Camp Director - Recreation Services- Fall / Winter 2026

City of Stamford; Stamford (CT); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Stamford seeks a Camp Director to oversee the day-to-day operations of the summer camp program. The role emphasizes safety, staff guidance, and high-quality activity planning to meet each child’s emotional, social, physical, and cognitive needs.

Successful candidates will demonstrate leadership, dependability, and strong communication. Responsibilities include coordinating field trips, maintaining records, and supervising staff while engaging families and the community in a positive,

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Experience in after school, camp, recreation or school setting.
• Experience supervising staff.
• Experience working with children 5-12.
• Ability to plan and coordinate programming per curriculum.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations of the summer camp program.
• Plan and schedule activities for the camp duration.
• Serve campers and staff as a positive role model.
• Meet emotional, social, physical and cognitive needs of each child.
• Manage camper and staff behavioral issues and safety.
• Maintain clear written and oral communication with stakeholders.
• Coordinate field trips and supervise transportation logistics.
• Provide staff training and ensure facility safety and cleanliness.
• Maintain attendance, schedules, and time sheets; write reports as needed.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Teamwork

Patience

Education

College Degree

Tools

Office software

Job description

The Camp Director is responsible for the day‑to‑day operation of the summer camp program. Successful Directors exhibit characteristics of responsibility, dependability, leadership, patience, punctuality, hard work, sense of humor, self‑control, integrity, common sense, good judgment and a positive, enthusiastic attitude. The Camp Director is responsible for ensuring the care and safety of participants and staff in the summer camp program. The Director also provides guidance and support to the staff they supervise to ensure that activity planning, implementation and supervision is consistently meeting and exceeding expectations.

• Oversight of daily operations of the summer camp program.
• Work with the Assistant Superintendent of Recreation to plan and schedule appropriate activities for the duration of the camp program.
• Serve the campers and staff as a positive role model.
• Meet the emotional, social, physical and cognitive needs of each child.
• Manage both camper and staff behavioral issues.
• Maintain open communication and communicate clearly, both orally and in writing, with a variety of stakeholders including children, parents, staff and supervisors.
• Report any suspected abuse to supervisor in compliance with mandated reporting requirements.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Write reports and maintain documentation.
• Ongoing maintenance of records such as camper and staff attendance, schedule and time sheets.
• Coordinate field trips, ensuring appropriate supplies, activities and communication with all relevant parties.
• Operate city vehicles to transport staff and supplies to and from field trips.
• Provide pre‑camp and in‑service staff training and meetings.
• Maintain cleanliness of all utilized facilities to ensure a safe and healthy environment.
• Perform duties in a variety of settings including, but not limited to, offices, classrooms, indoor gymnasiums, outdoor fields, waterfront, and field trips to different locations.
• Perform other related duties as required, directed, or as a situation dictates.
• Regular attendance on scheduled workdays is required.

• Demonstrate creativity and the ability to motivate children with a positive attitude.
• Excellent role model.
• Good communicator.
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment.
• Ability to follow and provide directions to complete assigned tasks.
• Ability to safely operate Recreation Department vehicles.
• Knowledge of the Basic principles and practices of community recreation.
• Knowledge of modern office procedures, methods, and computer equipment.
• Knowledge of the principles and procedure of confidential record keeping
• Knowledge of effective customer service practices
• Ability to build positive and respectful relationships with children.
• Ability to plan, coordinate, direct and implement programming, for both individuals and groups, in accordance with curriculum objectives and program philosophy.
• Ability to effectively operate in an environment which involves sensitive situations with participants, families, staff and the general public.
• Ability to maintain a professional level of confidentiality with the population being served.
• Ability to meet the emotional, social, physical and cognitive needs of each child.
• Ability to maintain a safe and healthy environment.
• Ability to utilize personal computers, tablets and mobile phones to communicate, manage databases and software and complete word processing.
• Ability to use independent judgement and personal initiative in the performance of duties and in the absence of supervision.
• Ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing, and maintain effective relationships.

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Experience working in an after school, camp, recreation or school setting.
• Experience providing supervision and guidance to members of a staff.
• Experience working with children ages 5-12.
• Experience scheduling and planning activities for children.
• College Degree and Experience preferred.
• Valid Driver's License required
• Reliable Transportation required.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, sit and talk or hear. The employee may also be asked to engage in physical activities that relate to the programs within reason, such as sports and modified games, long walks on trips, etc. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds