Aquatics Director-Summer Sleepaway 2025 at Camp Kaufmann-Temporary

Summer Sleepaway 2025 at Camp Kaufmann

Aquatics Director

Position Description
The Aquatics Director is responsible for the safety of campers and staff while at the lake waterfront and pool. They direct, supervise, and maintain aquatic program areas. They act in accordance with the New York Department of Health (NYDOH), Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), and the American Camp Association (ACA) standards, and demonstrate the mission of Girl Scouting and the positive impact of camp.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for camper and staff safety, playing an active role in risk management and enforcing water safety rules for everyone on camp property.
• Supervise and monitor all pool (swimming) and lake waterfront (boating and fishing) activities, ensuring Lifeguards are providing clear and engaging directions to all campers.
• Supervise and support 4-8 Lifeguards from diverse social, cultural, and economic backgrounds (including international staff).
• Promote team cohesion, ensure appropriate workload dispersion, and coordinate breaks.
• Develop an ongoing lifeguard in-service training and performance evaluation schedule, submitting written evaluations for all Lifeguards.
• Serve as a member of the Camp Leadership Team and facilitate cross-team communication, including daily check-ins with Senior Leadership.
• Plan, implement, and lead the Junior Lifeguard week at camp for high schoolers.
• Conduct weekly swim tests to assess all campers’ and staff’s swimming abilities.
• Establish and facilitate an effective “buddy system” for use at both the pool and waterfront.
• Maintain all safety standards and equipment according to NYDOH and ACA standards.
• Keep accurate records of pool water quality testing and maintenance.
• Maintain clean and organized program areas, including the appropriate use, storage, and cleaning of first aid kits, safety materials, pool toys, fishing rods, and boats.
• Immediately report incidents, accidents, illnesses, and maintenance issues to the Camp Leadership Team and assist in preparing reports as required.
• Guide campers and staff in emergency situations, remaining calm under pressure.
• Provide coverage for other staff during activities, meals, unit time, and overnight as needed.
• Enthusiastically participate in all aspects of camp, including staff training, structured and unstructured activities, position-specific in-service training, team building, and debriefing.
• Demonstrate quick thinking, excellent communication, sound problem-solving techniques, and ability to work as a team player.
• Model and teach camp expectations for campers and staff regarding cleanliness, personal hygiene, punctuality, mutual respect, appropriate language, and appropriate attire.
• Comply with all policies communicated in staff training and staff manual.
• Lead training activities as assigned by Camp Leadership during staff training.
• Abide by the mission and values of Girl Scouts.
• Provide excellent customer service to campers, caregivers, camp visitors, and other staff.
• Perform other tasks and responsibilities assigned by the Camp Leadership Team.

Minimum Qualifications

• Be at least 21 years of age by July 1, 2025.
• High school diploma or the equivalent.
• Current American Red Cross Waterfront Lifeguard, Water Safety Instructor (WSI), and Lifeguard Management certifications, or willingness to obtain.
• Current CPR, AED, and First Aid Certification or willingness to obtain.
• Minimum of 2 years of pool and/or waterfront lifeguarding experience.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience working with youth; in an aquatics environment preferred.
• Demonstrated experience supervising waterfront and pool activities.
• Desire and ability to work with and relate to campers and staff from diverse backgrounds in an outdoor environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage challenging behavioral situations with youth effectively.
• Patience, sense of humor, integrity, and an ability to adapt well to changing situations.
• The acceptance and understanding that employment is at a sleepaway (overnight) camp and that work hours are long and irregular.
• Possess the strength and endurance required to maintain constant camper and staff engagement and supervision daily throughout the summer.
• Clearance through the Sex Offender Registry and Criminal Background Check.
• Willingness to prioritize the needs of Girl Scouts of Greater New York and Camp Kaufmann.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior supervision experience.
• Prior camp experience and/or interest in the outdoors.
• Experience or interest in the Girl Scout program and youth leadership development. 
• Dates of Summer 2025 Employment:
  • Must live local to camp or on site and be available to work the ENTIRE duration of:
  • Staff training: June 22 – July 5. Additional certification classes may be required.
  • Summer camp programming (5 sessions): July 6 – August 8.
  • Camp closing/clean up: August 9 – August 10.
  • Time off: Friday evening to Saturday evening weekly, except July 5th.

Physical Demands
The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Ability to lift 40 pounds.
• Good health and the stamina necessary to work in a camp setting.
• Ability to stand and/or walk for long periods of time while leading programming.
• Ability to perform all lifeguard certification swimming skill requirements.
  Compensation
• $170 - $225 per diem rate range, based on prior experience and certifications.
• Room and board while at camp.
• Cost of travel to/from NYC weekly, plus other off-camp excursion opportunities.

No phone calls, please.

The Girl Scouts of Greater New York are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. This job description should not be interpreted as all-inclusive. It is intended to identify the essential functions and requirements of this job. Incumbents may be requested to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this description. Any essential function or requirement of this job will be evaluated as necessary should an incumbent or applicant be unable to perform the function or requirement due to a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Reasonable accommodation(s) for the specific disability will be made for the incumbent or applicant when possible.

Salary : $170 - $225