Assistant Camp Director

Camp Fire Iowa; Boone, Northern (IA, KY); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Camp Fire Heart Of Iowa seeks an Assistant Camp Director to oversee operations and support camp programming at Hantesa and Canwita in Boone, IA. The role emphasizes youth development, staff supervision, safety, and strong community engagement.

You will coordinate day and overnight camp activities, ensure ACA compliance, and help implement new curricula while maintaining a welcoming, inclusive environment for diverse youth and families across central Iowa.

Qualifications

• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• 1-2 years of related experience in youth programs, or nonprofit field.
• Knowledge of youth program standards and activities.
• Experience planning and facilitating youth programs.
• Experience in a supervisory role.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must be able to pass a criminal background check.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Experience working with youth of diverse backgrounds and abilities.
• Strong leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to communicate with children, teens, parents/guardians, donors, volunteers, and alumni in an enthusiastic and positive manner.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships.
• Good character, integrity, patience, and adaptability.
• First Aid/CPR, Lifeguarding, and Mandatory Reporter certifications
• Class B Commercial Driver’s License with Passenger and Air Brakes Endorsements (CDL)
• American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor Certification
• ACA Visitor

Responsibilities

• Be a positive role model for youth in language, dress, behavior, and attitude.
• Bring an equity lens to all programs and services, in line with organizational values, and represent Camp Fire as an inclusive leader in youth development.
• Assist with designing, delivering, and evaluating high-quality summer camp programming including day and overnight camp program.
• Assist with training, supervising, and evaluating seasonal staff.
• Ensure staff and participants know and follow all safety protocols and organizational policies.
• Communicate with parents/caregivers as needed regarding program procedures and policies, participant incidents and injuries, dismissal, and other concerns.
• Provide direct support to programs, as needed, including behavior intervention, ratio support, transportation assistance, and crisis management.
• Ensure compliance with ACA standards and industry best practices.
• Assist with the coordination of data collection and evaluation for all programs and services.
• Stay up to date on Camp Fire national initiatives and incorporate new curricula, practices, andimprovements into existing programs.
• Utilizing input from stakeholders, develop new programs, partnerships, and opportunities tobetter serve youth and families in central Iowa.
• Assist with the overall management of Camp Hantesa and Camp Canwita’s operations, including food service, budgeting, camp store, health care, housekeeping, facilities development, transportation, and community events.
• Assist with recruiting, hosting, and retaining community user groups, including weddings, retreats,and other adult and youth programs.

Skills

Youth program experience

Supervisory experience

Safety protocols

Communication

Community outreach

Job description

Camp Fire Heart Of Iowa Assistant Camp Director Boone, IA·Full time Company website

Responsible for the operation and oversight assistance of Camps Hantesa and Canwita, including community user groups, summer camp (day and overnight), and school year programs with a special emphasis on youth program development and delivery.

About Camp Fire Heart Of Iowa

Camp Fireis an inclusive youth development organization founded with the intention of connecting kids with nature and helping them develop the skills needed for a happy, healthy life now and into the future.Our Mission: Growing up is hard. That’s why Camp Fire connects young people to the outdoors, to others, and to themselves.Our Vision: We envision a world where all young people thrive and have equitable opportunities for self-discovery, community connection, and engagement with nature.How We Do It: Camp Fire creates safe spaces where young people can have fun and be themselves.We do this through a variety of powerful youth experiences and programs including Community Clubs,Before- and After-School Care, Out-of-School TimePrograms, Day and Overnight Camps, and Teen Leadership Development – collectively serving more than 1,500 central Iowa youth every year.

Description

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• 1-2 years of related experience in youth programs, or nonprofit field.
• Knowledge of youth program standards and activities.
• Experience planning and facilitating youth programs.
• Experience in a supervisory role.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must be able to pass a criminal background check.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Experience working with youth of diverse backgrounds and abilities.
• Strong leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to communicate with children, teens, parents/guardians, donors, volunteers, and alumni in an enthusiastic and positive manner.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships.
• Good character, integrity, patience, and adaptability.
• Currently have, or be willing to obtain the following certifications within 1 year of being hired:
• First Aid/CPR, Lifeguarding, and Mandatory Reporter certifications
• Class B Commercial Driver’s License with Passenger and Air Brakes Endorsements (CDL)
• American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor Certification
• ACA Visitor

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential job functions.

• Use of hands, fingers, arms, feet, and legs to perform daily duties.
• Ability to speak and hear.
• Significant sitting, standing, walking, and physical activity.
• Significant amount of time spent outdoors.
• Ability to lift and carry fifty (50) pounds.
• Ability to constantly interact with the public in a professional manner.
• Ability to perform professionally in stressful situations.
• Ability to follow proper wearing, cleaning, and/or replacement procedures of Personal Protective equipment (masks, gloves, etc.) all day in all climates.
• Visual and auditory ability to identify and respond to environmental and other hazards related to the activity.
• Physical ability to respond appropriately to situations requiring first aid/CPR. Must be able to assist campers in an emergency (fire, water rescue, evacuation, illness, or injury) and possess the strength and endurance required to maintain constant supervision of campers.
• Hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity to manipulate camp equipment and activities.
• Willingness to live in a camp setting and work irregular hours delivering the program in the facility available.
• Operate with daily exposure to sun and heat and varying weather conditions.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Be a positive role model for youth in language, dress, behavior, and attitude.
• Bring an equity lens to all programs and services, in line with organizational values, and represent Camp Fire as an inclusive leader in youth development.
• Assist with designing, delivering, and evaluating high-quality summer camp programming including day and overnight camp program.
• Assist with training, supervising, and evaluating seasonal staff.
• Ensure staff and participants know and follow all safety protocols and organizational policies.
• Communicate with parents/caregivers as needed regarding program procedures and policies, participant incidents and injuries, dismissal, and other concerns.
• Provide direct support to programs, as needed, including behavior intervention, ratio support, transportation assistance, and crisis management.
• Ensure compliance with ACA standards and industry best practices.
• Assist with the coordination of data collection and evaluation for all programs and services.
• Stay up to date on Camp Fire national initiatives and incorporate new curricula, practices, andimprovements into existing programs.
• Utilizing input from stakeholders, develop new programs, partnerships, and opportunities tobetter serve youth and families in central Iowa.
• Assist with the overall management of Camp Hantesa and Camp Canwita’s operations, including food service, budgeting, camp store, health care, housekeeping, facilities development, transportation, and community events.
• Assist with recruiting, hosting, and retaining community user groups, including weddings, retreats,and other adult and youth programs.