Summer Camp Cafeteria Manager - Hidden Lake Camp

Job Summary: The Summer Camp Cafeteria Manager (Kitchen Manager) directs the overall food-service operation of the camp including purchasing, preparation, nutrition, service, sanitation, security, personnel management, customer service, and record keeping.

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 a week earlier on June 21.) These dates include set-up, 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 (8 weeks total, June 28th – 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. Kitchen Management

• Manage the daily operations of the camp dining service including coordinating activities between the kitchen and dining room.
• Oversee the planning and preparation of nutritionally balanced camp meals, snacks, and pack-out food.
• Ensures safe and efficient preparation and serving of camp meals in keeping with the camp’s budget.
• Ensures that special dietary requirements are accommodated, and reasonable steps are taken to avoid cross-contamination
• Work closely with person leading songs/announcements at each meal to coordinate timing of service.
• Arrange proper seating facilities keeping in mind all rules and regulations concerning safety, fire, and health concerns.
• Organize the feeding of all personnel in such a manner as to expedite the operation and to avoid delays.
• Food Service
• Prepare and cook food as the menu indicates utilizing frying, boiling, broiling, steaming, roasting of meat, poultry, vegetables, salads, soups, and gravies.
• Prepare foods including washing and peeling.
• Bake bread, pastries, muffins, etc.
• Set up food, supplies, and utensils for dining hall distribution.
• Store food and leftovers at proper temperature.
• Oversee the maintenance and sanitation of the dining room equipment and furnishings.
• Clean and maintain all food-preparation and storage areas.
• Supervise the cleaning of prep, serving, and dining hall dishes.
• Oversee the cleanliness of tables, benches, floors, ascertaining that everything is in readiness for the following meal.
• Oversee the cleaning and maintenance of the lavatory facilities within the dining area.
• Promote practices that seek to reduce waste, reuse items, and recycle as much as possible.
• Inspecting the cleanliness of all dishes, silverware, or any other eating/serving utensil.
• Set up an adequate area for the disposal of trays, silverware, trash, glasses, and recycling, etc.
• Maintain, stock, clean, and prepare beverages as needed in the dining room area.
• Oversee the sweeping and mopping of the dining hall on a daily basis.
• Inventory and refill any materials needed in the operation of the dining room.
• Oversee the inventory and ordering of food, equipment, and supplies and arrange for the routine maintenance, sanitation, and upkeep of the camp kitchen, its equipment, and facilities.
• Maintain inventory of food and household supplies.
• Order food and kitchen supplies consistent with menus and enrollment counts and budgets.
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness, sanitation, and safety.
• Clean and maintain all food-service areas, including kitchen, dining hall, storage, kitchen recycling.
• Inspect equipment and ensure equipment is repaired as necessary.
• Promote practices that seek to reduce waste, reuse items, and recycle as much as possible.
• Manage all administrative and human-resource functions with regard to kitchen and dining room employees.
• Monitor performance and training of the Kitchen Assistant.
• Coordinate schedule and job tasks with the kitchen assistant and other helpers

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 area 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.

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

6. Administrative Duties

• Complete logs, daily/weekly reports, and other requirement documentation
• Communicate proactively with Camp Director/ Assistant Director 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
• Experience in institutional or large food service setting.
• Knowledge of and experience in food service: ordering, inventory, budgeting, food preparation, family-style serving, buffet serving, cleaning, and institutional kitchen equipment.
• Knowledge of standards of food preparation and serving, storage of food, and kitchen procedures.
• Ability to work within a budget and purchase supplies efficiently.
• Experience in staff supervision.
• 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:

• Knowledge of current health and safety laws and practices is essential.
• Knowledge of and experience in preparation of special dietary foods.
• Ability to interact with campers of all age and skill levels and adults in a positive respectful manner.
• Interest and ability to work with children outdoors.
• Ability to observe staff behavior, assess its appropriateness, enforce appropriate safety regulations and emergency procedures, and apply appropriate management techniques.

Physical requirements of a camp staff position include: the 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 safely and properly use kitchen equipment; requires normal range of hearing and eyesight to record, prepare, and communicate appropriate information; 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).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: $950.00 - $1,000.00 per week

Physical Setting:

• Camp

Work Location: In person

Salary : $950 - $1,000