Camp Director

Surprise Lake Camp; Village of Cold Spring (NY); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Surprise Lake Camp in Cold Spring, NY is seeking an experienced Camp Director to lead our year-round and summer programs. The role is primarily remote from September to May, with on-site living during the summer season.

You will travel for staff recruitment, professional development, and outreach events, guiding operations and safety while upholding Jewish camp traditions. The Director reports to the Executive Director, supervises year-round and seasonal staff, manages budgets, and represents

Qualifications

• This role requires 3-5 years of leadership experience in overnight camping or related fields.
• Proven success leading teams and complex operations.
• Strong track record in recruiting campers and staff.
• Understanding of Jewish culture.
• Proficiency with standard office software and online platforms; ability to learn new systems.
• Experience in public speaking and salesmanship.
• Ability to work long camp hours in season.
• Experience navigating growth, change, or organizational transformation.

Responsibilities

• Drive enrollment growth and develop robust camper recruitment plans.
• Oversee day-to-day operations, safety, and program performance.
• Oversee safety reviews, plans, and compliance.
• Foster program innovation and operational excellence.
• Develop and oversee customer service plans.
• Year-round staff supervision, including hiring and staff development.
• Budget responsibility for summer programs and staffing.
• Plan and oversee staff training and orientations.
• Lead engagement initiatives (Get Your Feet Wet, family weekends, reunions).
• Attend board/committee meetings and support donor engagement.
• Represent the camp with health dept and accreditation bodies.

Skills

Leadership experience

Recruiting

Public speaking

Salesmanship

Team leadership

Change management

Tools

Office software

Online media platforms

Job description

Camp Director
Surprise Lake Camp
382 Lake Surprise Road
Cold Spring, NY 10516

Surprise Lake Camp is seeking an experienced Jewish camp professional with a passion for camping to serve as Camp Director . As a member of a small year-round staff, you will be a thoughtful and creative leader as well as a key player in a hard-working team .
This position is primarily remote from September to May. Camp is located in Cold Spring , NY where you will live during the season. As the Camp Director, you should expect to travel as a representative of the camp, including local and regional events, professional development conferences, and recruiting trips for both staff and campers. Travel will be on weekdays , weekends and may include i nternational travel .

Minimum Qualifications:

The Camp Director position will report to camp's Executive Director.

Drive enrollment growth, retention, and long-term sustainability. Including but not limited to, creating a robust camper recruitment plan, managing year-round camper recruitment strategies, ensuring effective lead management systems, and monitoring quality camper retention strategies.

Oversee overall day-to-day operations, safety, and performance of the summer camp program.

Oversee all safety reviews, plans, strategies, programs, certifications, and compliance.

Foster a culture of program innovation and operational excellence.

Responsible for developing and overseeing the review and development of plans for outstanding customer service.

Year-round staff supervision. Includes roles such as Assistant Camp Director, Marketing Director, and seasonal staff that support year-round functions.

Oversee hiring and supervision of seasonal staff. Including but not limited to creating a hiring plan for each year, actively managing and participating in the staffing process, working with camp's Executive Director to ensure the proper organizational structure is in place for quality staff support and management, and showing up daily as a forward-facing camp leader.

Budget responsibility for summer camp programs including staff, program, and recruitment of campers and staff.

Develop and oversee summer staff training and orientations.

Supervise the planning and execution of important engagement initiatives, such as Get Your Feet Wet (starter program for young campers), Labor Day (family camping weekend), Camp Reunions, and others related to engaging with new and current families.

Attend, plan and follow-up on board and committee meetings.

Support donor and alumni engagement and stewardship.

Support the execution of the camp's Strategic Plan.

Generate written materials, evaluations, and reports as needed.

Represent Camp with the Putnam County Department of Health and the American Camp Association.

The Essentials:

A minimum of 3-5 years of leadership experience in overnight camping, youth development, education, or related field.

Success leading teams and complex operations.

Strong track record of recruiting campers and staff.

An understanding of Jewish culture.

Highly proficient with standard office software and various online media platforms and ability to learn new systems.

Experience in public speaking and salesmanship.

Ability to work as part of a team and independently. Ability to work long "camp hours" while in season.

Experience navigating growth, change, or organizational transformation.

$135,000 - $150,000

Agency Information:

Founded in 1902, Surprise Lake Camp is t he longest running Jewish Sleepaway Camp i n the U nited S tates. A non -profit organization located in the Hudson Valley of New York . We create fun, meaningful, inclusive, and joyful experiences through educational, social, cultural, spiritual, fitness, and wellness programs.
Surprise Lake Camp is an overnight camp for children entering grades 1 -1 0 .