Summer Camp Manager, Camp Elphinstone

**Date Posted**:November 27th, 2024

**Position Title**:Summer Camp Manager, YMCA Camp Elphinstone

**Location**: Gibsons, British Columbia, Canada

**Terms**: Permanent, Full-Time

**Start Date**: As soon as possible

**Salary**: $54,500-61,800 annually
**Reports to**:Director, Sea to Sky

**Benefits**:

- On-site housing provided
- Competitive paid vacation time off
- Paid sick time and leaves
- Training and Professional Development Opportunities
- Employee Assistance Program
- Be part of a charitable organization that positively impacts the community

**Situation**:

- YMCA Camp Elphinstone is located near Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast, a 40-minute ferry ride from Vancouver. It is situated on 144 acres of temperate rainforest along the shores of Howe Sound. During July and August, Camp Elphinstone offers programs for youth ages 5-17, including one and two week overnight camps, Leadership Development programs, paddling and hiking multi-day out-trips, and day camps. From September to June, Camp Elphinstone operates as an Outdoor Education, Event and Retreat Centre for schools, conferences, weddings, and other special interest groups. Camp Elphinstone currently serves over 10,000 participants annually.

YMCA Camp Elphinstone has accommodation and dining for up to 472 campers or guests. Camp Elphinstone employs approximately 140 staff/volunteers during July and August, with a team between 20-50 for the spring and fall Outdoor Education seasons, and a smaller core team of 10 staff during the winter season. Successful Camp Elphinstone staff are self-motivated individuals whose ambition is to help children and youth develop in an outdoor camp setting.

**Nature & Scope**:

- The Summer Camp Manager will provide year-round leadership, planning and development for the YMCA Camp Elphinstone summer camp operation, ensuring our programs and services deliver on our vision of building vibrant, healthy and inclusive communities where everyone can reach their full potential. We ignite belonging by enabling everyone in our communities to have equitable access to healthier outcomes, and commit to delivering a 5-star YMCA experience every time.

Reporting to the Director, Sea to Sky, the Summer Camp Manager will be responsible for leading a strong staff team; the development and implementation of high quality experiential, camper-focused programming; maintaining and developing relationships with camper families; reviewing and updating systems and ongoing risk management and crisis response, ensuring adherence to YMCA BC policies and procedures, and BC Camps Accreditation Standards.

**Major Responsibilities**:

- Onsite supervision of all operations during summer operating season
- Provide leadership as an active member of the YMCA Camp Elphinstone Leadership team
- Directly supervise, providing leadership, guidance and performance management to two Assistant Summer Camp Managers.
- Recruitment, hiring, coaching and leading a team of over 100 staff and volunteers committed to building a strong, inclusive, and camper-focused culture
- Develop & deliver innovative training for staff that supports a 5-star camper experience.
- Develop & deliver experiential, camper-focused outdoor programming
- Ensuring that camper safety and care meet YMCA standards
- Ensure all applicable policies, practices, laws and regulations are adhered to; such as BC Labour Code, WorkSafe BC, ACCT Standards and National Lifesaving standards
- Maintain YMCA & BCCA program standards; positively role-model YMCA mission, vision, and values
- Ongoing risk management and crisis response following YMCA procedures
- Comfortable and available to be on call 24/7 to solve a wide range of problems and crises that may arise, such as waterfront, land program, and off-site backcountry emergencies, during operating season.
- Work collaboratively with the Director to manage interpersonal conflicts and challenging behaviours among campers, staff and volunteers. This includes making decisions to remove a child from camp due to code of conduct violations and liaising with the parents/guardians to communicate such decisions effectively.
- Develop & implement strategies that achieve & sustain program growth for camp programs
- Manage and meet targets in YMCA operating plans and budgets tied to summer camp delivery
- Building and fostering positive relationships with external relationships valuable to the ongoing success of YMCA Camp Elphinstone

**Qualifications/Experience**:

- Minimum of 3 years of leadership experience in a Camp supervisory/management role
- University Degree in an applicable field
- Well-developed interpersonal skills and relationship building skills
- Ability to manage multiple priorties and remain focused on results in a high demand environment
- Ability to work a flexible schedule according to operational needs
- Strong public relations, marketing and communication skills
- Experience with developing and implementing engagement strategies, and staff