At Caldera, we believe in the power of creativity. Our mission is to inspire and support youth from underserved rural and urban communities by awakening the potential of their creative voice. We do this through a unique fusion of art, environment and mentorship. Our Youth Program provides students from Portland and Central Oregon with long-term relationships with caring adults, which nurtures individual creativity, beginning in sixth grade and continuing into young adulthood. 

Caldera has a $5M budget, a 18-member board, 21 full-time year-round employees, and a range of seasonally contracted artists and staff. Its administrative office is located in Portland, Oregon, and its Arts Center is located outside of Sisters in Central Oregon. 

Position Title: Mental Health Support Specialist

Supervisor: Camp Manager

FULL TIME: Typical days are 8+ hours in length, with sessions that make for up to 10 straight days of work without a full day off. Each staff member will have at least 1 night off per session.

Work Location: Sisters, OR

Compensation: Salary/Rate of Pay: $165/day, with 1% increase for each year of experience working at Camp Caldera (not to exceed 7%)

• Training Salary/Rate of Pay: $75/day
• Room and board provided during days with programming; room only during non-programming days. A light dinner will be provided on staff arrival days. Brunch is served on the last day of each session.

Position Description: 

The Mental Health Support Specialist works to maintain and improve the social environment for both youth and adults at Camp Caldera. They are adept at boundary setting and can make a clear distinction between providing support vs. therapy while directing participants to resources as needed.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

DIRECT YOUTH WORK  (70% OF TIME DEDICATED)

• Work with camp leadership to define, communicate, and uphold behavioral norms and agreements among both learners and adults.
• Proactively and reactively respond to social-emotional needs of the camp community, completing thorough documentation as needed
• Communicate with learner families when relevant, connecting them to external resources as appropriate
• Initiate proper reporting processes and ensure timely communication with all stakeholders
• Actively participate in pre-camp training and meetings
• Maintain confidentiality (except in the event of specific necessary disclosures)

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT  (20% OF TIME DEDICATED)

• Alert supervisor to relevant issues; communicate regularly regarding concerns, updates, and challenges.
• Document all mental health concerns and communicate follow up steps with families and summer leadership 

CAMP SUPPORT (10% OF TIME DEDICATED)

• Alert supervisor to relevant camper issues 
• Promote program understanding and involvement through Caldera’s goals and agreements, participation agreement, and responsibility process
• Actively participate in all aspects of camp life including: camper orientation, community meetings, evening activities, campfire, free time, etc.
• Model appropriate camper behavior at all times 
• Perform duties with consistency and integrity
• Set and respect personal boundaries while acting as mentors, guides, and allies to campers
• Oversee health and safety of charges in fire drills and emergency procedures
• Maintain cleanliness of living and common areas and help with clean-up at the end of 

Required Qualifications:

• Masters of Social Work degree, LCSW, or relevant completed coursework
• At least one year experience working with middle and/or high school youth
• At least one year experience connecting clients to resources
• Knowledge of social services throughout Portland and Central Oregon
• Ability to respond to and absorb a high degree of stress
• Strong communication skills and experience giving constructive feedback to youth and adults
• High degree of flexibility and adaptability to rapidly changing situations
• Ability to understand our racially diverse student population’s perspective, either through lived experience, previous qualifications, or work experience 
• Ability to navigate through potentially triggering and challenging conversations and situations while maintaining focus on the wellbeing of youth
• Ability to discreetly and effectively handle information of a confidential or sensitive nature
• Ability to set appropriate boundaries in a proactive and positive manner
• Must pass a background check. Caldera considers systemic injustices when investigating findings
• Willingness to live in a camp setting and work irregular and long hours. Additionally, you must have the ability to deal with limited cell and internet service and daily exposure to outdoor factors such as sun, heat, bugs, bats, snakes, etc.
• Familiarity with culturally responsive and anti-oppression frameworks and experience working with racially and ethnically diverse staff and youth
• Bilingual and/or bicultural skills highly desired

Job Requirements:

• Serve as mandatory reporter, working with Youth Impact Manager to report instances or suspicion of child abuse. Caldera has a zero tolerance policy around child abuse, and any negligence will result in immediate dismissal
• Requires on-site living in shared staff quarters 
• Alcohol and drugs are not permitted on campus, even in personal living quarters.
• Must be physically able to move around 116 acres of camp property with varied terrain
• Must have visual, perceptual, and cognitive ability to recognize and respond quickly to health 
• and safety concerns of students and appropriately re-direct any behavior that is misaligned with Caldera agreements
• Employees must carry out their duties regardless of inclement weather, which can include but is not limited to, heat, rain, wind, cold, and smoky or dusty conditions.
• Moments of quiet and non-activity are few and spread out
• Creating a cohesive staff environment round the clock can be challenging. It is crucial that staff see youth and adults through a strengths-based lens and prioritize creating the best possible youth experience at all times, despite what challenges may arise at the staff level
• Physical Demands (which can include bending, stooping, hiking, climbing and stretching) are: 5% Sitting, 45% Standing, 20% Walking, 30% Lifting/Carrying/Pushing/Pulling Pounds 5 -80 lbs.

To Apply:

Please fill out and submit an application. Please also submit a reference, ideally from each of the following categories: a youth serving organization, a family member, and one other professional reference

All applications must contain a resume and completion of the screening questions.  All materials are reviewed and considered as part of the hiring process.

Application Deadline: May 15. 2026