Assistant Camp Director: Programs & Staff Leadership

Flying Horse Farms; Gilead Township (OH); On-site; USD 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Flexible PTO

13 paid holidays

Job summary

Flying Horse Farms in Mount Gilead, OH seeks an Assistant Camp Director to lead the FHF program design and assist the Camp Director in delivering a healing, transformative camp experience for children and families affected by serious illness. This full-time, year-round role emphasizes safety, staffing, outcomes, and mission alignment.

You will partner with leadership to build engaging camper experiences, supervise seasonal staff, and coordinate schedules, while driving continuous improvement and

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 seasons of summer residential camp or comparable youth programming experience.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Experience supporting and leading staff, volunteers, and youth in a camp, nonprofit, education, recreation, healthcare, or youth development setting.
• Ability to lead groups, facilitate activities, and coach and support staff and volunteers.
• Ability to coordinate a complex camp experience for children and young adults with varying physical, medical, emotional, and developmental needs.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced camp environment.
• Minimum 21 years of age.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Camp Director to lead daily camp operations and create a cohesive experience for campers, families, volunteers, and staff.
• Lead the development and implementation of camper experiences across age groups and program models, including traditional camp, leadership and young adult programming, and family camps.
• Develop and manage camp schedules, making real-time adjustments based on camper needs, staffing, weather, medical considerations, and operational priorities.
• Use camp outcomes, data, feedback, and evaluation tools to assess program effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.
• Support a strong culture of safety and ensure camp programs and operations align with SFCN Criteria, ACA Standards, organizational policies, and internal safety procedures.
• Collaborate across program, medical, facilities, food service, recruitment, and volunteer teams to ensure effective and consistent camp operations.
• Recruit, onboard, train, coach, and supervise seasonal staff and volunteers while creating a meaningful and well-supported volunteer experience.
• Directly supervise assigned full-time and seasonal staff, providing clear expectations, coaching, feedback, and accountability.
• Create and continuously improve camp programs, traditions, and experiences in alignment with camp outcomes and organizational priorities.
• Support camp-related grants, compliance, budget tracking, documentation, partnerships, events, and other administrative needs.
• Provide leadership coverage and cross-functional support as needed, including serving as a camp point person and participating in emergency staffing and Director on Duty/Command responsibilities.

Skills

Staff supervision

Program development

Camp operations

Safety compliance

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Description

Title: Assistant Camp Director

Department: Camp Operations | Program

Reports To: Camp Director

Direct Reports: Program Coordinators + Seasonal Staff

Location: Mount Gilead, OH

Employment Type: Full-Time, Year-Round

Salary: $60,000-$65,000 annually

Overview: The Assistant Camp Director leads the FHF program design and supports the Camp Director in leading the overall camp experience for campers, families, volunteers, seasonal staff, and full-time team members. With a focus on program quality, safety, staffing, outcomes, volunteer experience, continuous improvement, and mission alignment, this role helps ensure every camp session is intentional, well-supported, and grounded in the belief that camp can be healing, transformative, and life-changing for children and families impacted by serious illness.

Your Impact: Your leadership helps create the conditions for camp to work at its best—for campers, families, volunteers, and staff. By bringing people and ideas together, anticipating needs, and turning insight into action, you help FHF deliver an experience that feels seamless, responsive, and meaningful from the first moment of camp through the last.

Flying Horse Farms is a place where your work connects directly to something meaningful. Together, we create medically-safe camp experiences where kids with serious illnesses can find hope, joy, and belonging—always at no cost.

It takes every role, every team, and an all-in commitment to make the mission possible.

What You’ll Do:

• Partner with the Camp Director to lead daily camp operations and create a cohesive experience for campers, families, volunteers, and staff.
• Lead the development and implementation of camper experiences across age groups and program models, including traditional camp, leadership and young adult programming, and family camps.
• Develop and manage camp schedules, making real-time adjustments based on camper needs, staffing, weather, medical considerations, and operational priorities.
• Use camp outcomes, data, feedback, and evaluation tools to assess program effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.
• Support a strong culture of safety and ensure camp programs and operations align with SFCN Criteria, ACA Standards, organizational policies, and internal safety procedures.
• Collaborate across program, medical, facilities, food service, recruitment, and volunteer teams to ensure effective and consistent camp operations.
• Recruit, onboard, train, coach, and supervise seasonal staff and volunteers while creating a meaningful and well-supported volunteer experience.
• Directly supervise assigned full-time and seasonal staff, providing clear expectations, coaching, feedback, and accountability.
• Create and continuously improve camp programs, traditions, and experiences in alignment with camp outcomes and organizational priorities.
• Support camp-related grants, compliance, budget tracking, documentation, partnerships, events, and other administrative needs.
• Provide leadership coverage and cross-functional support as needed, including serving as a camp point person and participating in emergency staffing and Director on Duty/Command responsibilities.

What We Offer

Supporting You Today

At Flying Horse Farms (FHF), we believe great work starts with a team that feels connected to the mission and to one another. We’re an all-in team committed to safety, fun, and excellence, where team members are encouraged to take initiative, see the best in one another, and bring an attitude of optimism to work.

• A mission-driven team connected by a clear vision, guiding principles, and shared operating values
• A workplace where your ideas, perspective, and contributions are valued
• A culture of collaboration, connection, and support
• An open, inclusive workplace built on trust and transparency
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible PTO
• 13 paid holidays

Protecting Your Future

We want you to feel supported not only in the work you do today, but in the life you’re building for tomorrow.

• Retirement Saving plan
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Employer-paid short- and long-term disability
• Parental leave

What It’s like to Be Part of Our Crew:

The best way to understand our culture is to hear from the people who experience it every day.

“There’s an emotional awareness of the organization. We can connect and be ourselves and communicate maturely and with care at the center.”

“It’s the most cohesive culture I have seen with more clear unity around where were going.”

“We’re the team who always asks, “what else can we do for the mission?”

“The intentionality of [meetings] build trust. I am seeing the Leadership Team make a genuine effort to keep everyone informed.”

Requirements

What You Bring

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of 2 seasons of summer residential camp or comparable youth programming experience.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Experience supporting and leading staff, volunteers, and youth in a camp, nonprofit, education, recreation, healthcare, or youth development setting.
• Ability to lead groups, facilitate activities, and coach and support staff and volunteers.
• Ability to coordinate a complex camp experience for children and young adults with varying physical, medical, emotional, and developmental needs.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced camp environment.
• Minimum 21 years of age.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 3+ years of experience in a year-round residential camp or comparable setting.
• Experience supervising seasonal staff or volunteers.
• Experience with program evaluation, outcomes measurement, quality improvement, accreditation, or compliance.
• Experience or certification in high-risk activity areas such as high ropes, archery, or waterfront.
• Valid driver’s license.

Physical Expectations:

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Frequently stand, walk, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, and move throughout camp property, including on uneven terrain
• Regularly remain active for extended periods and respond quickly to program, camper, staff, volunteer, or emergency needs
• Lift, carry, push, or pull supplies and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds independently and heavier items with assistance
• Climb stairs and navigate cabins, program areas, trails, waterfront areas, and other indoor and outdoor spaces
• Maintain the stamina and mobility necessary to work extended and irregular hours, including evenings, weekends, overnight periods, and on-call coverage during camp sessions

Environmental Conditions:

The environmental conditions described below are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Work is performed in both indoor and outdoor camp environments throughout the year
• Regular exposure to changing weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, humidity, wind, and direct sunlight
• Exposure to uneven terrain, wooded areas, insects, pollen, dust, mud, water, and other conditions typical of a rural residential camp
• Work may occur in busy, noisy, and highly active settings with frequent interruptions and rapidly changing priorities
• Potential exposure to communicable illnesses and cleaning products commonly present in a residential camp environment, with required adherence to established health and safety practices
• May be required to work during inclement weather, emergencies, power outages, or other unexpected operational conditions while following established safety procedures

Expectations & Requirements for all Flying Horse Farms Staff

We live our Values. We are each responsible for knowing our values and nurturing our culture:

• We are All In. We demonstrate a willingness to do what it takes to get the job done, we are supportive and loyal, show up present and ready and we are passionate about "Campers First."
• We have an Attitude of Optimism. We find what is working and make more of that happen, demonstrate adaptability within ambiguity, spread joy and hope and ensure everyone we interact with feels "Welcomed Home."
• We are Trustworthy. We are consistent, dependable, steady, truthful and operate with transparency, take ownership for our work and "See the Best" in others.
• We Take Initiative. We are driven, work towards goals with fortitude, pay attention to details and find innovative solutions with "Fearless is Free" attitudes.

Flying Horse Farms (FHF) makes it possible for kids with serious illnesses to heal, grow, and thrive – at no cost to families. Located on 200 acres in Mt. Gilead, Ohio, camp first opened its gates in 2010 and hosts ~1,000 children and families each year.

FHF is the first camp in the Midwest to become a full member of the SeriousFun Children’s Network. Founded in 1988 by actor, philanthropist and Ohio native Paul Newman, the Network is a community of independently managed and financed camps and programs creating opportunities for children with serious illnesses and their families.

At FHF, for a weekend or week at a time, kids focus on the joy and freedom of simply being a kid, and with safety being the number one priority, fun is a close second. Campers receive high-quality care at our on-site health center, staffed 24/7 by clinicians from children’s hospitals across Ohio and beyond.

Flying Horse Farms is an ACA-Accredited Camp with the American Camp Association.

Ready to Join the team?

If you're excited about the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families, we’d love to hear from you. Apply today to join the Flying Horse Farms team.

Need assistance with the application process? Contact Human Resources at 419-751-7077.

EEO:?Flying Horse Farms is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.