Ecology Center Camp Director​/Assistant Director

Position Information

• Position Type:
  Parks, Recreation & Community Services - Seasonal
• Date Posted: 12/23/2025
• Location:
  
  Ecology Center

Join the Ecology Center for a summer season focusing on environmental education in Evanston. Get experience managing staff, working with children, and delivering nature activities and lessons. Camp Directors receive training before and during the summer camp season to support their professional growth.

Responsible for the supervision and safety of children ages 3‑14 and camp day coordination and instruction. Responsible for planning and leading of science/nature education, activities, and games for camp participants. Responsible for the supervision of counselors, assistant counselors and volunteers. Responsible for communication with the Program Coordinator concerning these individuals.

• Attend mandatory staff training sessions on Saturday, May 23, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Attend mandatory staff training sessions May 26‑29 and June 1‑5
• Plan and lead program activities and games for camp participants relating to the camp theme
• Responsible for the safety of individuals in camp
• Supervise and lead participants in daily camp activities and field trips – may include overnight camping, canoeing and fishing
• Assist in the management and evaluation of counselors
• Assist in the management and evaluation of assistant counselors
• Assist in the management and evaluation of volunteers
• Responsible for effective and appropriate communication to caregivers regarding participant progress and behavior within program setting
• Attend staff meetings as scheduled by Program Coordinator
• Enforce late pick up policy and ensure all participants are properly dismissed to caregiver
• Responsible for care and maintenance of camp equipment and storage areas
• Complete written reports such as accident, incident and the like on a timely basis
• Responsible for maintenance of all camp paperwork
• Communicate to supervisor(s) if there are problems or issues needing special attention
• Performs other duties as assigned by Program Coordinator

• Bachelor’s degree or working toward Bachelor’s in Education, Environmental Education, Outdoor Education, or related discipline.
• Experience working with children
• High school diploma or GED
• At least 1 year experience working in a camp setting
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagrammatic form; to deal with complex problems
• Ability to read staff manuals, memoranda, and attendance sheets
• Ability to complete attendance sheets, accident reports, incident reports and camper behavior reports using prescribed format and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, and style.
• Ability to give verbal direction to subordinates, communicate effectively with co‑workers, supervisors, citizens, and the public as well as other employees; speaking extemporaneously on a variety of subjects.
• Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for sedentary work.

Starting at $18.75/hour for Assistant Director, $21.75/hour for Director.

This is a full‑time, seasonal summer position. Schedule includes ten consecutive weeks during the summer, May 26 through August 14. Typical working hours are 8:30 am – 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday, at camp location.

To apply for this position, please apply online yofevanston.org on or before the closing date.

Chosen candidates will be required to provide proof of licenses, certifications, and education required for this position. Candidates will also be subject to qualifying pre‑employment processes drug/alcohol screen, employment verification, and criminal background check.

The City of Evanston is an equal opportunity employer and ensures against discrimination in employment on the basis of a person’s race, color, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military discharge status, source of income, housing status, or gender identity. The City of Evanston is also committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. Any person needing mobility or communications access assistance should contact Human Resources at 847‑448‑8204 (voice) or 847‑866‑5095 (TTY).