Description
The Youth Summer Programs Assistant Director is a key member of the Camp Gallagher summer leadership crew. You’ll be part of the director team that sets the tone, builds the staff, brings the programs to life, and keeps the whole camp running smoothly. If you love mentoring staff, solving fun chaos, and believe camp can change lives (including yours), this role is for you.
You’ll help dream big, plan smart, and execute unforgettable experiences—while modeling what it means to lead with heart, hard work, and care.
The assistant director does a little bit of everything. From helping to lifeguard, to playing a rousing game of kickball, to hanging out with a homesick camper, to running into town to check the mail or pick up some batteries, you love to mix it up and stay on your toes. You may not know what each day will bring you, but you’re ready for anything, and while we hope for no emergencies, you are prepared for one and ready to respond with calm and responsible decision-making.
You also love to work with both campers and staff. You get a kick out of the quirky humor of the 7th and 8th graders and love to learn from the wisdom and stories of the juniors and seniors. The staff can come to you with questions, ideas, and requests, and you love to think through how to make their great ideas as fun as possible while minimizing risk to people, place, and equipment. You think big, but you also love to attend to details that others may find a bit mundane or complicated, and you help the staff remember that we are responsible for the utmost care of all campers. Your honest feedback is invaluable to the staff as they grow and develop in their skills, and your willingness to try new ways of doing things is invaluable to improving the program.
When the campers and staff venture out on their overnight adventures, you and the rest of the director team are on call for any needs that arise and spend your time working on property and program projects. Throughout each session, you and the director team work to make the experience the best it can be for both campers and staff.
Essential Job Functions:
- Plan and deliver a fun program to campers.
- Ensure that camp staff and campers know and follow safety and educational procedures during camp programs.
- Assist in the management and care of the physical facilities and equipment in all program areas.
- Supervise and evaluate program specialists and lodge leaders to develop and implement all facets of camp program activities.
- Develop and implement schedules and records for all areas of camp program and facilities.
- Be a role model to campers and staff in your attitude and behavior.
Other Job Duties:
- Attend administrative staff meetings, including pre-season planning and post-season debrief meetings.
- Maintain clear and positive written and verbal communication with all camp staff.
- Participate enthusiastically in all camp activities, providing support and guidance to staff and campers
- Participate as a member of the camp staff team to deliver and supervise evening programs, special events, overnights, and other all-camp activities and camp functions.
- Provide ongoing program ideas to counseling and activity area staff.
Relationships: Assistant directors have direct supervisory relationships with the counseling and program area staff. Assistant directors may in some cases be placed in charge when the Director is absent.
Required: Must be at least 21 years old
Job Type: Temporary
Salary: $126 per day
Schedule: mid-June - late-August
Requirements
Qualifications:
- At least 21 years of age.
- Have or be able to become certified in First Aid/CPR.
- Must submit health history record form prior to first day of work.
- Ability to interact with all age levels.
- Experience in administrative roles at similar camp, youth, or recreation program setting.
- Experience in the development and delivery of programs and activities for similar population.
- Current instructional certification in program or related experience.
- Current lifeguard certification preferred. (We will do our best to help you obtain certification and training, if needed.)
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Training and experience in teaching program to adults and children.
- Desire and ability to work with children and young adults outdoors.
Physical Aspects of the Position:
- Ability to communicate and work with groups participating (age and skill levels) and provide necessary instruction to campers and staff.
- Ability to observe camper behavior, assess its appropriateness, enforce appropriate safety regulations and emergency procedures, and apply appropriate behavior-management techniques.
- Ability to observe staff behavior, assess its appropriateness, enforce appropriate safety regulations and emergency procedures, and apply appropriate management techniques.
- Visual and auditory ability to identify and respond to environmental and other hazards related to the activity.
- Physical ability to respond appropriately to situations requiring first aid. Must be able to assist campers in an emergency (fire, evacuation, illness, or injury) and possess strength and endurance required to maintain constant supervision of campers.
- Willingness to live in a camp setting and work irregular hours delivering program in the facility available. Must be able to operate with daily exposure to the sun and heat and varying weather conditions.
