Schoolhouse of Wonder Looking for Camp Programs Manager at New Hill, North Carolina and Cary, North Carolina Full Time

Join an award-winning nonprofit that helps create kind, confident, and curious kids through nature-based outdoor adventures. 

Are you looking for a way to turn your summer camp experience into a long-term, year-round career? Are you looking for a balance of running your own day camp program while receiving incredible mentorship, professional development opportunities, and a leadership role in an award-winning nonprofit? Are you passionate about working with kids and adults who are passionate about working with kids? Do you have experience supervising staff, hiring and training them, empathy-based behavior management, and outdoor programming?

Schoolhouse of Wonder is looking for experienced and dedicated staff who are passionate about their work, who are committed to Schoolhouse’s mission and values, and who value diversity, equity, and inclusion.

A Site Manager is an important leader and member of our field team. They help create and manage magical and impactful day camps for children ages 5-12 and teens 13-17. A Site Manager works to plan and prepare camp programs, hire and train staff, and lead camp through the spring, summer, fall, and winter seasons. This position is responsible for the day-to-day operations our Wake County camp locations including managing seasonal and year-round staff members and multiple camper groups. 

As a Site Manager, you’ll be spending your time:

• Supporting staff to deliver programming, including games, hikes, river and creek explorations, and skill-based activities, to small groups of children or teens;
• Keeping the logistics of camp running smoothly by managing staff, camp supplies, activity schedules, budget, and program areas;
• Providing excellent child-centered, empathy-based behavior management;
• Ensuring consistent program quality and extraordinary customer service;
• Safeguarding the physical and emotional safety of participants;
• Establishing trusted lines of communication with participants, their families, other Schoolhouse staff, and our park partners;
• Partnering with the Program Director to hire, train, and mentor camp staff;

This is a year-round position beginning in December 2022 or January 2023.

General Responsibilities 

Site Managers are expected to:

• Set the standard by modeling Schoolhouse’s values, methodologies, policies, and procedures, including creating a safe environment by following our COVID procedures. 
• Be a leader. Support staff to organize the games, tell the stories, and manage their groups. Use and model appropriate child-centered behavior management techniques. Stay on schedule and manage your time. Create a culture of safety, growth, and fun.
• Safeguard the physical, emotional, and intellectual safety of participants. Model Schoolhouse values like kindness, curiosity, and empathy. Patiently process conflict and disagreements.
• Manage staff through trainings, mentorship, giving and receiving feedback, modeling behavior, and creating a culture of individual and organizational growth. 
• Set an excellent example in teaching and behavior management methods, work ethic, and attitude.
• Prepare quality programs. Create activity and staff schedules, manage your budget, order supplies, set up and break down program areas, and clean and maintain program spaces.
• Communicate with participants, their families, other Schoolhouse staff, and park partners. Create established lines of communication built on trust and empathy.
• Create and deliver activities. Partner with your staff to create and run high-quality, exciting, nature-based activities and camp schedules.
• Participate in all aspects of programs. Actively engage participants and deliver consistent and exceptional supervision. Be a good example and role model at all times. Play the games, sing the songs, wade in the river, hide in the leaves, build forts, and enthusiastically join in on all aspects of our programs.

You can find a description of the physical activities common in our field staff positions here.

Please Apply If You…

• Are at least 18 years of age by your first day of work
• Have an up-to-date COVID-19 Vaccination or exception with verification
• Are committed to Schoolhouse’s mission and values
• Are committed to providing safe programming including following our COVID procedures
• Have a college degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience, a minimum of four years
• Have a passion for and experience in outdoor program development and delivery and are comfortable working outdoors in all kinds of weather
• Have at least three years of experience working with children and teens and want to mentor them to find and be their best selves
• Have at least two years of experience managing staff and want to mentor them to find and be their best selves
• Have at least one year of managing a similar nature-based youth program
• Are kind, curious, and confident with a “can-do” attitude
• Have exceptional mentoring skills, including effective communication, enthusiasm, resourcefulness, positive attitude, and patience
• Have great verbal, interpersonal, and listening communication skills
• Desire a cooperative, team-oriented work atmosphere as well as the ability to work independently and follow through on tasks with minimal supervision, take initiative, and solve problems
• Are able and willing to accept and effectively act on feedback and guidance
• Take your work seriously but yourself, not so much

We require current pediatric and adult CPR and First Aid certification by the first day of work. We accept certifications from the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI).

Bonus points (or at least a high-five) if you have…

• Experience working with diverse populations
• Degree in a relevant field of study (Environmental Studies, Child Development, Outdoor Education)
• Teaching experience including experiential or inquiry-based learning techniques
• Multiple years experience managing a similar camp program
• Knowledge and interest in environmental education, the cultural history of the Southeast, storytelling, behavior management, and/or child development
• Experience or training in socio-emotional learning, trauma-informed care, or play-based learning
• Skill-based training or certifications (Lifeguarding, EMT, WFR, etc.)
• English/Spanish bilingual fluency

Office Location, Hours, Travel

Our programming occurs on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary land of the Eno, Lumbee, Sappony, Shakori, Occaneechi, and Tuscarora peoples. https://native-land.ca/

The work of the Site Manager is typically performed both remotely and at our program sites. The Wake County Site Manager performs the majority of their programming work at Umstead State Park.

• West Point on the Eno, 5101 N. Roxboro, Durham, NC 
• Umstead State Park, 2100 N. Harrison, Cary, NC 
• Brumley Forest, 3223 New Hope Church Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 
• Harris Lake County Park, 2112 County Park Dr, New Hill, NC

Hours are dependent on organizational needs, vary by season, typically total between 32 hours and 60 hours per week, depending on the season, and range from 7:30a – 6p Monday through Friday, with the occasional weekend, evening, and/or overnight work requirements. 

This is a full-time, salaried, exempt, “at will” position that reports to the Program Director. 

Compensation

The wage range for this position is $40,000 to $43,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

Benefits Include:

• Schoolhouse of Wonder provides 100% paid health insurance
• A Professional Development Stipend
• An annual Gear Stipend
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• Participation in Schoolhouse of Wonder retirement plan