Join our team as the next Assistant Program Director of Happiness!
Camp Description

Do you live the camp life and have the passion for the outdoors? Are you a self-proclaimed S'mores master? Can you canoe faster than a speeding mallard? Do you feel like you are ready for that next step in your camp outdoor education career? Are you the cause-driven leader we have been looking for at YMCA Camp Carter? YMCA Camp Carter is a 360 acre outdoor adventure camp and conference center located just 7 miles from Downtown Fort Worth. We facilitate programs for various area school groups and other retreat groups throughout the year. We are the ultimate camp experience, providing high-quality outdoor education programs that also include canoeing, archery, challenge course, horseback riding, rifles and so much more! Our outdoor education leadership staff will help support the work we do at the YMCA, by helping create a positive, nurturing environment for all of our participants and staff. They will also help each one reach their fullest potential and deepen their connections as part of their overall experience. All Candidates will exhibit the following qualities; Model our core values of Honesty, Caring, Respect and Responsibility. Have an attitude of service and be passionate about nurturing the potential of our youth. Be committed to upholding a high standard of integrity at work daily. Being a member of the team at YMCA Camp Carter can be extremely rewarding knowing each and every day you are making a difference. So are you ready to take the challenge and join us as we make a difference this year? If so, don't wait, take charge of your adventure and apply today!
Job Description
YMCA Camp Carter serves over 1,400 campers each summer through its weeklong day and overnight-camp sessions filled with fun and adventure. The Assistant Program Director of Happiness will report directly to the Camp Director and is the primary staff responsible for assisting camp counselors and unit leaders with any camper behavioral issues and organizing and coordinating staff break and time-off schedules. The Assistant Program Director of Happiness will work closely with the Assistant Program Director of Fun to coordinate staff break and time-off schedules with activity schedules.

Dates and Times: The Assistant Program Director of Happiness must be available from May 13, 2024 through August 10, 2024. Day Camp Staff Training will be held May 13th - May 24th and attendance is mandatory; the Assistant Program Director of Fun will also participate in and assist in delivering the Overnight Camp Staff Training held June 3rd - June 14th.

Room and Board will be provided; the Assistant Program Director of Fun must live on site for the duration of the summer.
This position pays $500/week before taxes.
Qualifications

• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Preferred 3 years of experience in education, camping services, outdoor recreation or working with children 5-16 years old.
• Sincere interest in and ability to work with groups of campers ages 5-16, as well as parents and staff of diverse ethnic populations.
• Ability to work as a team member with counselors and adult staff members.
• Ability to multitask, self-motivated, and dedicated to Camp Carter's success.
• Working at Camp does entail physical requirements that can include prolonged standing, hiking, walking long on uneven terrain and a variety of environments and weather, the ability to lift up to 40 pounds, and other physical activities.
• Must be willing to work with daily exposure to sun and heat. YMCA Camp Carter does have heat protocols for days of extreme heat.
• Well-developed leadership, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Basic knowledge of technology.
• Adult, Child, and Infant CPR/AED and First Aid, certified within 30 days of hire. Training provided by the YMCA.
• Teaching Certification, Education specialist certification, BCBA Certification, and/or RBT Certification are not required but are a plus for this position.

Essential Functions
Pre-Summer Responsibilities

• Prior to the summer and in partnership with the Camp Director, plans and prepares for the summer. Planning will include but is not limited to developing curriculum for camp activities and programs, determining the structure of camp days, recruitment of campers and staff, planning any camp trips, preparing rosters for activities or cabins, planning camper rotation schedules, assisting with camp marketing, and planning and preparing for staff trainings.

Camper and Counselor Support

• This APD's primary responsibilities are to assist counselors and unit leaders in handling camper behavioral issues that may arise. These issues can include bullying, homesickness, and conflict resolution between campers. The APD of Happiness is expected to use principles of positive behavior support and de-escalation to behavioral issues that arise at camp. The APD of Happiness will work closely with the Camp Director to determine when any disciplinary measures are necessary, including communications with parents or sending a child home from camp.
• In partnership with Camp Carter administration, mediate any camper or staff disputes.
• Understand and apply camper behavior policies.
• Create, design and help with camper intake process prior to their arrival at Camp as necessary. Understand and be able to rean an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and implement accommodations or modifications if needed, or provide behavioral support for campers within camper ratio, work with families to ensure collaboration and communication and that the Camp Carter program is a good fit for each child.
• Design and implement strategies and accommodations for campers needing alternative choices, breaks, visual schedules, or other strategies to avoid becoming over-stimulated, and help to de-escalate and re-regulate campers back into their assigned group or an alternative group as needed.
• Model positive behavior and coaching for counselors in relating to campers and encouraging positive camp experiences for all campers.
• When needed, assist the APD of Fun in designing, planning, and implementing evening programs.
• Assure all paperwork is accurately kept including but not limited to incident and accident reports and rosters.
• Assist with the leadership programs, including Teen Camp, Leaders in Training, and Counselors in Training.
• Guide and help develop Junior Counselors when necessary for training and opportunities.

Staff Scheduling

• Working closely with the APD of Fun, the APD of Happiness is responsible for coordinating all staff schedules for break rotations, day and overnight counselor schedules, the Camp Store.
• Working closely with the APD of Dun, maintain current headcount, ratios and rosters of campers in each activity and program area daily for both day and overnight camp.
• As necessary, assist the APD of Fun with the Camp Activity Fairs for Overnight Camp on Sunday nights.
• Ensures constant supervision of campers and maintenance of ACA-compliant ratios of campers to counselors.

Attitude

• Embody and model Camper and Guest first experience mindset.
• Lead by example, be a team player, have a can-do attitude and willingness to jump in whenever and wherever needed. This includes delivering programs if needed.

Leadership

• In partnership with the Camp Director, assists in facilitating regularly scheduled camp staff meetings and leadership meetings throughout summer.
• Support counselors in behavioral and disciplinary issues. Maintain presence within programs daily and provide guidance to counselors and unit leaders on handling and managing behavior issues.
• Supervise and engage with campers and ensure their safety, development, growth, skill development, achievements and well-being.
• Ensure cleanliness of camp, program areas, cabins, unit areas, dining hall, rec hall, and all other areas of Camp Carter property.
• Assist in maintaining program records, incident/accident reports, logs, daily check-in and attendance.
• Knows and understands all emergency procedures, protocols associated with Camp programs.
• Attend mealtimes as requested and ensure campers are adequately supervised; assist with dining hall procedures.
• Represent YMCA Camp Carter in a professional and positive manner while on and off camp property.
• Reports any maintenance or repair needs to the Facilities Director.

Cause-Driven Leadership Competencies
BENEFITS

• Work with your Friends - Text them the link to this page now!
• Build Your Resume: Working at Camp develops skills that apply in any number of future career fields - learn leadership and decision-making skills; how to communicate with kids, parents, coworkers, and others of various backgrounds and life experiences, hard skills like how to shoot bullseyes with an arrow, tie-dye like a true artist, and run a zipline; or obtain certifications including lifeguarding. Camp Counselors achieve great things on and off camp - just ask former First Lady Michelle Obama and former Disney CEO Michael Eisner, who both served as camp counselors.
• Free Gym Membership with the YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth with access to other YMCA facilities.
• Opportunities for growth: In addition to personal growth through learning hard and soft skills, there are opportunities for continued employment with YMCA Camp Carter of the Fort Worth YMCA year-round.
• Community Involvement: YMCA Camp Carter has been a vital part of the community for over 75 years.