Progam Director - Summer Camp (Year Round Employee)

CampWay; Prescott (AZ); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

CampWay - Friendly Pines Camp in Prescott, AZ is seeking a year-round Program Director to lead the development, staffing, and delivery of an exceptional residential summer camp program.

This highly visible, hands-on leadership role requires you to be part of camp life—engaging with campers and staff, building strong relationships, coaching young adults, solving problems in real time, and bringing energy, creativity, and sound judgment to every camp moment.

Qualifications

• Experience in residential camp or youth development.
• Experience supervising, coaching, and developing young adult staff.
• Strong facilitation, group processes, conflict resolution, and problem-solving.
• Experience coordinating programs, schedules, staffing, and priorities.
• Ability to work with diverse ages and abilities.
• Hands-on leadership style with clear communication and follow-through.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and ongoing improvement of the summer camp program.
• Oversee staff recruitment, onboarding, and training, plus daily operations.
• Foster a safe, inclusive camp community and strong camper experience.

Skills

Strong people leadership

Program management

Coaching young adults

Residential camp experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Job description

CampWay - Friendly Pines Camp is looking for a year-round Program Director to lead the development, staffing, and delivery of an exceptional residential summer camp program while helping shape the future of our camp community.

This is a highly visible, hands-on leadership role. We are looking for someone who wants to be part of camp life—not someone who wants to lead primarily from behind a desk. The right person will be engaged with campers and staff, build strong relationships, coach young adults, solve problems in real time, and bring energy, creativity, and sound judgment to the camp experience.

What You’ll Do

Lead & Develop the Program

• Own the quality and continuous improvement of the summer camp program.
• Develop age-appropriate programming, skill progressions, and meaningful experiential-learning opportunities.
• Strengthen leadership-development programs such as LIT and CIT.
• Help preserve the traditions and culture that make Friendly Pines unique while continuing to evolve the program.
• Lead recruiting, interviewing, selection, and hiring of counselors and program staff.
• Help design and deliver staff training.
• Coach counselors and seasonal leaders throughout the summer.
• Develop Assistant Program Directors and other emerging camp leaders.

Lead Summer Operations

• Oversee daily program coordination, schedules, staffing assignments, coverage, days off, and evening programs.
• Be a visible, approachable leader throughout the camp day.
• Monitor program quality and make adjustments when staffing, weather, facilities, or camper needs change.
• Support counselors with camper behavior, homesickness, conflict, and other challenges.
• Serve as a primary senior leader for camper and counselor issues, using good judgment about when situations require additional leadership.

Build a Strong Camp Community

• Model positive communication, inclusion, accountability, appropriate boundaries, and conflict resolution.
• Create an environment where campers and staff feel supported, challenged, and successful.
• Work closely with the Summer Camp Director and other year-round and seasonal leaders to create a safe, engaging, and consistently strong camp experience.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for an experienced camp or youth-development professional who combines strong people leadership with practical program management.

You may be a strong fit if you have:

• Experience in residential camp, outdoor education, experiential education, youth development, or a related field.
• Experience supervising, coaching, and developing young adult staff.
• Strong facilitation, group-process, conflict-resolution, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience coordinating programs, schedules, staffing, and multiple competing priorities.
• The ability to work effectively with diverse ages, developmental stages, and ability levels.
• A hands-on leadership style, strong communication skills, sound judgment, and follow-through.
• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

Experience with equestrian programs is a plus, but not required.

Summer Housing: On-site housing is provided at no cost during the summer season, and living on-site is required for this position.

Why This Role Matters

The Program Director is one of the key leaders shaping the camper experience, staff culture, and future of Friendly Pines Camp. You’ll have the opportunity to build programs, develop people, strengthen systems, and make a visible difference in the lives of campers and staff.

If you are energized by camp, people, leadership, youth development, and creating meaningful experiences, we’d like to hear from you.

Friendly Pines Camp is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome candidates whose experience and perspective will strengthen our community.