Department Summary

The Ricks Center for Gifted Children at the University of Denver is an exemplary program designed for gifted children. We provide nationally recognized gifted education to approximately 250 students aged three through thirteen who demonstrate exceptional, differentiated abilities and learning needs. Our mission is to provide a dynamic and challenging educational environment that anticipates and responds to gifted children's individual, intellectual, social, emotional, physical, aesthetic, and cognitive needs.

Position Summary

We seek qualified individuals to lead and assist with our summer camp program at Ricks Center for Gifted Children. The Summer Camp Counselor helps create a safe, fun, and inclusive environment for campers by supervising activities, leading games and programs, and supporting daily routines. Counselors serve as positive role models, ensure camper safety, and contribute to a welcoming camp community. This role requires energy, teamwork, and a genuine interest in working with children.

This is a non-benefited position not to exceed 1,000 hours in a calendar year.

Supervision & Training

• Upon hire, complete the provided First Aid and CPR certification or provide a copy of the current certification.
• Ability to become familiar with the Colorado Department of Human Services Rules and Regulations and complete required training.
• Must complete at least 15 hours of training 30 days from the start date and all additional training as assigned.

Essential Functions:

• Develop and implement a weekly project-based curriculum and schedule for your group based on the assigned theme.
• Organize and lead various small and large group learning activities that balance academics, music, sports, art, and technology centered on the theme.
• Identify and respond to camper behavior issues following the Ricks Center discipline policy.
• Communicate with parents about participants' experiences and behaviors and report concerns to extended day leadership.
• Assisted in maintaining accurate program records, including incident reports, logbook documentation, and daily attendance.
• Ensure that the site is kept clean and organized, prepare all areas for learning, and order supplies as needed within an allotted budget.
• Know and understand ALL emergency procedures associated with the program and uphold all policies in the teacher and parent handbooks.
• Know, enforce, and follow all safety guidelines associated with the program and all program areas. This includes being responsible for your campers' safety and their whereabouts.
• Know, enforce, and follow all licensing requirements associated with the program areas.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Must be able to lead, plan, organize, and implement program activities.
• Must be able to work as a member of a team and can accomplish tasks with little direct supervision.
• Must have strong organizational and communication skills.
• Must pass a CBI (Colorado) and FBI (Federal) background check.

Required Qualifications:

• Education classes or experience leading camps, youth programs, recreation, or working with children in a related field.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Have at least three (3) months (or 460 hours) of satisfactory and verifiable work experience with school-age children -OR a college degree in Psychology, Sociology, Education, or a related field.

Work Environment:

• You will work in a classroom setting with students as young as three and as old as 13.
• Open-office environment.
• Unexpected interruptions often occur, and stress levels can sometimes be moderate to high.

Physical Activities:

Must be able to lead and participate in activities including hiking, swimming, team-building initiatives, physical games, lifting, and sports/physical activities.

Work Schedule

Monday-Friday, camp schedule 8:30am-3:30pm

Hourly Range:
The hourly range for the position is $19.50 -$22.00

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:

The University of Denver offers some benefits for non-benefited employees. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) June 15, 2026.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.