and in the Summer, and support the culminating performance shares for families.

About the Lead Counselor Position
We are seeking Lead Counselors to work with our NANO age group (K-2nd grades), MEGA age group (3rd-5th grades), and our OUTDOOR/EXTENDED DAY group (K-5th grades). 

Lead Counselors must be early career teaching artists/educators with prior experience working with youth in a leadership role and expertise or experience in a specific arts discipline. Prior experience within a summer camp and/or classroom setting is strongly preferred. Experience working with children with disabilities is a strong plus. Lead Counselors must be able to commit to the full hours and training schedule listed below (minor training conflicts may be accommodated). Priority may be given to applicants who have previous experience working at BAX.

Lead Counselor Responsibilities Include:

    • Participate in training which will occur in the two weeks prior to the beginning of the program (exact schedule below)

    • Assist the Group Leaders 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 Arts Specialists during their lessons/activities as necessary;

    • Lead activities during Group Leader breaks;

    • 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;

    • Mentor and support Senior and Junior Counselors;

    • 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 the program.

    • Outdoor/Extended Day Lead Counselor will facilitate activity stations in our Extended Day add on (between 3:00-5:30pm) and during the Summer, will facilitate outdoor games and activities during outdoor play and lunch. 

All program staff will need to show proof of full vaccination for COVID-19. To see BAX’s current COVID Community Care plan, visit https://www.bax.org/covid-updates/.

Lead Counselor Position Schedules (all dates listed are in 2023)

TRAINING SCHEDULE – ALL LEAD COUNSELORS

  • President’s Week/Spring Break Training Schedule (exact training schedule to be confirmed, please hold all below dates/times)
    • Monday, Feb. 13 from 6:30-8:30pm
    • Wednesday, Feb. 15 from 6:30-8:30pm
    • Friday, Feb. 17 from 4:30-7:30pm
    • Monday, Feb. 20 from 9am-12pm
  • Spring Break Refresher Training Schedule (exact training schedule to be confirmed, please hold all below dates/times) 
    • Monday, Apr. 3 from 6:30-8:30pm
    • Wednesday, Apr. 5 from 6:30-8:30pm
    • Saturday, Apr. 8 from 9am-12pm
  • Summer Training Schedule (Training Schedule TBD and will take place during the weeks of): 
    • June 26-30, 2023
    • July 5-9, 2023

MEGA LEAD COUNSELOR PROGRAM WORKING HOURS

  • President’s Week Program Dates (4 program days)

    • Tuesday, February 21; 7:30am to 4:00pm

    • Wednesday, February 22 to Friday, February 24; 8:00am to 4:00pm

  • Spring Break Program Dates (5 program days)

    • Monday, April 20; 7:30am to 4:00pm

    • Tuesday, April 21 to Friday, February 24; 8:00am to 4:00pm

  • Summer Program Dates (4 program weeks)

    • Mondays; 7:30am to 4:00pm

    • Tuesdays-Fridays; 8:00am to 4:00pm

    • Fridays; 8:00am to 4:30pm*

    • *On Fridays in the Summer, the Megas have a Family Sharing from 3:00-3:30pm, so Mega staff is scheduled until 4:30pm everyday. 

NANO LEAD COUNSELOR PROGRAM WORKING HOURS

  • President’s Week Program Dates (4 program days)

    • Tuesday, February 21; 7:30am to 4:00pm

    • Wednesday, February 22 to Friday, February 24; 8:00am to 4:00pm

  • Spring Break Program Dates (5 program days)

    • Monday, April 20; 7:30am to 4:00pm

    • Tuesday, April 21 to Friday, February 24; 8:00am to 4:00pm

  • Summer Program Dates (4 program weeks)

    • Mondays; 7:30am to 4:00pm

    • Tuesdays-Fridays; 8:00am to 4:00pm

OUTDOOR/EXTENDED DAY LEAD COUNSELOR WORKING HOURS

  • President’s Week Program Dates (4 program days)

    • Tuesday, February 21 to Friday, February 24; 2:00pm-6:00pm 

  • Spring Break Program Dates (5 program days)

    • Monday, April 20 to Friday, April 24; 2:00pm-6:00p

  • Summer Program Dates (4 program weeks)

    • Mondays; 10:00am to 6:00pm

    • Tuesdays-Fridays; 10:30am to 6:00pm

Lead Counselor Compensation
Lead Counselors are paid at a rate of $20/hour for working program hours. There is a $100 stipend for the President’s Week and Spring Break training period, and a $200 stipend for the Summer training period. 

How to Apply

Please send the following materials via email only to education@bax.org.

Please write “2023 Lead Counselor Application” in the subject line. You will receive an
auto-reply confirming our receipt. Due to the high volume of applicants, however, we will only contact candidates we are inviting to interview. No phone calls. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with an aim to conduct interviews with competitive candidates in mid-January of 2023.

Your email should include:

  1. An introduction email including why you are interested in working at BAX and in this
    specific position (including your preferred group(s) – Nano, Mega, or Outdoor/Extended Day);
  2. A current resume highlighting your related experience and education; 
  3. Your availability for listed days/times of training and work
  4. Two Employment references including professional titles, your relationship, contact numbers, and email addresses. 

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

About BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange
BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange, founded in 1991, is a multigenerational arts organization nurturing creative expression and artistic process through education, residencies, and performance at the intersection of arts and social justice.

BAX is dedicated to serving artists in progress, from children to professionals, at all ages and stages of development. The multi-faceted nature of BAX programs annually invites over 10,000 students, families, artists, audiences, and community members to embark on, and share creative journeys. For three decades, BAX has honored the power of performing arts to connect and transform individuals and communities. The education programs, artist residencies, affordable rehearsal space, community engagement opportunities, mentorship, and performances, all center artists from historically underrepresented backgrounds and prioritize lived and embodied experiences, and access, regardless of ability to pay.

Our Working Values
Accessibility, choice making, collaboration, community, creativity, equity, exchange, experimentation, performance, radical hospitality, skill building.

Our Aspirations
BAX commits to building equity across our programs, policies, budgets, and culture. This work demands that we identify and interrupt narratives and structures that uphold white supremacy, sexism, and ableism. We respond to this call with rigorous intention and in collaboration with artists, families, students, collaborators, audiences, supporters, neighbors, board, and staff. And so we are accountable to our multiple communities and continue to learn and change while taking immediate and long-term strategic action.

We aspire to cultivate a sustainable and just creative ecology where artists of all ages and stages
thrive

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