Recreational Counselor

Justice Resource Institute is seeking a dedicated Recreational Counselor to join Pelham Academy, a residential treatment program for adolescents in Lexington, Massachusetts. This full-time, onsite role is a great fit for someone who loves helping teens grow through engaging activities and brings energy and a positive approach to daily interactions. Pelham Academy operates within a trauma-informed framework and provides 24-hour care, including an on-site school, a full clinical team, nursing staff, and direct-care staff to support students on their path forward.

The Recreational Counselor works as part of the direct care milieu under the guidance of the Competency Coordinator, helping to plan and deliver recreational activities and to support students in developing life skills and a sense of value. It’s a role for someone who wants to make a tangible difference in a teen’s daily experiences while collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to uphold a safe, constructive environment.

Schedule for this role is Sunday through Thursday, and the position is onsite in Lexington. It suits someone who enjoys hands-on work with adolescents, thrives in a collaborative setting, and wants to contribute to a program focused on growth, coping skills, and practical preparation for the next steps beyond Pelham Academy.

What Your Day Looks Like As A Recreational Counselor

Day-to-day responsibilities center on planning, organizing, and delivering recreational activities for adolescent students. This includes running enrichment options such as arts and crafts, physical activities, and music, while keeping activities aligned with trauma-informed care and safety guidelines. The work also involves guiding students through the development of life skills, cooking, budgeting basics, and basic vocational tasks, and helping them discover activities that build confidence and a sense of competence.

Another key focus is building community connections by coordinating volunteering, arranging art classes, and facilitating athletics opportunities. Creating a safe, therapeutic atmosphere means modeling effective coping strategies and supporting students in applying those skills during tense moments, social challenges, or transitions between activities.

Who Makes A Great Recreational Counselor

Must-have requirements include being at least 21 years old, holding a valid driver’s license because transporting students is part of the job, and being available to work evenings, holidays and weekend shifts as needed. Background and driving record checks will be performed. While mental health setting experience is strongly preferred, experience with activity planning and community outreach is also valuable. The role involves learning to provide physical interventions and verbal de-escalations to maintain a safe therapeutic atmosphere when necessary under supervision.

Nice-to-haves include prior experience in trauma-informed care, comfort coordinating with community partners, and a demonstrated ability to engage adolescents in constructive activities. A second language is welcome and may qualify a new hire for a $2,000 bilingual bonus, while JRI also supports professional growth through license reimbursement and development opportunities.

Compensation And Benefits For This Role At Pelham Academy

The compensation for this position is $19.00 to $25.00 per hour. The job is onsite in Lexington, Massachusetts with a Sunday through Thursday schedule. The role requires transporting students, so a valid driver’s license is essential. JRI offers a range of benefits, including access to Blue Cross medical and Delta Dental, and retirement options with a 401K matched up to $800 per year and a pension after five years. Professional development is supported with tuition reimbursement up to almost $4,000 annually and discounted tuition rates at select partner colleges and universities. Wellness benefits are provided through employee engagement groups, self-care resources, and an Employee Assistance Program, and full-time staff can accrue paid time off up to 19 days in the first year. Internal training is available to help with licensing requirements such as LMHC, LCSW, LICSW, RN and other certifications, with reimbursement for the registration costs and annual fees.

Eligibility and work authorization requirements apply as with any role of this type.

Tips For Your Application To JRI

Lead with your most relevant experience: place mental health setting work and any activity planning or community outreach front and center on your resume, followed by your driving eligibility and any relevant certifications.

Show you can transport and engage safely: describe a specific instance where you organized a recreation activity for teens, collaborated with staff, and used de-escalation techniques to keep everyone safe.

Be ready for the interview: discuss how you would help create a safe, therapeutic community and model coping strategies, and share concrete activity ideas you’d run for adolescents and how you’d partner with the Competency Coordinator.

Ask a smart question: inquire about how Pelham Academy measures the impact of recreational programming and what a successful first six months looks like for this role, plus ask about opportunities to build community connections through volunteering and athletics.