I get asked this question a lot. What DO I do the rest of the year, when summer camp isn't running? Lots! Working for a small (but mighty) non- profit organization in a management role requires the ability to wear many hats. My first responsibility is as the Director of Programs for Columbia Outdoor School. This is a Senior Management position that allows me to use my full creativity to develop unique experiential programs that focus on leadership, sustainability, inclusion and STEM. I co-create experiences with our clients to ensure they get exactly what they are hoping for out of their time with us. The second part of my job is managing a staff team that ranges up to 40 people. I supervise three managers, four supervisors, 20 paid staff and 15- 20 volunteers. The success of summer camp depends largely on the quality of the staff that is hired. Each year I identify the roles that need to be filled and determine the necessary qualifications and experience for each position. I then create and implement a recruitment strategy, which include job postings, networking, and employee referrals. Once applications are received I screen resumes, conduct interviews, and make hiring decisions based on a combination of skills, experience, and fit with the camp's culture. Finally, I ensure that all necessary paperwork is completed prior to the start of the season. I pride myself in my ability to attract and retain high-quality staff and see the result in my camp's continued success and the experience of campers. Once the hiring is complete I move onto planning and developing a staff training curriculum. This involves identifying the key skills and competencies required for each position, as well as the overall culture and philosophy of camp. As this will be my eighth year developing our training plan, I will review last years' first and then design a comprehensive training program that addresses these needs and prepares staff for the challenges they will face during the upcoming summer season. This will include topics such as camper care, risk management, programming, and leadership development. The training curriculum must also be tailored to the needs of different staff members, such as first-year counsellors or returning leaders. I work closely with the training team to ensure that the curriculum is effective and engaging, and that all necessary resources are available. A well-planned and executed training program sets the foundation for a successful summer season and helps ensure that campers and staff have the best possible experience. When summer camp is in session, contrary to popular belief, I can actually catch my breath a little. My role is as a mentor. I have hired staff who are fully able to fulfill our mission, my job is to support them. This is one of my favourite parts of the job. I spend time at camp, participate in programs, provide formal and informal leadership coaching with the staff and evaluate the programs using a provincial tool provided my BC Parks and Rec called Quest 2. This switches the evaluation from being staff centered, to outcome centered. I find this approach to be highly effective and an accurate measure of the success of our programs. Spring and Fall are filled with school bookings, community programs and adult professional development workshops. Facilitating adult leadership retreats has become my favourite part of my job. I enjoy building culture with my own team in the summer and working with a variety of professionals during our shoulder seasons to help them do the same thing. I work with the Leader from each organization and get an understanding of their desired outcomes. From there I develop a curriculum just for them. I use creative methods that keep the participants on their toes, get them to take a step outside their comfort zones and help them to work through areas that they are struggling. Lastly comes our winter season. Admittedly, not my favourite time of year. This is grant writing and budget season. Highly important to the operation, and my continued funding, just not a creative space that I like to work in. Though I find more joy in other avenues of my job, I have become highly skilled in grant writing. Each year I alone apply for several grants that provide our organization with anywhere from $40,000.00 to $150, 000.00. The grants help our organization to provide services within our mandate throughout the Columbia Basin at little to no cost to our clients. So, if you ever wondered what it would be like to work as a Camp Manager, that's a pretty good synapsis. 🗸Camp Director
🗸 Hiring Manager
🗸 HR Professional
🗸 Coach
🗸Facilitator
🗸Educator
🗸 Grant Writer 🗸Website Designer
🗸Marketing Manager
🗸Community Liaison
🗸 Trainer
🗸 Leader
🗸 Mentor
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