What are the responsibilities and job description for the Discovery Camp Supervisor position at Whatcom Family YMCA?
Ready to lead a summer full of curiosity, creativity, and organized chaos (the fun kind)? The Whatcom Family YMCA is looking for an
energetic and confident Discovery Camp Supervisor to lead an unforgettable day camp experience for youth in grades 1–5.
From epic games and messy art projects to nature hikes and field trips, you’ll help create a camp where kids can explore, grow, and build
confidence—while leading a team that makes it all happen.
Your mission? Keep kids safe, staff supported, and the fun dial turned all the way up.
What You’ll Do
As our Discovery Camp Supervisor, you’re the engine behind camp magic.
You’ll:
• Lead, coach, and hype up a team of Lead Counselors, Counselors, and
support staff
• Plan and oversee awesome, age-appropriate activities (think: crafts,
sports, games, songs, hikes, and more)
• Design and lead field trips and off-site adventures
• Keep camp running smoothly—schedules, supplies, staffing, and all the
moving pieces
• Make sure every camper is safe, included, and having a great experience
• Support staff with coaching, problem-solving, and conflict resolution
• Communicate with families and share the highlights of each camper’s day
• Keep everything aligned with YMCA safety standards and best practices
You’ll spend your days juggling logistics, solving problems on the fly,
celebrating camper wins, and making sure your team feels supported and
successful.
Who You Are
You’re someone who:
• Loves working with kids and believes camp should be fun, inclusive, and
impactful
• Is a natural leader who can guide, support, and motivate a team
• Thrives in fast-paced environments where no two days look the same
• Can stay calm, positive, and flexible when things get busy (or a little
chaotic)
• Understands behavior management and creates a supportive environment
for all kids
• Builds strong relationships with staff, campers, and families
• Brings energy, organization, creativity, and a sense of humor
You’ll do especially well if you have:
• Experience in youth development, outdoor education, or recreation
programs
• Experience supervising staff or leading teams
• A passion for creating meaningful, engaging experiences for kids
If you’ve led camps, enrichment programs, or youth activities before—you’re
already speaking our language.
Why the Y?
At the Whatcom Family YMCA, we’re all about youth development,
healthy living, and social responsibility. Discovery Camp is where kids
build confidence, friendships, and independence—all while having a blast.
When you join our team, you’ll:
• Lead a program that makes a real impact on kids and families
• Gain valuable leadership and program management experience
• Work with a supportive, mission-driven team
• Spend your summer being active, creative, and outdoors
• Help create core memories that last a lifetime
OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY:
Everything we do at the YMCA is based on the ideal that everyone should have the opportunity to reach their full potential, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or identity, diverse abilities, age, religion, socioeconomic status or any other statuses or identities. Our work is focused on eliminating barriers to access, eliminating disparities in health, providing educational support, supporting working families, and growing our next generation of change makers for our country.
Qualifications:
What You’ll Need
• Experience in youth development, recreation, education, or camp programming
• Experience supervising staff or leading teams
• Strong communication, organization, and leadership skills
• CPR/First Aid/AED certification (or ability to obtain before camp begins)
• Commitment to YMCA core values: honesty, respect, caring, and responsibility
• Completion of required safety trainings including Praesidium Child Abuse Prevention
Bonus Points If You Have:
• Outdoor education or environmental programming experience
• Lifeguard or Open Water certification
• Previous YMCA camp leadership experience
• Bilingual or multilingual skills
WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- The employee needs sufficient strength, agility and mobility to perform essential functions and to safely supervise program activities.
- Ability to plan, lead, and participate in program activities in a variety of indoor and/or outdoor settings.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to high.
Salary : $23 - $26