Program Director - Day Camp

Description

About Girl Scouts of Western Washington

Girl Scouts of Western Washington is consistently and unapologetically committed to providing safe spaces for all girls* to belong. We build Girl Scouts of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Founded in 1912, our organization has been committed to meeting the needs of our youth members for over a century. We uplift all Girl Scouts in a supportive environment where they can discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their very first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. They are the future leaders paving the way toward a brighter tomorrow. To learn more, visit www.girlscoutsww.org.

Girl Scouts of Western Washington values diversity, equity, and inclusion and we foster a welcoming, inclusive work environment. We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, age, national origin, gender, veteran status, sexual orientation (heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, and gender expression of identity), marital status, or the presence of any physical, sensory, or mental disability, or any other protected classification under applicable laws. 

*Girl Scouts of Western Washington uses the term girl inclusively to speak to everyone who identifies with the Girl Scout experience, which includes cisgender girls, gender-expansive youth, transgender youth, non-binary youth, gender nonconforming youth, genderqueer youth, and any girl-identifying human.

About the Position 

The Program Director advances the camp’s mission by designing, planning, and delivering engaging program activities that are safe, enjoyable, and developmentally appropriate for campers. This role oversees the daily operation of program areas such as target sports, challenge courses, and waterfronts, including staff supervision, training, scheduling, and equipment maintenance. As a key member of the camp leadership team, the Program Director supports the successful operation of the overall summer camp program. 

Compensation for this position is $178.40 - $184.40 per day, with the starting rate dependent on previous employment at GSWW camps.

Camp Season 2026 will run from June 8th through August 27th, with start and end dates determined by position. For the 2026 season, this position will be located at Camp River Ranch (Carnation, WA). Day Camp will run Monday through Friday 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M with staff hours starting as early as 7:00 A.M. and ending no later than 6:00 P.M. Staff will be scheduled for a 40 hour work week and receive breaks throughout the day. Staff will have the opportunity to ride camp buses to and from camp and support the check-in and check-out processes at bus stops. Camp River Ranch serves campers ages 5 to 17 and offers a variety of programming including swimming, boating, target sports, climbing wall, and classic camp activities. 

Requirements

Essential Duties and Responsibilities  

• Oversee the day-to-day planning and delivery of camp program based on camp goals, outcomes, and marketed activities 
• Observe and evaluate Lifeguards weekly, providing feedback through scheduled one-on-one meetings 
• Oversee equipment management for program areas, including pre- and post- season inventories, daily safety inspections, and submitting requests for repairs or replacement equipment as needed. 
• Develop and oversee implementation of weekly program area and unit schedules in coordination with the other department directors 
• Coordinate the procurement of program supplies requested by Program Specialists and unit staff while ensuring adherence to the approved budget 
• Assist with training summer camp staff in effective program delivery and program safety, ensuring a clear understanding of policies and procedures 
• Assist in the training of the summer camp staff in appropriate roles for waterfront support, program safety, and ensuring understanding of policies and procedures, including regular skill assessments throughout summer and organizing weekly in-service trainings for waterfront staff  
• Assist with the management of overall camp operations under the direction of the Camp Director 
• Implement weekly all camp activities such as all camp games, campfires, etc. 
• Carry out established duties for general camp operations including check-in and check-out, meals, bus supervision, camp cleaning, season opening and closing tasks, and completion of necessary paperwork 

This is a general description of the essential responsibilities of the position and is not inclusive of all job duties; other associated duties may be assigned 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Knowledge of and commitment to fostering environments that prioritize diversity, equity, inclusion, racial justice, and belonging 
• Comfortable working in a camp setting with a variable work week and hours, including on-call, overnight, and weekend responsibilities 
• Excellent interpersonal skills to ensure effective interactions with individuals at all levels and backgrounds, with the ability to work under pressure 
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize project tasks and deadlines, work independently and collaboratively, take initiative, and maintain confidentiality 
• Visual and auditory ability to identify and respond to environmental and other hazards  
• Ability to navigate technology programs and platforms independently including Microsoft 365; ability/willingness to learn new technologies 
• Ability to pass pre-requisite swimming skills assessment for lifeguarding including:  
• Swim 550 yards using front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination of both without touching the wall or touching the bottom 
• Tread water for 2 minutes using only the legs  
• Surface dive to a maximum water depth of 10 feet and retrieve a 10-pound object  
• Swim 5 yards submerged and retrieve 3 dive rings without resurfacing 

Supervisory Responsibilities 

• This position supervises 4 lifeguards 
• This position is also responsible for assessing the waterfront, target sport, and challenge course skills of all staff and coordinating with other supervisors 

Education and Experience Required 

• At least 21 years of age 
• High School Diploma or equivalent 
• Experience working in a summer camp setting or similar 
• Experience supervising staff 
• Experience in leading and developing programs for youth ages 5-17 
• Experience lifeguarding and boating on lakefront and/or tidal, saltwater based waterfronts 
• Experience facilitating challenge courses, including belaying 

Preferred Skills and Experience 

• Knowledge of the Girl Scout program 
• Experience in leading and developing programs similar to those camp offer (arts and crafts, archery, nature, outdoor skills, backpacking) 
• A valid driver’s license, clean driving record and willingness to transport campers and staff in 12 passenger vans 

Other Qualifications 

• Current certification in First Aid/CPR/AED or willingness to obtain 
• Current certification in Youth Mental Health First Aid or willingness to obtain 
• Current certification in American Red Cross Lifeguard Management or willingness to obtain Current certification in American Red Cross Waterfront Lifeguarding or willingness to obtain (see above pre-requisites) 
• Current certification or qualification for instructing youth in canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and/or paddleboards appropriate to the waterfront or willingness to obtain  
• Current certification in Association for Challenge Course Technology Level 1 or willingness to obtain 
• Satisfactory results from a criminal background check 

Work Environment  
Summer camp is a fast-paced outdoor working environment with 24-hour a day responsibility. Employees are frequently exposed to loud noises, sensory stimulating situations, and physically demanding activities. Employees should feel comfortable with: 

• Working outside in all weather conditions including heat, inclement weather, and specific environmental realities (humidity, wind, bugs, lake water) 
• Residing in non-air-conditioned living quarters 
• Living in communal living conditions with limited privacy and infrequent, minimal access to technology 
• Demonstrating emotional resiliency and regulation to handle extended, repeated stressful situations appropriately 
• Walking over unpaved, uneven, hilly terrain multiple times a day 
• Lifting and carrying supplies and equipment up to 35lbs 
• Responding to emergencies including utilizing skills to administer first aid/CPR when necessary, including overnight 
• Maintaining constant supervision and observation of program participants while assessing risk and participant safety