Assistant Day Camp Director and Teen Program Coordinator

Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County•Ithaca, NY

4d•$18 - $20•Onsite

About The Position

The mission of Primitive Pursuits is to steward the health of our community by fostering life-long relationships with the natural world through exceptional mentoring and nature education. Primitive Pursuits offers a variety of programs year-round, with our biggest program being our summer day camp. The Assistant Day Camp Director and Teen Program Coordinator is a new position that will assist in the typical Assistant Camp Director responsibilities, as well as act as a mentor for our Teen Assists Wilderness Instructors (16-17) and oversee the Mentor-In-Training (MIT) program for youth ages 13-15. This person works collaboratively with the rest of the Summer Leadership team to support the overall summer camp operations and success of the MIT and Teen Assist programs. Prior to the summer camp season, the main responsibilities are to meet with all Teen Assists and MITs to set up individualized Outdoor Leadership Development Plans and create/confirm summer MIT schedules. This position will also assist the rest of the Summer Camp Leadership team with staff training preparation and implementation, site and resource organization, and other administrative tasks to get camp ready for summer 2026. Once summer begins responsibilities include: mentorship and oversight of MITs, Teen Assists, and Instructors, responding to emergencies, facilitating staff meetings and planning, maintaining camp resources and supplies, assisting instructors with camper supervision, and interacting with parents, campers, staff, and administration as needed. This is a great role for someone who has leadership experience in summer camps and can connect with and motivate teens to reach their full potential.

Requirements

21 years of age or older
Must pass all required screenings for working at a NYS Summer Camp
Driver’s license and transportation to various camp locations on time
Minimum 1 year experience in an administrative OR supervisory experience in a camp setting or other related field
Minimum 1 year experience in mentoring OR coaching teens ages 13-17
Experience with helping youth or teens set goals and track progress
Attend and assist in leading staff training June 22-26, 2026
Able to work most of the camp season, June 22-September 4, 2026
Must have RTE First Aid OR WFR Certification, and CPR for Professional Rescuer or higher OR be able to attain it before the start of camp
Experience teaching children and youth ages 5-16 directly in an outdoor setting
Values diversity and inclusion and demonstrates an active awareness of issues of cultural appropriation and privilege
Able to work in a changing outdoor environment in all weather and tackle new problems each day
Possess a high level of comfort and curiosity in the natural world
Ability to inspire and relate positively with youth, teens, and young adults
Ability to work evenings as needed
Ability to manage conflict situations appropriately and efficiently
Works well with minimal supervision and asks for assistance when needed
Experience in planning daily and weekly wilderness survival/naturalist activities, projects, and games for youth ages 5-16
Strong commitment to teaching and sharing an appreciation for nature with people of all ages
Previous experience with primitive technologies and wilderness survival or naturalist/outdoor skills
Uphold the 4 Values of camp: Belonging, Gratitude, Awareness, and Getting Outside, in all interactions with campers, staff, families and parents and within programs

Nice To Haves

Excellent social, communication, writing, and computer skills
Ability to learn and convey skill sets efficiently
Developing skills in specialized areas pertaining to wilderness living, primitive or naturalist skills OR seeking to learn specialized skills pertaining to wilderness living and primitive or naturalist skills
Experience in mentoring OR coaching staff members/co-workers in problem solving, organization and day to day coordination
Experience working with people of diverse educational and cultural backgrounds
Well-developed sense of humor, play, and curiosity
Experience with nature awareness culture, such as Wilderness Awareness School, Art of Mentoring, or Kamana
Experience with Coyote mentoring

Responsibilities

Arrive to work on time and ready for the day ahead
Regularly check the Primitive Pursuits email regarding Mentor-In-Training (MIT) communication and respond within a 2-day period
Set up Zoom/In-Person meetings with MITs and Teen Assists and help them to create an Outdoor Leadership Development Plan
Coordinate with MITs and their families on summer 2026 schedules in collaboration with the rest of the Summer Leadership Team
Create positive rapport with MITs, their families, and Teen Assists
Establish regular check-ins with scheduled MITs and Teen Assists each week of camp regarding goal setting, camp experiences, and skill development
Communicate and coordinate with Summer Leadership team and Coyote Camp staff regarding MIT skillsets, strengths, and growing edges
Assist with the development and coordination of camp programs and activities for a safe, engaging, high quality summer program within the scope of the Primitive Pursuits mission
Provide organizational and programmatic support
Assist with hiring and training of all summer camp staff
Assist with maintaining fiscal records for the summer camp program, including summer budget, expense reports, and Camp Store transactions and records
Assist Health Director and Day Camp Director in assuring that Health Department Guidelines for summer camp are met
Assist in the designation of camper, MIT, and Teen Assist placement within groups
Address crisis management, discipline, and troubleshooting issues related to campers and/or staff.
Assist in determining supply and equipment needs and in ordering/purchasing in collaboration with the Summer Leadership Team
Support and supervise instructors in organization, implementation, decision-making, and troubleshooting
Support instructors in creating dynamic, engaging, and thoughtful environmental immersion weekly program experiences in the context of wilderness survival, living skills, and outdoor/naturalist skills and knowledge
Maintain a positive and calm team atmosphere that includes campers, families, staff, and volunteers
Schedule, supervise, and evaluate program staff, including Lead Wilderness Instructors, Assistant Instructors, Teen Assists, Interns, MITs, and volunteers, providing support and disciplinary measures when necessary
Actively participate in the process of giving, receiving, and implementing constructive feedback among Instructor and Summer Leadership teams
Assist in the evaluation of the camp itself, as well as the camping experience for campers
Assist in overnight camp programs and able to stay onsite if needed (one night)
Work as a Wilderness Instructor during the summer when needed
Role-model passion, enthusiasm, and comfort around engaging with the elements of nature
Role-model appropriate footwear, clothing, and outdoor gear for the summer camp experience
Represent the high caliber of the organization when speaking to parents, staff, and campers
Ability to speak with family members regarding camper behavior, conflicts, or situations
Work collaboratively with the 4-H Primitive Pursuits Program and Camp Director when needed or requested
Ability to step into the role of Day Camp Director if necessary
Other duties as assigned