Northern Participant Support Mentor – Short Term

Onsite Full-Time Contract Position – approx. July 11th – July 24th, 2025 

Northern Youth Abroad (NYA) is a small, charitable organization that serves youth living in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories (http://nya.ca/about-us/). We offer experiential education programs that aim to foster cross-cultural awareness, individual career goals, and global citizenship in Northern youth. Created in 1998, NYA has more than 600 program alumni from across Nunavut and the NWT, 98% of whom are Inuit, First Nation, or Métis.  

We are currently accepting applications for staff to support young Nunavummiut attending summer camp at YMCA Camp Wanakita. Priority will be given to Inuk applicants from Nunavut.  

Job Details

  • Work with other Participant Support Assistants to mentor and supervise the campers to ensure a safe and meaningful program, and create a fun, productive, and harmonious team dynamic that encourages learning, growth, and achievement.  
  • Liaise with the mental health worker as well as other resources as necessary to support campers, encourage positive behavior, and participant success, and facilitate growth and leadership development.   
  • Mentor sixteen Nunavummiut youth aged 14, fostering a positive and inclusive camp community.  
  • Supervise and participate in in-camp activities, such as swimming lessons, canoeing instruction, arts and crafts, and team-building exercises.  
  • Serve as a mentor and role model, fostering personal growth, independence, and resilience in campers.  
  • Ensure the safety and well-being of campers at all times, following camp policies and procedures.  
  • Collaborate with a fellow mentor and Camp Wanakita staff to create a fun, engaging, and memorable camp experience for participants. 

What We’d Like You to Bring

  • Comfort living in a camp environment. Staff will have staff accommodations but need to be comfortable outdoors and in a rustic setting for the project duration (bugs, no air conditioning, outdoors most of the day, etc).  
  • Experience working with youth in a supportive role, and be comfortable providing mentorship, guidance, and motivation positively and encouragingly. Previous experience in supervising youth, assessing needs, and supporting positive behavior.  
  • Leadership skills with the ability to inspire and motivate others and help them get through tough times.  
  • An understanding of homesickness and the ability to comfort youth as they adapt to being away from home and in a new and different environment.  
  • Flexibility, positive attitude, energy, and enthusiasm for working in this unique and meaningful onsite role with Participants as part of a team.   
  • Comfort and willingness to enforce NYA rules, policies, and behavior guidelines, and to work with other staff, volunteers, and participants to create a safe and positive atmosphere and experience.   
  • On the land knowledge and outdoor skills are an asset (ex. camping, canoeing, etc.).  

More Info

  • All travel, accommodation, food, and related incidentals are covered during all aspects of placement. This position requires mentors to live onsite for the duration of the camp and take part in activities throughout the placement.  
  • Priority for this position will be given to those from Nunavut however, it is not a requirement to be currently living in the North.  

Apply Now

Apply by March 3rd, 2025

Please apply using the online form below. Only those invited for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please.

Apply Now