Summer Camp Supervisors (Art Instructors) - Varley Art Gallery

The City of Markham is proud to be recognized for the 5^th consecutive year as one of Canada’s Best Employers by Forbes and Statista Inc. In 2025, the City of Markham is ranked 2nd among municipalities in Canada and 12th overall for Government Services. The recipient of multiple environmental awards, we are recognized for our innovative sustainability and urban planning initiatives as well as our fiscal accountability. More than 366,000 residents call Markham home and benefit from our rich heritage, culturally diverse environment, vibrant local economy and focus on quality of life.

Applications are now being accepted for the positions of Summer Camp Supervisors (Art Instructors) at the Varley Art Gallery of Markham. To apply for this position, please submit your resume and cover letter online by February 14, 2025.

Join us and make a lasting difference!

Duration of Position: 12 weeks

• Part-time hours, including training and program development: June 2, 2025 to June 27, 2025 (4 weeks)
• Full-time hours: July 2 to August 22, 2025 (8 weeks)

Note: This position is supported by the Government of Canada’s Canada Summer Jobs program. Applicants should review the website to confirm their eligibility: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/funding/canada-summer-jobs/who-can-apply.html

JOB SUMMARY

The Varley Art Gallery is seeking a passionate and creative Summer Camp Supervisor (Art Instructor) to lead and inspire young artists in a dynamic summer camp environment. This position focuses on designing and delivering engaging art-based activities while ensuring the safety, well-being, and enjoyment of campers. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in the fine arts, excellent leadership and organizational skills, and a commitment to creating an inclusive and positive camp experience.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develops and delivers creative activity plans approved by the Summer Camp Director and Culture Programs Assistant, ensuring lessons and materials are thoroughly reviewed, and align with High Five® Principles of Healthy Child Development.
• Prioritizes camper safety, well-being, and protection by identifying potential risks and taking proactive measures to mitigate them. Maintains appropriate camper-to-staff ratios and conducts regular headcounts in compliance with City Camp policies and procedures.
• Facilitates daily camp activities, including art projects, games and exhibition-related programs.
• Familiarity with a variety of art mediums and techniques, as well as safe handling of art supplies
• Understanding of developmental milestones and age-appropriate activities for children aged 4 to 12.
• Builds and maintains positive, collaborative relationships with camp staff and volunteers to effectively meet camper needs.
• Strong interpersonal skills to connect with campers, understand their needs, and create a supportive environment.
• Ability to foster an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and ensures all campers feel valued and respected.
• Adapts programming to ensure it meets campers' needs, addressing factors such as quality, safety, hygiene, weather, and breaks.
• Adheres to City of Markham policies and procedures in all program activities.
• Regularly updates and provides feedback to the Camp Director, and acts as a liaison with parents, upholding the City of Markham’s commitment to customer service, diversity, and inclusion.
• Prepares, organizes, and maintains art studio equipment and supplies, reporting inventory shortages to the Camp Director. Assists with the setup and cleanup of camp events, activities, and programs.
• Demonstrates confidence and the ability to make independent decisions in the best interest of campers.
• Resolves conflicts and issues effectively as they arise.
• Ensures all participants are informed of upcoming events and schedule changes.
• Collaborates with City of Markham Inclusion staff to ensure accessibility for all campers.
• Coaches and mentors’ volunteers and campers, providing feedback to the Volunteer Coordinator through formal assessments.
• Participates in orientation, training sessions, and staff meetings.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Must be eligible for the Government of Canada’s Canada Summer Jobs Program (https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/funding/canada-summer-jobs/who-can-apply.html). To be eligible and as a requirement of the government program, a youth must be:
  1. be between 16 and 30 years of age at the beginning of the employment period*
  2. be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment** and
  3. have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations
     *The youth must be 16 years of age at the beginning of the employment period. The youth may be more than 30 years of age at the end of the employment period as long as the youth was 30 at the beginning of the employment period.

• Commitment to full-time availability for the entire duration of the camp program, including orientation, training sessions, and scheduled camp activities.
• Valid Standard First Aid and CPR Level C certification.
• HIGH FIVE Healthy Child Development certification.
• Successful completion of a Vulnerable Sector Screening.
• Demonstrated passion for fine arts, including visual arts, arts administration, art history, or early childhood education.
• Proven experience in developing and instructing creative art lessons for children; minimum of 2-year experience in a camp environment is required.
• Ability to adapt programming to accommodate the diverse needs of individual participants.
• Strong commitment to prioritizing the health, safety, and well-being of participants, staff, and volunteers.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills.
• Commitment to providing exceptional customer service.
• Welcoming and inclusive attitude, with a focus on fostering a positive environment for all participants.

CORE BEHAVIOURS

• Service Excellence: Meets or exceeds service standards when interacting with customers in the community and in the organization.
• Change & Innovation: Responds positively and professionally to change and helps others through change.
• Teamwork & Relationship Building: Interacts with others in an inclusive, collaborative and respectful way that creates effective working relationships.
• Communication: Communicates in a clear, professional and respectful way; demonstrates active listening.
• Accountable & Results Oriented: Demonstrates ethical behaviour and accountability, aligns with City values, and abides by relevant policies and legislation.
• Management & Leadership: Demonstrates self-management, professionalism and engagement; leads by example.

The City of Markham is committed to inclusive, accessible and barrier free employment practices and to creating a workplace that reflects and supports the diversity of the community we serve. Please let us know if you require an accommodation and we will work with you to ensure a barrier free hiring process.

Please respect our scent free area by not wearing scented products when visiting the office.