Teen Adventure Camp Assistant Director - Camp Campbell

YMCA of Silicon Valley•Boulder Creek, CA

About The Position

The Teen Adventure Camp Assistant Director is responsible for teen adventure trips in and out of camp and assists with staff training and development throughout the summer season. This seasonal role runs from May through August 2027 and pays $900–$930 per week. The Assistant Director supports the Summer Camp Director with pre-camp and in-service staff training, and helps create travel staff survival manuals. The role plans and coordinates trip programming, including food ordering and receiving, arranging additional drivers as needed, scheduling day trips, and organizing resident-camp overnights. The Assistant Director contributes to the leadership team’s evening programs, campfires, and daily and weekly schedules; supervises and appraises teen adventure camp counselors on trips; and attends all off-site day and overnight trips. The position includes checking in with trip counselors daily, providing support and leadership, maintaining records, coordinating shared responsibilities with other areas, supporting behavior-management escalations and documenting events, and safeguarding the health and welfare of campers and staff. When teen adventure camp is not in session, the Assistant Director performs other assigned leadership duties and uses established communication systems to work with other camp departments. The role requires the ability to assist with staff training; hike with a full pack; communicate and work effectively with people of different ages; recognize hazards and respond appropriately; observe camper and staff behavior; address health and safety concerns; and respond appropriately to improper behavior. The work may take place off-site and includes leading group activities and performing related physical skills. Physical demands include standing, walking, sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, climbing, pushing, pulling, and lifting or carrying objects weighing up to 35 pounds or more. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential duties. The YMCA competencies expected for this leader role include mission advancement, collaboration, operational effectiveness, and personal growth. These include demonstrating YMCA values and a desire to serve, building supportive relationships, communicating effectively, helping develop others, making sound judgments, planning and meeting goals, following budgeting procedures, pursuing self-development, and maintaining relevant functional and technical skills.

Requirements

Experience in a camp setting.
Extensive knowledge of camping and backpacking permits, skills, and gear use and maintenance.
Extensive knowledge of ropes and climbing programming.
Good character.
Flexibility and maturity, with the ability to be self-motivated and work off-site with minimal supervision.
Ability to relate effectively to peers and youth.
Commitment to the values of the YMCA of Silicon Valley and to the individual worth of each camper.
Ability to hike with a full pack.
Ability to work and communicate well with a variety of age groups.
Visual and auditory ability to recognize hazards and respond appropriately.
Ability to observe camper and staff behavior, respond to health and safety concerns, and address improper behavior appropriately.
Ability to respond swiftly in an emergency and lead and interact in group activities.
Ability to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, crouch, climb, push, and pull for extended periods, and lift or carry objects weighing 35 pounds or more.
Ability to fulfill the physical demands of the position, with reasonable accommodations where applicable.

Nice To Haves

Experience programming in a camp setting.
Experience working with peers as an authority figure; supervisory experience is a plus.
Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder certification; may be obtained upon hire.
CPR and First Aid certification; may be obtained upon hire.
ServSafe food handler certificate; may be obtained upon hire.
Class B license and YMCA-approved driver status; may be obtained upon hire and require a clean driving record and passing a drug test.

Responsibilities

Assist the Summer Camp Director with planning and conducting pre-camp and in-service staff training.
Create travel staff survival manuals.
Plan and coordinate all elements of trips, including food ordering and receiving, arranging additional drivers as needed, scheduling day trips, and organizing resident-camp overnights.
Contribute to leadership-team evening programs, campfires, and daily and weekly schedules.
Directly supervise and appraise teen adventure camp counselors on trips.
Maintain records as required by the Director.
Coordinate matters involving overlapping areas of responsibility and seek solutions that serve campers and the camp.
Check in with counselors on trips daily and provide appropriate support and leadership.
Attend all teen adventure camp off-site trips, including day and overnight trips.
Perform other assigned leadership duties when teen adventure camp is not in session.
Use the established system to communicate with other camp departments.
Assist with behavior-management escalations and document events.
Be responsible for the health and welfare of campers and staff on trips.
Communicate and work effectively with other members of the leadership team.
Assist with training all staff.
Observe camper and staff behavior, respond to health and safety concerns, and address improper behavior appropriately.