Assistant Day Camp Director

Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County•Ithaca, NY

7d•$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 works collaboratively with the Summer Leadership team to support summer camp operations. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: mentorship of staff, 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. Prior to the summer camp season, this position also assists the Summer Leadership team with staff training preparation and implementation, site and resource organization, and other administrative tasks. This is a great role for someone who has experience in summer camps and would like to become more involved with the leadership side of summer camp operations.

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 role in a camp setting or other related field
Minimum 2-year experience working with children ages 5-12 directly in an outdoor setting
Attend and assist in 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 in planning daily and weekly wilderness survival/naturalist activities, projects, and games for youth ages 5-12
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
Adapt quickly to shifting demands and multitask efficiently
Works well with minimal supervision and asks for assistance when needed
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, and families within programs and activities

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

Assist with the development and coordination of camp programs and activities for a safe, engaging, high quality summer program within the scope of 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 Summer Leadership Team in ensuring that Health Department Guidelines for summer camp are met
Assist in the designation of camper 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 weekly program plans
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, Interns, Mentors-In-Training (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 Camp Leadership teams
Assist in the evaluation of the camp program 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 families, staff, and campers
Ability to speak with family members regarding camper behavior, conflicts, and 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
Work at least one week of the Extended Day Program, if needed
Other duties as assigned