Day Camp Director

In 1887, John Ames Mitchell, editor of Life magazine, raised $800 to send 266 children from New York City to the Life Fresh Air Farm in Branchville, Connecticut. Since that first summer, thousands of children and teens have participated in life-changing experiences at our nature‑based summer camp and after‑school programs in New York and New Jersey. We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to play, learn, and grow il Blazers is committed to creating diverse, equitable, and inclusive spaces where all children, families, and staff are valued, included, and empowered.

The Day Camp Director is a year‑round position combining summer camp based work with off‑season responsibilities for recruitment, community engagement, and break camps. This position requires a dynamic, energetic person who is passionate about youth development and providing excellent summer experiences for campers and parents alike. This person will oversee and provide guidance to our senior day camp team. The director will join a small team of passionate professionals in an energetic and dedicated work environment.

This position is a full-time, exempt position.

• Summer Program Operations
  • Responsible for all aspects of day-to-day camp operations including program, staff, and schedules
  • Ensure compliance with Department of Health regulations and American Camp Association accreditation standards
  • Manage parent communication and relationship management including escalated incidents
  • Create a safe and joyful camp environment for both campers and staff, focused on positive youth development for programs and behavior management.
• School Year Program Operations
  • Manage all aspects of School Break and Holiday Camps, including budgets, camper enrollment, staffing and program
  • Work as needed as a senior staff person for School Field Trips and Corporate Conferences/ Retreats held at Overnight Camp
• Camper Recruitment
  • Develop a multi‑pronged strategy and timeline for meeting enrollment goals, with focus direct enrollments from school partners and returning campers
  • Manage a schedule of camp fairs, info sessions, open houses, and recruitment visits at schools and community organizations
  • Develop and maintain trusting relationships with campers and families
  • Review and respond to camper and family feedback
• Program Development
  • Develop and manage program budgets to meet revenue and expense budget goals
  • Using current programming as a base, continue to create and develop high‑quality and intentional summer programming that aligns with Trail Blazers’s values and encourages camper growth
  • Work with the Assistant Director of Program Design and Evaluation to supervise the collection of data for program improvement, including camper, parent, and staff surveys. Review data analysis and utilize it to improve programming
  • Complete necessary preseason program and operations prep; utilize other Trail Blazers’s program staff year round as needed
  • Oversee external vendors, outside program partners and field trips
• Staffing
  • Supervise a team of seasonal leadership staff who in turn supervise all front line staff, providing ongoing coaching and performance management
  • Responsible for overall staff management including program, leadership and support staff to ensure the safe and efficient operation of high quality Day Camp programs
  • Sustain a positive staff culture based in Trail Blazers’s mission and values
  • Develop an annual staffing plan based on anticipated camper enrollment and program plans. Create goals for staff retention and manage year round staff engagement
  • Work closely with Human Resources on seasonal staff recruitment and hiring, including candidate interviews and selection
  • Work closely with Human Resources to support…