COOKING PROGRAM LEAD - Summer Camp 2025

Description

POSITION SUMMARY:

This is a seasonal role from June - August and  supports the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit charitable organization committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Program Leads will provide overall leadership and management in their specific program area. They are responsible for implementing safe and engaging activities that are age appropriate, supervise counselors in their program area, maintain a clean and safe environment, ensure program equipment is well looked after, communicate supplies that need to be ordered in a timely manner, and program evaluation. The Program Lead position serves as a member of our program team and is charged with working in a collaborative way with their peers to ensure the success of all program areas at camp.  

Requirements

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES/REQUIREMENTS 

• Design, facilitate, and oversee progressive programming for Kids Kitchen specialty camp for campers entering grades 4th-9th. 
• Design and oversee the delivery of week-long outdoor cooking skill class curriculum for traditional campers grades 3rd-9th. 
• Teach Kids Kitchen campers a two-week curriculum of a variety of cooking techniques and recipes, emphasizing food safety, nutrition, international cuisine, creative decoration skills, and innovation of new flavors. 
• Delegate and support staff assigned to Kids Kitchen and Outdoor Cooking facilitating in activities and providing supervision.  
• Maintain strict safety protocol for practicing food safety and the use of kitchen tools, knives, and electric equipment. 
• Maintain a high level of cleanliness in the dining hall and outdoor grill(s), including daily cleaning of the fridges and sinks, mopping of the floor, safe storage of foods, and washing/drying of dishes.  
• Prepare supplies for activities ahead of program start time. 
• Responsible for the purchasing of food and supplies for Kids Kitchen and Outdoor Cooking programming. 
• Experience creating and leading youth/campers in a variety of recipes preferred. 
• Experience overseeing youth using stoves, grills, and other kitchen appliances preferred. 
• Teaching/Facilitation/Classroom experience preferred. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 

• Facilitate a safe, fun, and rewarding experience for all campers, while serving as a role model that embodies Camp Lincoln’s four core values: Respect, Honesty, Caring, and Responsibility. 
• Responsible for the entire operation of their program area. 
• Responsible for the supervision and safety of all campers in their program area, with special considerations for safety as required for high-risk activities. 
• Works collaboratively with other Program Leads, the Program Coordinators, and the Assistant Camp Director to support the delivery of high-quality daily programming and special events across camp. 
• Plans and executes an innovative, engaging, and age-appropriate camp program.  
• Works creatively to innovate their program area and program curriculum. 
• Responsible for providing feedback to counselors as it relates to their program and skill classes.  
• Builds positive relationships with campers, parents, caregivers, staff, and camp leadership. 
• Facilitates an effective and fair skill class sign-up process for campers.  
• Maintains a safe and clean program area – trash is picked up, equipment is inspected routinely, program area is organized, and program space set up prior to activities beginning. 
• Maintains inventory of program supplies and communicates needs and purchases to the Assistant Camp Director in a timely manner. 
• Remains calm during an emergency and carries out duties as designated by the Emergency Action Plan. 
• Attends all Family Nights, staff meetings, and lifeguard in-services (as needed). 
• Provides effective and timely communication to the Summer Program Coordinators. 
• Adheres to policies related to maintaining appropriate boundaries with staff, campers, and CITs. 
• Reports suspicious or inappropriate behaviors and policy violations to a direct supervisor in a timely manner.  
• Attends required child abuse risk management training and follows mandated abuse reporting requirements.  
• Other duties as assigned. 

GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS 

• Minimum of 2 years leadership and childcare/camp experience. 
• Strong collaborative and teamwork skills. 
• Ability to serve as a positive role model for campers, peers, and other staff. 
• Growth oriented and is able to utilize feedback to develop personally and professionally. 
• Energetic and positive personality.  
• Ability to effectively delegate responsibilities to others and support them in their duties as necessary.  
• Ability to work with individuals of diverse populations and abilities. 
• Ability to demonstrate patience and empathy when working with campers and other staff. 
• Working knowledge of common computer programs such as Word and Excel and the ability to use computers for basic administrative tasks and inventory. 
• Ability to handle sensitive, confidential camper information. 
• Strong organizational and time management skills. 
• Ability to stay calm in stressful situations. 
• Ability to respond to critical incidents and act swiftly in emergency situations. 
• Prior experience working with children preferred.  
• Teaching, facilitating, and teambuilding experience preferred. 
• Supervisory experience preferred.  
• Familiarity with various outdoor activities preferred.  
• Must be able to complete YMCA required training as scheduled by management. 
• Must maintain a Red Cross CPR/First Aid/AED certification, or its equivalent or more advanced, or be able to obtain prior to the first day of work.  
• Must be willing to submit to a criminal background check. 
• Must be willing to submit to a NH DCYF background check. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

• Ability to sit, stand, or walk for long periods of time 
• Ability to lift up to 50lbs. 
• Ability to push, pull, bend and kneel regularly. 
• Ability to communicate verbally (in-person and on phone) and in writing is essential.  
• Visual and auditory ability to respond to critical situations and physical ability to act swiftly in an emergency. 

Southern District YMCA is an Equal Opportunities employer and embraces diversity in our employee population. It is the policy of SDYMCA to provide equal opportunity to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or genetic information.