Summer Camp Director

Recruiting Range: $62,272 - $64,000 – Check out the YMCA's total compensation package

Location: YMCA Camp Pine Crest

Work Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Employment Type: Contract Full Time Salaried (12 months with possibility of extension)

Number of Vacancies: 1

Anticipated Start Date: December 1, 2025

Deadline to Apply: November 14, 2025 at 5:00pm

Be the Spark
Join our dynamic Camping and Outdoor Education team, where every day is different, and you will always be engaged with meaningful work

The Summer Camp Director provides year-round leadership to camp operations, ensuring program delivery aligns with the guiding principles of the camp and the standards of the Ontario Camping Association. Reporting to the on-site General Manager, the role collaborates closely with the Outdoor Centre Director, Food Services Director, and Facility Manager, while supervising the year-round Assistant Summer Camp Director. Key responsibilities include recruiting, hiring, training, and supervising approximately 130 seasonal staff, managing community and industry relationships, and overseeing program operations, safety, and budgetary accountability.

The position focuses on delivering high-quality camping experiences through overnight and day camps, family camp, and March Break programs. With Pine Crest's 115-year tradition of nature-focused programming, including canoe trips ranging from overnight journeys to 35-day expeditions across Canada, the Summer Camp Director plays a central role in maintaining this legacy.

In this role, you will:

• Plan and coordinate all aspects of overnight and summer camp programs, including extended canoe trip logistics, and daily camp programming for approximately 300 campers per week
• Oversee summer camp wellness operations, ensuring all camper wellness procedures are followed consistently, documentation is accurately maintained, and continuous improvements are implemented
• Maintain and enhance summer programs in accordance with the results of parent surveys, YMCA Camping Quality Recommended Practices, Ontario Camps Association standards, Public Health, and the Employment Standards Act
• Provide leadership to the camp staff team and oversee the daily program operations of summer camp, ensuring all staff deliver high-quality programming and effective supervision and support of all children and youth, including meeting YMCA Child & Youth Safeguarding practices
• Manage the recruitment process for a seasonal staff team of over 130 people, including interview days in Toronto, ensuring hiring practices, training requirements, and employment standards are met
• Plan and deliver high-quality, engaging, and comprehensive seasonal staff training
• Assist with camp programming and strategic marketing; collaborate with the General Manager and Communications Department to develop marketing and communication materials/plans, and attend camp fairs and other community events as required
• Provide a high level of customer service to camper families; ensuring concerns and escalations are addressed quickly and efficiently
• Provide leadership to summer camp program supply inventory and purchasing, creating and maintaining a culture of stewardship among the staff team
• Achieve assigned budget; monitor expenditures, work within assigned expense budget, and complete all required paperwork, including submitting invoices in a timely manner and completing visa reconciliation within the assigned timeline
• Monitor the safety of all activities and programs on-site and on canoe trips, respond to rectify any safety concerns, complete YMCA Accident/Incident forms, and submit follow-ups within 24 hours
• Collaborate with the General Manager to re-engage and provide ongoing support to the Pine Crest Alumni Working Group, fostering strong connections and meaningful alumni engagement
• Ensure Health & Safety procedures are maintained, and share with the staff team the responsibilities of keeping camp clean, organized, and safe to protect the well-being of all participants. Act as a role model to other staff in this area, ensuring consistent positive habits, and support kitchen and maintenance roles as required
• Partner with the General Manager to research and develop innovative camping programs aligned with the Association Strategic Plan, YMCA Camping Quality Recommended Practices, and Camping and Outdoor Education Plans
• Perform other duties as assigned

You bring:

• Post-secondary education in recreation, outdoor education, or related field or equivalent experience
• Standard First Aid & CPR Level "C" required
• National Lifeguarding (NLS) Certificate preferred
• Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder certificate an asset
• Must hold a valid driver's license, with an F Class license preferred, prior to the start of summer season
• Minimum 3 years supervisory experience in outdoor education or camping programs
• Knowledge of canoe tripping and wilderness expeditions preferred
• Demonstrated ability to lead and empower an inclusive staff team
• Well-developed interpersonal and relationship-building skills; ability to establish rapport and excellent communication with members, staff, and volunteers
• Excellent written communication skills
• Flexibility regarding assigned working hours, including days, evenings, overnights, weekends and holidays required
• Excellent understanding of diversity, inclusion, and equity including the ability to identify and address barriers, work effectively with diverse stakeholders, and integrate equity into program design

What you need to succeed:

• Commitment to the YMCA's Mission, Vision and Values
• Focus on the health, safety and wellbeing of all children, youth, and vulnerable people in YMCA programs including understanding legal and moral obligations related to reporting suspected child abuse to Child Protection Services
• YMCA Competencies: Accountable, Relationship-Builder, Improvement-Orientated, Team Player & Leader, Equity and Wellbeing Promoter

Why work for the YMCA?
The YMCA of Greater Toronto is a charity that ignites the potential in people, helping them grow, lead, and give back to their communities. We are committed to helping our employees reach their full potential and are recognized as a great place to work. We offer meaningful jobs and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals and the health of our communities. See what you can expect from the YMCA here.

Joining the Y means contributing to over 170 years of providing opportunities for people to shine through programs and services, such as health and fitness, licensed child care, camps, employment and immigrant services, education and training, and services for youth, families, and seniors. Learn more in our 2025–2030 strategic plan, Greater Together, which outlines how we are focused on building communities where people feel healthier and more connected to their neighbours.

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. We strive to remove barriers to employment and recognize that diverse staff who reflect the communities we work in enrich the experiences of our participants and our team. As an equal opportunity employer, we invite applications from all qualified candidates including racialized people/people of colour, Indigenous Peoples, disabled people/people with disabilities and members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

If we can make the recruitment process more accessible for you, please let us know when we reach out about a job opportunity so we can work with you to accommodate your needs.

In keeping with our commitment to safety and child protection, job offers are contingent on the successful completion of a Police Records Check. Within the first four months and every three years thereafter, a Vulnerable Police Records Check is required. Learn more about these checks here.

The YMCA only considers applicants who are legally entitled to work in Canada. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, due to the volume of applications we receive, we can only contact candidates who are selected for an interview.

Check out the next steps in our recruitment process and see what others are saying about working at the YMCA.