Hidden Lake Summer Overnight Camp Assistant Director

Job Summary: The Assistant Camp Director will assist in the administration, supervision, and coordination of the summer camp program, ensuring compliance with health and safety standards while fostering a supportive and engaging camp environment. This role collaborates with the Camp Director to implement a safe, fun, and enriching program that meets the camp's mission and camper needs.

About Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York: Girl Scouts create the world they want to live in and strive to make it better every single day. They explore their strengths, take on new challenges, and can always be themselves, regardless of background or ability. Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York is one of 110 councils across the United States, supporting Girl Scouts and volunteers across fifteen counties of upstate New York. We help build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.

Hidden Lake Camp: Our Camps are unique and shaped by the physical, and outdoor spaces in which they take place, the team-building nature of our activities, and the welcoming environment that we strive to create. Nestled on four hundred acres in the southern portion of the Adirondack Park, Hidden Lake Camp comprises a small private lake, streams, low mountains, woodlands, and beautiful hiking trails. The lake is an ideal setting for swimming, canoeing, and stand-up paddle-boarding, and kayaking. Camp facilities include a large playfield, high and low ropes courses, platform tents and lean-to units, a modern dining hall, a health lodge, a shower house, and buildings for activities and programs. Campers range from first through twelfth grade.

Summer Camp dates at Hidden Lake Camp are June 28th – August 1st, 2025 (This position starts one week earlier, on June 21st). These dates include setup, pre-camp training and post-camp clean-up. All positions include room and board. Camp staff are generally off from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon each week.

GSNENY operates two summer overnight camps; Hidden Lake Camp in Lake George NY and Lake Clear camp near Saranac Lake, NY. Many staff positions can be combined to work at both camps for a full summer of employment (9 weeks total, June 21st – August 22nd.)

Essential Job Functions:

1. Camper Supervision

• Ensure camper safety (physical, emotional, & mental)
• Apply basic youth development principles in working with campers through communication, relationship development, respect for diversity, active involvement and empowerment of youth.
• Manage camper behaviors with appropriate guidance and reinforcement
• Provide quality support that resolves concerns by offering creative solutions in a timely manner.
• Provide constant supervision of campers
• Plan and facilitate age-appropriate camp activities

2. Camper Engagement

• Uphold and consistently model the Girl Scout Mission & Law
• Be a positive role model for campers and peers as an active member of camp community, maintaining positive relationships.
• Demonstrate cultural competence in interacting with campers, staff, caregivers focusing on inclusivity & sense of belonging

3. Camp Administration

• Program Management
• Assist unit and program staff in designing and delivering camp activities aligned with camper age, abilities, and interests.
• Oversee program scheduling, ensuring smooth operation and timely adjustments when necessary.
• Staff Supervision and Training
• Participate in recruiting, interviewing, and training seasonal staff.
• Supervise direct reports and provide regular feedback, guidance, and end-of-season evaluations.
• Foster staff growth by serving as a mentor and role model.
• Coordinate staff schedules, time off, and coverage for weekend programming.
• Operational Support
• Share responsibilities for evening and weekend supervision, including nightly rounds of camp property.
• Work with property staff to maintain safe use of camp equipment and facilities.
• Support camp administrative tasks such as maintaining records, completing forms, and monitoring budgets.
• Customer Relations
• Maintain high camper and staff morale by promoting positivity and teamwork.
• Ensure excellent customer service for campers, caregivers, staff, and visitors.
• Act as a primary liaison in the absence of the Camp Director.

4. Health & Safety

• Proactively maintain high standards of health and safety in all activities for campers & staff
• Follow all policies and procedures set by GSNENY, ACA, DOH, SAC, etc.
• Ensure work areas & activities are safe and meet all requirements
• Report broken or damaged equipment or other hazards to the appropriate person in a timely manner and take appropriate action to keep others safe.
• Be alert to campers and staff needs and assist them with personal and/or health problems
• Ensure overall camp cleanliness/ upkeep – following Camp policy& protocols
• Follow the chain of command to solve problems and mediate solutions including reporting issues to the Camp Director, Assistant Director or Health Director when appropriate.
• Daily supervision and monitoring of campers and their needs
• Ensure proper health maintenance care, including campers' medication administered by health director

5. Mentorship & Role Modeling

• Promote & support the principles of the Girl Scout Leadership experience and the core philosophies of GSUSA and GSNENY
• Work collaboratively with other camp staff to ensure a positive camp experience for campers, caregivers and staff
• Maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with the camp team using open respectful communication
• Complete assigned tasks as scheduled and communicate any challenges or delays promptly
• Actively participate in trainings, at a satisfactory level to achieve training or certification credit
• Take initiative, identify areas of need, and complete other duties as assigned
• Participate enthusiastically in all camp activities, planning and leading those as assigned.

6. Administrative Duties

• Complete logs, daily/weekly reports, and other requirement documentation
• Communicate proactively with Camp Director and director reports about camper/ program needs, updates, or changes
• Utilize specialized skills in accordance with training and certification (First Aid, CPR, waterfront skills, ropes, archery, etc.)
• Contribute to verbal and written evaluations and communications as requested

7. Other Job Duties as assigned according to the needs of campers and camp programs.

Qualifications: (Minimum Education and Experience)

• Must be 21 years of age
• Previous experience at a summer camp in a supervisory or administrative role
• Must have CPR/AED/ First Aid certification, or willingness to obtain
• Must have Youth Mental Health First Aid course, or willingness to obtain
• Must submit health history record and examination form prior to first day of work.
• Must be able to pass criminal and sex-offender background check

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Understanding of the developmental needs of youth
• Ability to interact and provide instruction to campers of all age and skill levels and adults in a positive respectful manner.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skill in camp environment.
• Interest and ability to work with children outdoors.
• Ability to observe camper behavior, assess its appropriateness, enforce appropriate safety regulations and emergency procedures, and apply appropriate behavior-management techniques.
• Ability to observe staff behavior, assess its appropriateness, enforce appropriate safety regulations and emergency procedures, and apply appropriate management techniques.

Physical Aspects of the Job:

• Physical requirements of a camp staff position include: the physical ability to move about camp terrain, and engage in physical activities including prolonged standing, bending, stooping, walking long distances, hiking, climbing, and stretching; requires eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity to manipulate outdoor equipment; requires normal range of hearing and eyesight to record, prepare, and communicate appropriate camper activities/programs; Visual and auditory ability to identify and respond to environmental and other hazards related, and the ability to lift up to 50 lbs.; Physical ability to respond appropriately to situations requiring first aid. Must be able to assist campers in an emergency (fire, evacuation, illness, or injury) and possess strength and endurance required to maintain constant supervision of campers. Staff must be willing to live in a rustic camp setting and work irregular hours with limited or simple equipment and facilities; with daily exposure to the sun, heat, cold, and inclement weather conditions. Summer camp staff may encounter a variety of arachnids, including ticks and spiders, as well as insects like mosquitoes and flies, and other wildlife such as snakes and bats, while working outdoors in natural environments.

Job Types: Full-time, Temporary

Pay: $595.00 - $600.00 per week

Benefits:

• Employee assistance program

Work Location: In person

Salary : $595 - $600