Summer Camp Director

SOLAR YOUTH WESTROCK CAMP is a five-week summer program that creates a continuum of opportunity for over 60 inner-city youth to learn about their local environment and their place in its protection as well as build personal skills and competencies. SY is committed to providing opportunities for youth between ages 4 and 13 to be enrolled at no cost to families. During the program, youth will play, explore the diverse environment of New Haven, learning about its ecology and urban infrastructure.  Emphasis is placed on youth understanding the connections between themselves, the environment and well-being. The full range of activities in camp include active games, arts and crafts, team-building exercises, hands-on learning, environmental exploration, mindfulness, literacy support, community service learning, and weekly out-of-neighborhood trips. 

OVERVIEW OF POSITION

Our youth reside in New Haven’s low income communities. Faced with incredible challenges such as poverty, crime and violence in their neighborhoods, they have few positive supports and rarely encounter opportunities to succeed. Countering this, Solar Youth staff build long term relationships with youth as young as 5 years old and continuing through high school. Through our neighborhood-based programs, youth explore their environment, learn the skills and joys of being agents of positive change, and teach what they have learned to others (Kids Explore! Kids Do! Kids Teach!). To enhance youth agency, we provide participants a voice in program and organizational leadership. We emphasize supporting positive, thoughtful, informed choices, personal responsibility, and having FUN. All Solar Youth programs incorporate 5 core elements. 

THE POSITION

We are looking for someone who is hands-on with a passion for youth development who has the skills and personality to effectively serve young people facing major life challenges. In addition to having the qualities of SY CAMP EDUCATORS, The CAMP DIRECTOR is responsible for the supervision of the campsite and staff, planning of appropriate activities, and overall safety of staff and campers. In this role, some of your duties will include designing suitable recreational activities, ordering camp supplies, and training camp employees. Your duties may also include modifying activities to suit the needs of specific groups.

To ensure success, the CAMP DIRECTOR should exhibit experience in developing camp curricula and demonstrate the ability to assume responsibility for the day-to-day management of a camp. 

The CAMP DIRECTOR must be enthusiastic, positive, independent people who are driven to support the success of young people and create positive change. Must be creative problem solvers, see a setback as a challenge, and love working with youth and teenagers. 

• Plan, coordinate, implement and supervise a well-organized, quality day camp program offering activities in camp songs and games, leading music with children, gardening, hiking and outdoor adventure, naturalist skills, cooperative games, nature arts, building, storytelling and role playing games, and outdoor adventure.
• Ensure camp environment promotes inclusivity, team focus and a fun recreational experience. Conduct on-site orientation for camp educators  Organize and conduct camp staff meetings as needed.
• Schedule, supervise and evaluate camp staff.  Ensure camp staff adhere to their assigned work schedules and provide ongoing performance feedback. 
• Establish camp rules and routines in collaboration with the camp educators.  Ensure that camp staff and participants know and follow safety and program procedures.   Maintain a safe environment at all times. 
• Maintain communication lines with camp families through daily communication systems and communicate with any parent/guardian whose child is experiencing difficulty or experiences an injury.
• Group campers by age and friendship requests.  Maintain accurate daily attendance records.  
• Arrange a system for loading and unloading buses and parent drop off and pick up locations (where applicable).
• Maintain camper files including but not limited to Camp Enrollment Forms, Permission Slips,, Medication Dispensing Forms, etc.  Ensure files are taken on field trips and to any offsite activities.  Maintain first aid kit inventory and ensure supplies are within their expiration dates.  Notify the Supervisor when supplies need to be replenished.  Ensure camp staff have travel first aid kits available at all times.   
• Keep all Accident/Incident Reports on file. Communicate significant injury and incidents to the goals, and outcomes. 
• Ensures the implementation of an evaluation plan to measure impact by overseeing the collection and analysis of program data.
• Oversees development of Program Outcome Report.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

• START DATE: 6/1 (or sooner based on availability)
• LOCATION: (IN-PERSON) New Haven, CT 
• PAY: $24 -$30 per/hour
• JOB SCHEDULE: SY CAMP dates are July 3 - August 4th (except 4th of July). Camp is daily M-TH 8:30AM-3:30PM (subject to change). Fridays are training days for all staff including our Youth Educator Interns. In addition time allotted for administrative duties: such as updating data, shopping for supplies, and 1on1s. There will be 1-2 weeks training at the end of June. The Camp Director will be expected to work full-day 8AM-4PM (Monday-Friday).
• 21+ years of age preferable with a clean driving record
• Candidates can expect a phone call, zoom, and/or in-person interview. 
• Longevity: Interested candidates will be considered for the full-time position of Program Director.