Summer Camp Coordinator

Position Title: Summer Camp Coordinator

Department: Learning and Engagement

Reports To: Learning Programs Supervisor or Manager

Location: Audubon Zoo, Aquarium and Insectarium

Position Type: Full Time Temporary

Who We Are 

Audubon Nature Institute comprises Audubon Park, Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium, Audubon Insectarium, Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center, Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species, Woldenberg Riverfront Park, and Audubon Wilderness Park

At Audubon Nature Institute, we are more than a collection of parks, museums, and conservation centers—we are a dedicated team with a shared mission to celebrate, protect, and connect people to the wonders of nature. Our work is guided by our culture code, which is at the heart of everything we do. We believe in Activating Impact by integrating tangible, real-world outcomes into all our initiatives, fostering a culture where every action contributes to a positive environmental impact. We are committed to Empowering Optimism, using positivity to inspire others to act and believe in their capacity to create meaningful change. We strive to Create Connection by engaging with people from all walks of life, knowing that the collective strength of a diverse community can address the most pressing challenges facing our natural world. At Audubon, we embody the spirit of Le Bon Temps, infusing the joy and vibrant culture of Louisiana into our everyday work, celebrating our unique heritage while advancing our mission. As Leaders of the Pack, we constantly seek smarter, innovative solutions, challenging conventions to drive the change we want to see in the world.

What You’ll Do (Summary of role)

The Summer Camp Coordinator (“Coordinator”) is a key member of the Learning & Engagement (L&E) team and contributes to our mission by coordinating and overseeing daily operations for our Summer Camp programs.  This includes daily administrative tasks, supporting and guiding the Summer Camp Instructor team, and delivering and supporting informal education programming for campers.  This position will work at either the Audubon Zoo or the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium. The coordinator plays a key role in creating memorable mission-based connections and experiences for children in our community by ensuring the logistics of the camp day run smoothly and effectively following a comprehensive camp curriculum developed and provided by the Learning Team. This position is ideal for folks who enjoy working with children, are familiar with camp administration and operations, and have prior experience with managing groups of children in a classroom, camp, or other educational environment. 

Summer Camp runs for 8 weeks starting the first week of June with no camp the week of July 4th. There are also mandatory in person training days during the last week of May before camp starts. Shift times will be Monday through Friday 7:30am-4pm at the Zoo and Monday through Friday 9:30-6:00pm at the Aquarium and Insectarium. 

Day to Day Responsibilities 

•    Overseeing daily camp logistics with the support of the Camp Manager on Duty 

•    Ensuring and supporting the delivery of curriculum for summer camps

•    Collaborating and communicating with other teams within L&E and with other departments at the Zoo to coordinate and support programming

•    Setting and cleaning up programs spaces and ensuring supplies are stocked and available

•    Assisting in the supervision, mentorship, and evaluation of Counselors-in-Training (teen volunteers entering 8th through 12th grade)

•    Assuring guest and animal safety procedures are followed

•    Facilitating camp evaluations and feedback

•    Promotes an inclusive camp experience for participants of different backgrounds

•    Leading preparation of camp outlines, daily activities and special events, camp supplies and additional programming requirements for camp staff.

•    Communicating camper and programming needs or concerns to Camp Management in a timely manner

•    Communicating with camp families by phone, email, and in person

•    Providing classroom support for instructors, including substituting as a classroom lead or instructor as needed, as well as 1:1 camper support for various behavioral needs

Additional/Overall Skills:

•    Maintain a positive attitude and a strong sense of accountability, fostering a collaborative team environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute.

•    Thrive in a team environment, using your organizational and technical skills to ensure the smooth execution of creative projects that resonate with our audience.

•    Celebrate the successes of your team and bring enthusiasm to your work, reflecting the joyful culture that is at the heart of Audubon’s mission.

•    Stay adaptable and open to learning new skills, embracing change and innovation as opportunities to lead and grow.

•    The above listed duties are general statements of required major duties and responsibilities performed on a regular and continuous basis. They do not exclude other duties as assigned.

What We’re Looking For

Must Haves: (required for the role)

•    1-3 years working experience in a formal or informal learning environment and demonstrated experience with classroom management

•    Bachelor’s degree required in Education, Biology, Zoology, Communications, Ecology, Environmental Education or other related field, and/or equivalent work experience.

•    Demonstrated experience in effective coordination and communication with youth and adults from diverse backgrounds

•    Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines effectively

•    Exemplary presentation and oral communication skills

•    Must be able to commit to all eight weeks of camp and be available for in-person training

Nice-to-Haves: (preferred for the role)

•    Demonstrated experience working with and mentoring adult and youth volunteers in an interpretive or educational setting

•    Experience with program and curriculum evaluation 

•    Familiarity with Audubon Camps or similar outdoor programming 

•    Experience with education materials management 

•    Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, for program coordination and communication

Physical Requirements: 

Physical Demands:

Ability to stand and walk for up to 2/3 of the day.

Ability to lift and carry objects up to 20 pounds.

Ability to speak loudly to crowds in a variety of situations included moderate to loud crowds. 

Frequent use of hands and arms to operate office equipment and manual tools.

Visual ability to read, write, and operate standard office machinery.

Environmental Conditions:

May be exposed to high, medium, or low noise intensity

Works effectively in a moderately noisy office

Constant contact with co-workers required

Exposure to fluctuations in temperature is required

Exposure to extreme heat and outdoor conditions is required