Summer Instructor Palo Alto

Overview

As a Summer Instructor, you’ll lead hands-on design and outdoor activities, creating an inspiring, safe environment where campers explore creativity through Galileo’s curriculum. With training and team support, you ll deliver memorable learning experiences and engage fully in camp traditions. This is a seasonal role;
Summer Instructors work full-time Monday - Friday (5 days per week).

• Lead Design Challenges and Outdoor
  
  Activities:
  
  Facilitate Galileo’s project-based curriculum, integrating science, technology, engineering, and math for groups of up to 28 campers; create a safe, inviting learning space; prepare and manage materials for daily projects; teach up to three rotations:
  Innovator’s Studio, Idea Lab, and Outdoor Adventure, adapting for various age groups and abilities; for 5th-8th grade groups, guide campers in using tools like saws, drills, and glue guns, ensuring safe, hands-on experiences; provide a positive, supportive environment and manage camper behavior through restorative practices, with individual support as needed.
• Engage Fully in All Camp
  
  Activities:
  
  Plan, set up, and lead daily camp activities with teammates; supervise campers to ensure safety during all events, including ceremonies, snack, and lunch; participate in songs, skits, and chants; bring your unique skills and energy to create a joyful camp experience.
• Provide Exceptional Customer Service:
  Greet campers and families warmly, ensure a positive, safe environment; assist with check-in/check-out, manage daily attendance, and communicate with families as needed; foster a fun, energetic atmosphere for smooth drop-off and pick-up transitions.
• Build Your Skills with Ongoing Training and Support:
  Complete paid online training on innovation education and Galileo policies before camp starts; attend two in-person setup and training days; refine instructional skills through feedback and training from camp leadership.

• Your exact pay will be determined based on a variety of factors, including work-site location and tenure:
• Pay for this position is $20.01 for new (first-year) camp staff.
• Returning (alumni) staff pay ranges from $20.26 to $21.01 per hour, determined based on years worked with Galileo Camps.
• One free week of camp for your own child
• 15% Friends and Family Discount
• Priority scholarship nominations
• Membership in the Galileo Alumni Community of over 20,000 inspiring changemakers

• All camps operate Monday - Friday. Shifts vary by position and location and can start as early as 7:00 a.m. and end as late as 6:30 p.m.
• Staff must complete online training and attend two pre-camp set-up days before camp opens. Set-up days may be scheduled on weekends.
• Camp set-up dates, start dates, and duration vary by location – view site-specific dates on the Camp Finder page (location-based).

Qualifications

• 1+ years of instructional or classroom support experience in K-8 education, or a combination of relevant education and work experience
• Experience teaching, caring for, supervising, coaching, and/or mentoring kids
• College coursework in Education or Child Development preferred but not required
• Ability to balance multiple tasks with urgency and enthusiasm
• Bilingual in English and Spanish is a plus, but not required
• Ability to access and use web-based tools via a personal smart device
• Ability to complete all pre-camp tasks, including background checks, state-mandated certifications, electronic onboarding paperwork and online training prior to the start of camp
• Availability to work up to 8-hour shifts daily, Monday - Friday, for the duration of camp
  • For consistency and camper safety, preference given to applicants who can commit to the full duration of camp (4-8 continuous weeks, depending on location)
  • Applicants with less than 4 continuous weeks of availability will not be considered
• Must be at least 18 years of age by May 1st, 2026

At Galileo Camps, we value divergent thinkers and encourage applicants from underrepresented groups. We also encourage everyone who thinks they have what it takes to apply.

Please note that our job descriptions are a summary of typical functions and not an exhaustive list of…