This position will be based in Washington, D.C. from Saturday, June 21 (arrive by noon) to Saturday, June 28, 2025 (depart after 5:00 p.m.) to provide support during FIRE’s Free Speech Forum. There will be a required in-person training session in Philadelphia June 10-11, 2025 to train for the Forum.

About FIRE:

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s mission is to defend and sustain the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought — the most essential qualities of liberty. FIRE educates Americans about the importance of these inalienable rights, promotes a culture of respect for these rights, and provides the means to preserve them.

Position Summary:

Free Speech Forum Counselors are residential counselors, program facilitators, and mentors who provide guidance and support during the FIRE Free Speech Forum, a free, one-week educational summer camp for rising 10th to 12th graders. Counselors play a key role in supervising and mentoring participants, facilitating educational activities centered around free speech, and ensuring a positive and engaging learning environment. They collaborate with other site staff to monitor students' well-being, ensuring their health, safety, and security throughout the program. Counselors deliver a high-quality, supportive experience that aligns with FIRE's mission and values.

This is an intensive, residential position that requires active engagement with students and staff around the clock. Counselors will be expected to provide support and supervision throughout the duration of the camp (Saturday, June 21 - Saturday, June 28, 2025), including evenings and weekends, and may need to be available for emergency or urgent issues 24/7 while on-site. Counselors will stay on campus at American University with the participants.

The Free Speech Forum Counselors will report to the Vice President of Student Development and work closely directly with attendees, FIRE staff, and the team of Counselors. The duties for this position include, but are not limited to:

Residential Support & Supervision

• Providing guidance and support to up to 10 students, ensuring they understand and follow program policies.
• Accompanying students to scheduled activities and informal excursions, maintaining a productive learning environment and orderly behavior.
• Overseeing morning wake-ups, evening lights-out, and monitoring the residence hall after hours.
• Conducting nightly suite checks to ensure all participants are accounted for.
• Being available for after-hours emergencies, including medical and crisis situations. Perform “on-call” duties to address resident crises and resolve issues involving students, staff, or other personnel.

• Working with the FIRE team to facilitate participant check-ins and check-outs. This includes:
  • Checking in attendees, ensuring their arrival, distributing nametags, and assisting with orientation.
  • Overseeing check-out procedures, such as room inspections and the collection of room keys.
• Assisting with roommate disagreements and community conflicts, mediating as necessary to maintain a harmonious environment.
• Ensuring participants adhere to the evening curfew and report any issues.
• Maintaining regular communication with the Vice President of Student Development, lead counselors, FIRE staff, and health staff to ensure student safety, manage risk, and address emergency situations.

Student Engagement

• Creating and implementing supplemental social and educational experiences tailored to the needs of the student community.
• Organizing social activities that engage attendees and build community.
• Being available to address and respond to student social, emotional, behavioral, and health-related issues.
• Providing students with clear, knowledgeable information about FIRE's mission, and answering any questions they may have.

Logistics & Coordination

• Assisting with transportation for participants, including facilitating airport departures and late arrivals.
• Ensuring all transportation details are clearly communicated to students.
• Ensuring that the residential needs of participants are met, including facilities and accommodations, and report any issues.

Training

• Attending and completing all required training sessions before the Free Speech Forum, including orientation and sessions on health and safety, and harassment prevention training.
• Attending mandatory in-person training on June 10-11, 2025.
• Travel, meals, and lodging will be provided for the training session in Philadelphia on June 10-11, 2025.

Qualifications:

Counselors must be at least 18 years old. A successful candidate will have a good work ethic and have the ability to manage communications with various different audiences. Most importantly, the candidate must demonstrate a knowledge and passion for FIRE’s mission and an ability to articulate that mission in a way that will make others enthusiastic about our cause.

A candidate must also be able to demonstrate:

• Availability to live in assigned program housing for the duration of the program.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to think quickly and creatively to solve problems in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Excellent judgment in making timely decisions.
• Experience working effectively as part of a team and collaborating well with others.
• Comfort and experience working with high school students in a supportive and educational setting.
• Ability to develop and maintain professional and respectful relationships with students and staff.
• Ability to manage high-stress environments and handle challenges with composure.
• Ability to commit fully to the Counselor role, with no other personal or professional commitments during the program period.
• Ability to meet acceptable background check standards.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.

Preferred but not required:

• Experience in leadership, teaching, or mentoring roles within summer programs, camps, or other academic or residential youth programs.
• Experience working with children or adolescents in structured environments (for example, coaching, tutoring, teaching).
• Experience supervising or mentoring others, including working with volunteer teams or camp counselors.
• Experience attending universities in the United States, preferably undergraduates (rising juniors or seniors), graduate students, or recent college graduates.
• Prior attendance at FIRE events.

Compensation:

Counselors will be compensated a total stipend of $2,000 for the training session and Free Speech Forum. Counselors will be paid after the Free Speech Forum.

Applications:

Applicants should provide a resume and cover letter. All applications are confidential. Please address applications to Cait Scanlan, Chief People Officer.