Position Title: Tinkering Camp Coordinator
Status: Temporary Position – benefits eligible; Full Time, Non-exempt; 37.5 hours per week
Dates of Employment: May 11 – August 5, 2026
Job Classification: Educator
Hourly Rate: $19–22 per hour
Job Summary:
The vision of DuPage Children’s Museum (DCM) is that all children thrive through access to extraordinary learning experiences The Tinkering Camp Coordinator (TCC) serves a critical role in advancing the vision by being a vital part of and leading DCM’s Summer Tinkering Camp.
The TCC will coordinate the day-to-day operations of Tinkering Camp as well as leading and supporting the Tinkering Camp staff by encouraging and modeling the importance of open-ended, playful learning experiences. General TCC duties will include: being the primary contact for caregivers, coordinating the check-in and check-out process, running daily staff meetings, coordinating materials, coordinating communication between museum departments, and supporting staff with facilitating impactful tinkering and making learning experiences for all campers. The TCC will be responsible for ensuring Camp staff work collaboratively with each other to provide a positive, safe, and welcoming learning environment that is grounded in playful learning practices and is developmentally appropriate for campers.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Coordinate the care, safety, protection, and supervision of the camp environment, staff, and campers;
- Follow all safety protocols and ensure staff and campers are using tools and equipment properly;
- Follow proper museum opening and closing procedures for the day as needed;
- Participate in all staff training;
- Prepare for daily camp activities, including organizing all necessary materials, ensuring staff are ready for the day, and communicating with caregivers and other museum teams as needed;
- Regularly check in and communicate with staff, campers, and caregivers, and serve as the main point of contact for all camp-related issues;
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of DCM mission, philosophy, policies, and procedures as related to camp activities;
- Create a positive and open learning environment for both staff and campers;
- Encourage communication and enhance team support/spirit among the DCM camp staff;
- Lead interactions with campers to deepen their learning experiences during camp;
- Other duties as assigned.
Job Relationships:
- Position sits within the Learning Partnerships Department
- Reports to the Camp & Community Program Manager
- Collaborates regularly with Guest Experience Managers and the Guest Relations Team
Education and Experience:
- Experience working with young children and/or interest in working with children a must.
- Degree in, or in pursuit of, Early Childhood and/or Elementary Education, or relevant field, strongly preferred.
- Experience leading child-directed arts and maker activities strongly preferred.
- Experience working in out-of-school time programming, such as other summer camps or afterschool programs strongly preferred.
- Strong project management and organizational skills.
- Ability to lead collaborative teams that work on projects with many different moving parts.
Skills and Abilities:
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Must be highly organized.
- Must be punctual.
- Must exhibit patience and a willingness to listen and learn.
- Must exhibit problem solving, critical thinking, and troubleshooting skills.
- Must work well in a collaborative team environment.
- Willing to be playful and curious.
The following abilities are required for the position: (a) Visually keep track of visitors, materials, and camp functioning; (b) effectively understand and communicate with children; (c) Assist visitors in emergency situations; (d) Display dexterity necessary to work with tools and building material; (e) Manipulate camp components and facility operating/maintenance equipment; (f) Stand, kneel and move for extended periods of time; (g) Climb up and down stairs or use an elevator daily (h) Bend, kneel, climb and reach; (i) Lift up to 50 pounds; (j) Tolerate noise and dust in the environment and handle disinfectant and cleaning materials; (k) Work outside in the heat and sun for an extended period of time.
Other:
- Must adhere to appropriate dress code.
- Working schedule is Monday – Friday 8:00am – 4:00pm
- Must be available for all weeks of camp, June 6 – July 31, 2026
HOW TO APPLY:
Download an Application
Please include a cover letter and your resume.
Submit to: [email protected]
or
DuPage Children’s Museum
301 N. Washington St.
Naperville, IL 60540
Attn: Human Resources
Benefit Statement:
DuPage Children’s Museum (DCM) offers paid time off, an Employee Assistance Program, free family membership to the museum, and a 403b plan.
For full time employees (those scheduled to work 30 hours or more per calendar week) in regular (nonseasonal) positions, DCM offers an extensive medical and ancillary benefit package to include:
- Medical insurance through UnitedHealthcare to include two PPO options and an HMO option. Coverage options are employee only, employee and child(ren), employee and spouse/domestic partner, and full family. Deduction cost sharing with each coverage option.
- Dental insurance through UnitedHealthcare. Coverage options are employee only, employee and child(ren), employee and spouse/domestic partner, and full family. Deduction cost sharing with each coverage option.
- Vision insurance through UnitedHealthcare. Coverage options are employee only, employee and child(ren), employee and spouse/domestic partner, and full family.
- Short Term Disability insurance through UnitedHealthcare. Benefits can be up to 60% of an employee’s salary (limitations exist for some preexisting conditions) and may cover day eight through week 13 of missing work and income due to an injury or illness.
- Group life insurance through UnitedHealthcare with a benefit of $25,000. This is an employee only coverage at no cost to the employee
- Supplemental life insurance through UnitedHealthcare. Coverage options for self, spouse, and child(ren) with varying coverage options. Evidence of insurability required above enrollee guaranteed minimum.
- Flexible Spending Account through Flexible Benefit Service LLC with medical, dependent care, transit, and parking enrollment options.
