Day Camp Cooking Program Specialist

YMCA of Greater Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dynamic Day Camp Team where every day is filled with meaningful work! As a Day Camp Cooking Specialist, you will play a vital role in facilitating a high-quality cooking program for children. This seasonal position offers the chance to engage with kids, foster their creativity, and ensure their safety while cooking. You'll prepare the kitchen, manage supplies, and act as a positive role model, embodying the values of community and inclusivity. This is an exciting opportunity to make a difference in the lives of young campers while working in a supportive and inclusive environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in a camp environment and cooking/baking is preferred.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Deliver and ensure safety for the Y-Cook program and assist with camp operations.
• Prepare kitchen space, manage supplies, and assist with budgeting.

Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Communication Skills

Teamwork

Cooking Knowledge

Problem-Solving

Education

Post-Secondary Education

Tools

First Aid and CPR Certification

Job description

Location: Various locations across the GTA

Work Hours: Part-time hours in June for training, then up to 40 hours per week Monday – Friday starting June 23 until August 29, 2025

Employment Type: Seasonal Contract

Number of Vacancies: 11

Anticipated Start Date: June 2, 2025

Deadline to Apply: Open Until Filled

Be the Spark! Join our dynamic Day Camp Team, where every day is different, and you will always be engaged with meaningful work!

Day Camp Cooking Specialists play an integral role in ensuring every child has the opportunity to participate in a high-quality Y-Cook program. The Day Camp Cooking Program Specialist will be responsible for the direct set up and facilitation of the Y-Cook program. This will include understanding the program, recipes, safety procedures, and keeping the space clean. They will have an active role in creating grocery lists and ordering the food for the program. When the Day Camp Cooking Lead is not facilitating the Y-Cook program, they will assist as a secondary staff to the Y-Cook camper group and support the camp in all areas of operations when required.

In this role, you will:

• Be responsible for the direct delivery and safety for the Y-Cook program
• Prepare the kitchen space and supplies, including food prior to the start of the program
• Require understanding of cooking and kitchen language, and be comfortable in the kitchen
• Assist in the budgeting and ordering the food for the program
• Provide knowledge regarding ingredient substitutions and dietary/allergy restrictions
• Provide overall camp support by assisting with break coverage and filling in for absent staff
• Attend all staff trainings and meetings; arrive on time, and actively participate and contribute to the development of all camp staff
• Ensure Health & Safety procedures are followed and contribute to the cleaning, safety, and maintenance of camp sites
• Act as a positive role model for the campers and fellow staff by embodying the YMCA values, policies and procedures, Day Camp conditions of employment/guidelines, and the Ontario Camping Association standards

You bring:

• Completed or currently enrolled in post-secondary education (preferred)
• Standard First Aid and CPR ‘C’ certificate valid until the last day of contract
• Minimum 1-year experience working in a camp environment
• Experience with YMCA Day Camps is an asset
• Experience in cooking/baking and instructing a lesson is an asset
• Ability to use frequent light to medium physical effort: Lifting up to 50 lbs. by bending, carrying, pushing, and pulling
• Demonstrated ability to work well both independently and in a team environment
• Well-developed interpersonal and relationship-building skills; ability to establish rapport and excellent communication with families, staff, and volunteers
• Excellent communication skills and ability to lead a group of children
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and building a sense of belonging
• Focus on the health, safety, and well-being of all children, youth, and vulnerable people in YMCA programs including understanding legal and moral obligations related to reporting suspected child abuse to Child Protection Services
• YMCA Competencies: Accountable, Relationship-Builder, Improvement-Orientated, Team Player & Leader, Equity and Wellbeing Promoter

Why work for the YMCA?

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is a charity that ignites the potential in people, helping them grow, lead, and give back to their communities. We are committed to helping our employees reach their full potential and are recognized as a great place to work. We offer meaningful jobs and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals and the health of our communities.

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. We strive to remove barriers to employment and recognize that diverse staff who reflect the communities we work in enrich the experiences of our participants and our team. As an equal opportunity employer, we invite applications from all qualified candidates including racialized people/people of colour, Indigenous Peoples, disabled people/people with disabilities, and members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

If we can make the recruitment process more accessible for you, please let us know when we reach out about a job opportunity so we can work with you to accommodate your needs.

If you are hired, prior to your start date and as a condition of your employment, you will be required to provide proof that you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have a valid medical or other Human Rights Code-related exemption.

The YMCA only considers applicants who are legally entitled to work in Canada. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, due to the volume of applications we receive, we can only contact candidates who are selected for an interview.