A Camp Director Job of camp staff having higher & greater authority for summer camp operations. There are different types of summer camps and so there is an assortment of different Camp Director positions which involve various responsibilities & roles for these mixed types of camps. Most of the time all the mini-events and summer camps generally have only one camp director or as the owner of the camp. Though, a few big organizations have several camp directors as groups with different titles such as Program Director, Assistant Director, Executive Director, or Marketing Director, who need to fulfill their particular job role in the camp. A camp director’s main responsibility is to bring all the pieces together to create a great experience that campers will cherish forever. In this blog, we’ll discuss the job description, duties (key responsibilities), and salary of being a camp director.
Job Description of Camp Director
For a camp director position, a bachelor’s degree or a graduate degree is required, and also a lifesaving certificate. The camp director’s job involves controlling duties and commanding responsibility for campers and staff. She/he is responsible for all the camp activities and inspects everything. Camp directors normally work year-round employment unlike camp counselors who work seasonally and they often work in offices planning recreational events.
Camp Directors need to work with the managing staff and take care of camp activities. A camp director does everything from administrative tasks which include the below factors.
- Managing personnel
- Maintaining and creating a budget,
- To organize event changes or additions
- Strengthening relationships with current, former & potential campers
Below is an example of a designed timeline by one of the camp directors.
During the season they also need to be responsible for reports and provide updates to track the camper registration progress and to share the event reports with everyone after the camp. They design the curriculum of camp, guide camp employees, campers & keep a check on expenses which also include hiring and training camp staff members. Below are the basic requirements & qualifications for a camp director.
- Graduate/Bachelor’s Degree in outdoor recreation or camp management
- National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Certification
- Years of experience in camp administration
- Strong organizational skills and solid guidance
- Plan & organize day-to-day operations during camp
- Accordingly developing curriculum and distribution of camp materials to customers
- A valid driver’s license with a minimum age of 21 years and Certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) & First Aid care by the American Red Cross.
- They need to undergo a child abuse, sex-offender registry check, and drug tests
Work schedules for camp directors are planned (Monday through Friday) during normal business hours but in the circumstances can also include weekends (early mornings or late night hours).
Responsibilities & Duties of Camp Director
As a camp director, there are some duties which he had to do accordingly. The performance of its employees and a camp may include performing various administrative duties, developing curricula for campers, and taking disciplinary measures when necessary. Their job is a combination of physical and mental work and takes place both indoors (in office) and outside in various weather conditions. Few duties of camp directors are given below.
- Talking & consulting with team members/ participants to decide camp requirements
- Creating activity schedules by planning daily camp activities accordingly
- Hiring camp/staff members (recreation leaders, activity specialists, and camp counselors) for various activities and develop training programs.
- Having a key role by training and supervising the camp employees or volunteers including kitchen staff, counselors, and instructors.
- Ensuring the well-being of campers by organizing camp employees accommodations and meals
- Establishing a healthy camp environment with safe practices
- Buying camp equipment and supplies for the event through the allocated budget
Camp directors work with staff members in and out of the office including assistant camp directors, subordinates, and the recreation director, and are responsible for maintaining peace between staff members. They also work with the public (including children and their parents) and must be able to communicate clearly with them. Few responsibilities of a camp director are given below who performs duties accordingly.
- Engaging with staff members & parents to manage operations of a camp (day/night)
- Assigning their daily schedule of activities by placing the campers into groups or cabins
- Designing and planning a camp curriculum with recreational activities
- Observing areas which needed to improve after evaluating events
- Keeping processes of documentation and records of a camp
- Further, few camp directors execute marketing plans to recruit campers.
- Explaining camp event information to the clients when required
Salary Of Camp Director
The average camp director makes $40 to $44 per year. They have the opportunity to earn more once they move past entry-level roles. Most of the camp directors find a role of a job with hospitality companies as a service/experience while others work for government companies to make more money.
Few top states (Alaska, Rhode Island, and New York) in the United States (U.S) pay camp directors the highest salaries. Below is the picture of salary distribution and how the hierarchy works in this domain.
In this blog, we can see the average salary in dollars of camp directors across the USA, and below is the picture which will explain to you in detail the salary structure of a Camp Director.
Conclusion
In this blog, we have explained what & who is a camp director with his responsibilities and duties. Finally, the role of a camp director is not an easy task, and one has to be determined to work with essential skills. It’s a better career to choose to have ahead an adventurous life to meet new people and engage with them accordingly.
FAQs
- In a year, what does a camp director do?
- Producing the budget of a camp
- Managing and hiring staff
- Estimating camp events
- Marketing the camp by promoting
- Keeping analytical reports
- To be a camp director, what are the essential skills required?
- Operations & Risk Management
- Camping
- Strategic Planning
- Recreation and budget Management
- Leadership