Camp Director (Program Administrator)

Job Title: Camp Director

Reports to: Program Development Manager

Classification: Seasonal, exempt

Compensation: $1,200 per program

Position Summary:

At PALS, we offer inclusive camp experiences for individuals with Down syndrome and their Peers, led by volunteers. We aim to change attitudes, transform lives, and foster belonging. As Camp Director, you oversee program execution, support volunteer leaders, and manage operations. This seasonal role may involve pre-summer responsibilities but is not mandatory.

Time Commitment:  

Pre-camp: Attend 6 hours of virtual training. Attend pre-camp planning calls with Program leads 8-, 6-, 4- and 2- weeks out from program start as available. The exact timings of calls are to be determined, and all calls will be held virtually.

Summer: Attend your assigned in-person program(s) from Friday morning through the following Saturday afternoon, nine days total. Program Administrators must attend their assigned programs in their entirety and cannot be admins for consecutive program weeks. The cost of travel to programs will be covered according to PALS’ staff travel policies.

Location options: Varies across the USA, location preferences will be considered, and options may have some flexibility.

Week 1: Friday, June 14 - Saturday, June 22 - New York

Week 2: Friday, June 21 - Saturday, June 29 - Philadelphia

Week 3: Friday, June 28 - Saturday, July 6 - Los Angeles

Week 4: Friday, July 5 - Saturday, July 13 - Cleveland

Week 5: Friday, July 12 - Saturday, July 20 - Boston

Week 6: Friday, July 19 - Saturday, July 27 - Chicago

Week 7: Friday, July 26 - Saturday, August 3 - Baltimore

Week 8: Friday, August 2 - Saturday, August 10 - San Francisco

Essential Job Functions:

Summer:

1. Live on-site for the entire duration of your program (9 days)
2. Lead pre-camp trainings with all relevant Lead and Peer volunteers
3. Ensure all policies and procedures, including standards of the American Camp Association (ACA) and state and local requirements, are met and adhered to by staff and participants. Respond to all critical incidents and act swiftly in any emergency situation in accordance with organizational policies and procedures, including ACA standards.
4. Oversee the daily operation of the summer overnight camp, including program, food service, business, participant and staff supervision, and health care.
5. Oversee and monitor all risk management, crisis, healthcare, and emergency procedures. Ensure all staff are well-trained and informed of all policies and procedures. This includes but is not limited to, inclement weather, outdoor risks, lost participant procedures, fire, medical procedures, strangers on-site, etc.
6. Maintain communications with University Contact, PALS Program Manager, on-call PALS staff members, and parents where appropriate throughout the week of camp.
7. Facilitate evaluations of camp program and volunteer leaders
8. Ensure that all records, materials, and equipment are accounted for and securely stored at the end of the week.
9. Other duties as assigned by Program Coordinators, Program Manager, or Executive Director related to the success of the summer camp program.

Requirements:

• At least 25 years of age by the beginning of your first program.
• Have at least two prior seasons of administrative or supervisory experience in an organized camp (approximately 24 weeks).
• Participate in at least 5 hours of professional development training
• Commitment to living out the PALS Promise and living by the PALS values to be welcoming, genuine, passionate, supportive, and fun.
• Working knowledge of the ACA standards.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience working with individuals with Down syndrome or other intellectual disabilities is helpful but not required.
• The ability to provide leadership, counsel, motivation, and supervision to a volunteer staff team of up to 15 people. 
• This position requires listening to others, observing others’ actions and taking corrective actions when necessary, reading text and information, and comprehending instructions and manuals. It also requires the ability to move throughout the campus, on and off transportation, and around off-campus trip sites in various environmental conditions.
• Ability to cultivate individual and collaborative relationships while preserving the professional boundaries necessary to create and maintain effective relationships.

Equal Opportunity Employer

PALS is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workspace. We recognize that this takes consistent work and are committed to continual improvement. We believe that diverse ideas, cultures, and traditions reflect the broad diversity of the U.S. and are essential to building our vision of a community of belonging. PALS encourages applicants to describe in their cover letter the unique contributions they, as individuals with diverse experiences, would bring to the organization. We particularly encourage BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) individuals to apply.