Programming Assistant Director - NYC Summer Camp

Kids in the Game•New York, NY

50d•$850 - $950•Onsite

About The Position

As one of our Programming Assistant Directors, you'll report to the Camp Director and work closely with the Admin & Off-Site Assistant Directors to oversee and manage camp programming. You will lead all aspects of program design, lesson planning, daily and weekly scheduling, special events planning, and daily activity execution. This role ensures camp programming is high-quality, inclusive, developmentally aligned, and reflective of our organization’s mission of providing positive opportunities through sport and creative play. You’ll create the weekly schedules, support specialists and counselors in delivering lessons, and bring camp-wide theme days and events to life for campers. This role is deeply rooted in creative programming and activity design, building intricate daily and weekly schedules that include on-site and off-site activities, a strong background in sports and arts instruction, and a love for camp culture! As an Programming Assistant Director, your goal is to build a schedule of daily and weekly activities that are aligned with the Kids in the Game themes and required curriculum, enhance the programming with activities that are interactive and skill-building (and a ton of fun), exciting team challenges to promote community and sportsmanship, and inspire your team of specialists to make every day at camp a unique and positive experience for the campers. You’re also an on-site leader for the camp team, making sure the camp staff have the resources and information they need to be successful, and ensuring that we are fully complaint with Department of Health regulations and maintaining our safety procedures.

Requirements

Must have completed a physical exam and TB test within one year of the camp dates, pass NYS and national background checks, and be CPR, First Aid, and AED certified.
Possess at least 2–3 years of professional camp leadership experience (e.g., Sports or Arts Head, Assistant Camp Director, Division Leader), including direct supervision of 5–10+ staff members.
Demonstrate experience in planning and leading large-scale events, weekly themes and pre-designed curricula, and camp-wide programs, as well as youth program development, summer camp operations, and recreational programming.
Demonstrate strong experience in curriculum design, activity planning, and program implementation across sports, arts, STEM, and creative play.
Possess a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood or Elementary Education, Physical Education, Sports Management, Art Education, Child Development, or a related field
Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills and communicate in a timely, professional manner with parents, staff, and colleagues across multiple channels (Slack, Email, Text, Google Calendar, etc.).
Be able to interpret and follow written or oral instructions (tutorials, step-by-step guides) as part of a self-directed training program.
Demonstrate proficiency using G Suite (Docs, Sheets), Ultracamp registration software, and Asana project management tools.
Commit to working part-time and remotely during the school year to support camp planning, and full-time for eight weeks during the summer.
Attend and help lead Core Trainings, all-staff team building events, and camp leadership training before and during the summer.
Exhibit strong relationship-building and collaboration skills with staff, campers, families, and partners.

Nice To Haves

A Master’s degree in Education, Theatre Arts, General Arts, Sports Management, Educational Leadership, or a related discipline is a plus.
Prior experience as a youth development supervisor or educator in a public or private setting (2+ years) may also meet the requirements for consideration.

Responsibilities

Ambassadorship: As a key “architect” of the camp day, you are not just facilitating programming—you are modeling what our mission looks like in action. Through your presence at rallies, transitions, and daily activities, staff and campers see the heartbeat of our camp experience. The way you structure the day, support staff, and activate themes communicates who we are as a camp that leads with purpose, play, and connection.
Camp Culture: Programming is one of the strongest drivers of culture at camp. You help shape the tone of the day by designing activities that make campers feel excited, challenged, included, and proud to show up each morning. From theme days to group rituals to closing celebrations, you translate values into experiences that build belonging for both campers and staff.
Ambitious: Always look for ways to elevate skill-building, increase engagement, and create more intentional moments of joy and growth. By continuously improving systems and lesson flow, you help your team deliver programming that feels thoughtful, dynamic, and memorable.
Positive: As the lead of programming, your tone becomes the tone of camp. Bring energy into huddles, patience into transitions, and encouragement into problem-solving. Positivity helps staff navigate change and helps campers feel safe taking risks and trying new things.
Committed: Successful programming requires preparation, follow-through, and ownership of the camper experience. Come ready each day with materials, plans, contingency strategies, and clarity for the team. Your consistency allows the camp day to run smoothly and gives staff the confidence to lean on your leadership.
Inclusive: Ensure programming meets every camper where they are. That means adapting activities, modeling inclusive play, and supporting staff as they differentiate instruction. Make sure every child sees themselves reflected in the experience—regardless of skill level, identity, background, or comfort with the activities.
Empathetic: Understand that behind every behavior is a need, and behind every need is a developing child. Lead with care when coaching staff through tough moments or helping a camper who’s overwhelmed or unsure. Prioritize emotional safety as much as physical safety—helping kids feel valued, capable, and understood.
Implement the Kids in the Game camp curriculum (weekly themes and daily activities in art, sports, STEM, and Early Childhood) in collaboration with the specialists and counselors.
Build age-appropriate weekly schedules for each group (PreK–7th grade), balancing sports, games, art, creative play, STEAM, swim, and team time.
Translate weekly theme guides into daily experiences that are fun, immersive, and developmentally aligned.
Plan and coordinate weekly special programming (theme days, Friday showcases, Olympics, tournaments, talent shows, etc.).
Ensure pacing, space usage, equipment needs, transitions, and staff assignments are clear and communicated in advance.
Conduct regular meetings with the specialists to review lesson planning expectations, daily/weekly schedule changes, and modify activities pending last minute changes (new campers, inclement weather, limited spaces, etc.).
Lead special events and weekly activities (based on instructional needs) alongside a team of specialists.
Guide specialists and counselors on lesson setup, camper engagement, time management, and behavior strategies.
Conduct frequent walk-throughs and observations to provide realtime coaching and encouragement.
Be a role model for specialists, counselors, and other camp leaders in how to engage with campers, and jump in to actively support activity rotations.
Help staff differentiate activities for various age groups and abilities so every camper can participate fully; support them in adapting activities to different spaces around the camp site (e.g. classrooms, hallways, auditoriums, gyms, cafeterias, outdoor green spaces, parks, etc.).
Bring excitement and energy to morning and afternoon rallies, theme days, assemblies, and special events.
Contribute positively to building camp culture by teaching camp cheers, team building games and activities, and camp rituals/traditions.
Ensure all activities reflect Kids in the Game core values of positivity, empathy, commitment, ambition, and inclusivity.
Foster camper participation and confidence-building — encourage trying new skills, teamwork, patience, and peer connection.
Apply proactive behavior strategies rooted in emotional intelligence and youth development best practice.
Actively engage with campers and staff throughout the camp day to build positive relationships and learn about their interests and needs.
Confirm equipment and supplies are available and prepped for each rotation.
Check on setup and breakdown of activity areas and ensure they are safe and properly supervised.
Uphold all DOH and camp safety protocols, especially around transitions, group management, and outdoor play.
Implement and enforce all safety protocols—including camper supervision ratios, emergency procedures, and incident reporting.
Support in leading staff training on emergency response, first aid procedures, and appropriate camper management techniques.
Respond to behavioral, medical, or environmental incidents calmly and effectively; communicate outcomes with families and leadership.
Maintain a culture of psychological safety—ensuring every camper and staff member feels physically and emotionally secure.