Recruiting for June 2nd, 2027 to August 14th, 2027.
The Nature Specialist is responsible to further the mission of the camp through assisting in the planning of outdoor education activities on site. Deliver nature, ecology, and campcraft lessons/activities that are safe, fun, and appropriate to the campers’ age and abilities. Assist in the management of the physical operation of the camp program’s facilities and equipment.
Lead creative programming where campers can get crafty and learn new skills! We are looking for someone who is confident in ceramics, woodworking, and other general Arts & Crafts Skills as well!
POSITION SUMMARY
The Health Officer is responsible for overseeing the health and safety of campers and staff through the use of first aid, distributing medication, and anything else required to ensure the best possible experience for everyone on camp.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Provide healthcare to meet individual needs of camp staff and campers.
Collaborate with other medical staff to meet medical needs.
Follow health care policies/procedures as described in the Healthcare Manual and treatment procedures.
Organize, maintain, and utilize adequate resources for serving the health and medical needs of the
campers and staff.
Set up the camp Health Center.
Inventory and order all necessary medical supplies and equipment.
Maintain accurate and detailed medical records according to state and American Camp Association Standards.
Ensure staff and camper health examinations are current and on file.
Prepare and utilize daily medical log for treatment and medications.
Prepare and record insurance and accident report forms.
Oversee First Aid procedures and supplies.
Prepare and distribute first aid kits throughout camp including camp vehicles, kitchen, offices, waterfront, activity areas, out-of-camp trips.
Ensure supplies are well stocked and distributed as needed.
Ensure a staff orientation session is delivered on medical services.
Ensure camp staff and campers know their role related to health care and first aid.
Screen all campers and staff who are arriving and departing camp.
Verify health history and examination.
Verify emergency authorization.
Identify any observable evidence of illness or communicable diseases.
Conduct a health assessment.
Keep all medications used by campers and staff.
Performs any other functions necessary for the smooth and efficient operation of camp to make experience the best it can be for our campers.
REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS:
CPR certified.
Current First Aid certification and experience in first aid and emergency procedures.
Valid and current driver’s license.
Experience in both children and adult illness/injury care.
Desire to work with children and young adults.
Community health knowledge.
YMCA LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES:
Relationship-building: Creates and maintains authentic relationships while enhancing individual and team performance.
Communication: Listens and expresses self effectively and in a manner that reflects a true understanding of the needs of the audience.
Developing Others: Recognizes and acts on the need to continually develop others’ abilities to attain the highest level of performance.
Decision-making: Integrates logic, intuition, and sound judgment to analyze information to identify key opportunities, make thoughtful decisions and solve problems.
Leadership: By providing the right example, motivates and encourages others in pursuit of common goals.
WORK ENVIRONMENT & 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.
Ability to lift/assist campers and staff.
Ability to read and follow directions on medication labels, health forms, physician orders, and parent letters.
Maintain a written record system.
Ability to quickly get to remote locations on camp property over uneven terrain.
Observe and assess the sanitation and safety conditions of the camp.
Ability to communicate with parents, staff, and administration about camper health concerns.
Possess endurance to meet emergency needs.
Ability to drive to off-camp health providers, physicians, or emergency treatment locations.
The Sailing Specialist is responsible to further the mission of the camp through assisting in the planning of sailing activities at the camp’s waterfront. Deliver sailing lessons and activities that are safe, fun, and appropriate to the campers’ age and abilities. Assist in the management of the physical operation of the waterfront’s facilities and equipment.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Deliver a developmentally appropriate sailing program to campers.
Write (with the help of the Waterfront Director) lesson plans that meet camp outcomes and the abilities of the campers.
Evaluate the sailing abilities of campers and staff.
Deliver creative sailing activities.
Evaluate the success of the sailing program and the development of each camper’s sailing abilities and skills.
Ensure camp staff and campers are trained in and follow safety procedures for sailing.
Assist in the implementation of staff training in the sailing area.
Train the waterfront and counseling staff in their responsibilities when assisting with sailing.
Ensure campers and staff follow safety procedures.
Assist in the management and care of the physical facilities and equipment in the waterfront program area.
Conduct a daily check of the area and equipment for safety, cleanliness, and good repair.
Clean waterfront area daily, keeping it free of hazards and debris.
REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS:
Have a valid and up to date Michigan boaters license.
Current certification in lifeguard training or equivalent.
Current certification in sailing instruction or related experience.
Current certification in first aid and CPR.
Prior experience sailing.
YMCA LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES:
Relationship-building: Creates and maintains authentic relationships while enhancing individual and team performance.
Communication: Listens and expresses self effectively and in a manner that reflects a true understanding of the needs of the audience.
Developing Others: Recognizes and acts on the need to continually develop others’ abilities to attain the highest level of performance.
Decision-making: Integrates logic, intuition, and sound judgment to analyze information to identify key opportunities, make thoughtful decisions and solve problems.
Leadership: By providing the right example, motivates and encourages others in pursuit of common goals.
WORK ENVIRONMENT & 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.
Ability to communicate and work with groups participating (age and skill levels) and provide necessary instruction to campers and staff.
Ability to observe camper and staff behavior, assess its appropriateness, enforce appropriate safety regulations and emergency procedures, and apply appropriate behavior and management techniques.
Visual and auditory ability to identify and respond to environmental and other hazards related to the activity.
Physical ability to respond appropriately to situations requiring first aid. Must be able to assist campers in an emergency (fire, evacuation, illness, or injury) and possess the strength and endurance required to maintain constant supervision of campers.
The most basic responsibility of Cabin Leaders is taking care of the physical needs of campers. Daily routines such as cleaning up after themselves, bathing, brushing teeth, eating properly, getting enough rest, dressing in keeping with the weather, are tasks that some youngsters have difficulty accomplishing without supervision. Along with these routines are such things as keeping an eye on the health of campers under your charge, keeping them away from obvious unsafe situations, correcting apparent mistakes they are making, and helping them to decide on the course of their day’s activities.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Prepare for and actively participate in staff training and staff meetings.
Set a good example for campers and others including cleanliness, punctuality, sharing clean up and chores, sportsmanship and table manners.
Encourage respect for personal property, camp equipment and facilities.
Recognize and respond to opportunities for problem solving in a group.
Develop opportunities for interaction between campers and staff.
Provide opportunities for the group so that each individual experiences success during camp.
Provide opportunities for discussion of individual or group problems or concerns.
Help each participant meet the goals established by the camp for camper development.
Guide cabin or instruction group and individual campers in participating successfully in all aspects of camp activities.
Establish roles for supervising camper health.
Establish roles in enforcing camp safety regulations. Instruct campers in emergency procedures such as fire drills, evacuating the cabin etc.
Supervise all assigned aspects of the campers’ day including morning routine, cabin clean up, meal times, rest hour, evening activities, getting ready for bed and after hours duty as assigned.
Help campers plan their participation in cabin activities, instruction activities and all camp activities.
Assist in teaching or leading an activity as assigned.
These are not the only duties to be performed. Some duties may be reassigned and other duties may be assigned as required.
Performs any other functions necessary for the smooth and efficient operation of camp to make experience the best it can be for our campers.
REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS:
Must be 18 years of age or high school graduate.
Must be able to obtain or become certified in First Aid/CPR.
Must submit a health history record and examination form prior to the first day of work.
Ability to interact with all age levels.
YMCA LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES:
Relationship-building: Creates and maintains authentic relationships while enhancing individual and team performance.
Communication: Listens and expresses self effectively and in a manner that reflects a true understanding of the needs of the audience.
Developing Others: Recognizes and acts on the need to continually develop others’ abilities to attain the highest level of performance.
Decision-making: Integrates logic, intuition, and sound judgment to analyze information to identify key opportunities, make thoughtful decisions and solve problems.
Leadership: By providing the right example, motivates and encourages others in pursuit of common goals.
WORK ENVIRONMENT & 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.
Ability to communicate and work with groups participating (age and skill levels) and provide necessary instruction to campers and staff.
Ability to observe camper behavior, assess its appropriateness, enforce appropriate safety regulations and emergency procedures, and apply appropriate behavior-management techniques.
Ability to observe staff behavior, assess its appropriateness, enforce appropriate safety regulations and emergency procedures, and apply appropriate management techniques.
Visual and auditory ability to identify and respond to environmental and other hazards related to the activity.
Physical ability to respond appropriately to situations requiring first aid. Must be able to assist campers in an emergency (fire, evacuation, illness, or injury) and possess the strength and endurance required to maintain constant supervision of campers.
Physical ability to lift up to 50lbs.
Work is performed in a fast-paced outdoor and office environment. The ability to communicate both orally and in writing is essential for this position. Visual acuity is required for reading computer screens and/or documents and making changes as necessary/required. Job requires high levels of alertness and concentration. Walking is frequent. Repetitive stooping and bending with frequent lifting of light to heavy objects is required. The ability to sit for long periods of time is required as well as, the ability to manipulate keyboards, telephone keypads, and writing and kitchen utensils. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, outside weather elements, and extreme heat.
EFFECT ON END RESULTS
The Cabin Leaders at YMCA Hayo-Went-Ha Camps play a vital role in ensuring the best possible experience for the campers. The end result will be measured by the growth of the cabin, in that when they leave camp, they are returning home having strong personal growth socially, physically, and emotionally. The main goal is for the campers to want to return year after year.
Come work at YMCA Hayo-Went-Ha Camps, an organization with over 120 years of history! We are two single gender camps located on the beautiful shores of Arbutus Lake for our girlhood-focused experience and Torch Lake for our boyhood-focused experience. We offer two and four week sessions, with each trip offering a wilderness expedition component. These trips can be a single overnight or longer trips, such as one week backpacking on the Pictured Rocks National Shoreline, two weeks sailing on the shores of Lake Superior, or 3 weeks traveling through Alaska!
Both of our sites have Directors who have worked as seasonal staff here, so we value the staff experience and the challenges that come with it. Staff come from all over the world as well as from around the United States, and a community that is welcoming to all. Staff receive 24 hours off each week and time off daily.
Our organization's motto is "Each for all, All for Each", an exemplary staff member models this by role modeling health cooperation and collaboration, along with showing campers how to look out for the camper who may need that extra support from the rest of the cabin.
Along the lines of our wilderness trips, staff members should have quality decision-making skills, adaptability, and a mind for risk management.
All cabin leaders and program staff will get lifeguard certified and Wilderness First Aid certified at no additional cost to them.
All staff get access to pro-deals for discounts on Outdoor Adventure materials.
In-cabin for Cabin leaders Shared housing for program leaders
Cabin leaders stay in a cabin with campers and a co-counselor.
Program Staff will have shared housing with other program and support staff.
We recommend staff bring a car, and have staff parking available on-site. If arriving by plane, we ask to please arrive in the Traverse City Airport (TVC), and we can provide transportation to and from.
Both camps are surrounded by pristine nature that staff love to explore. Traverse City is located within an hour, and it hosts the World Famous Cherry Festival! There is also easy access to Mackinac Island, along with Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes National Lakefront.
Please apply on our job portal and one of our year round staff will reach out shortly to set-up and interview!
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