As the newest YMCA Camp in the state of Michigan, our camp began in 1995. Our facilities were designed with today's children in mind. We tie together the spirit of camps of the past, with the innovations of today to make Sherman Lake one of the best summer camps in Michigan, and we believe, the country. We have 365 acres of woodlands, prairie, and pristine lakefront on Sherman Lake. Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center offers unsurpassed natural beauty and an array of traditional and non-traditional camp programs.
At Sherman Lake YMCA, campers experience the power of living through HCRR (Hick-er). The Y's four core principles - Honesty, Caring, Respect, and Responsibility - are emphasized in each camp program. Through discovery of the great outdoors, skill development and guidance in the importance of building healthy relationships, campers leave with a renewed sense of achievement, belonging, confidence and courage to try new things.
The Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center is an inclusive organization that welcomes all persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or disability.
Our Mission is - The Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center puts honesty, caring, respect, and responsibility into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
Under the supervision of the Summer Camp Director, the primary responsibilities of a Summer Camp Program Director are to run a successful Summer Camp program, assist with the planning of summer camp, and support other departments when needed. Responsibilities may evolve to other scopes based on expertise and passion. This position will provide on-call, on-site overnight supervision for camp programs. This job requires excellent communication skills, the ability to multitask, teamwork with a variety of diverse individuals, and good interpersonal skills. The Program Director is required to live on-site in the assigned camp on-site housing.
The Program Director will work as a member of the full YMCA staff team, responsible for carrying out the mission and vision of the Sherman Lake YMCA. This position is a part of the program management team made up of the program and administrative staff, and will carry out their responsibilities following established operating policies and procedures of the YMCA, ACA, Praesidium, and county, state & federal agencies.
- A Bachelor’s Degree or a combination of education and relevant experience.
- Three summers or two years of program management and leadership experience in an organized camp or youth development agency.
- A basic understanding of the YMCA movement and the ability to role model the four principles of Honesty, Caring, Respect, and Responsibility.
- Knowledge and experience in working effectively with groups of diverse populations, with an evident commitment to equity.
- Ability to direct and build successful programs through supervision, training, and evaluation of staff, fiscal responsibility, marketing, and program development.
- Required certifications - valid driver's license, CPR/First Aid (within 30 days of hire), and Red Cross Responding to Emergencies or Wilderness First Responder (within 1 year of hire)
- Preferred certifications - current or ability to obtain - Lifeguarding, High Ropes, commercial driver’s license endorsement, and other relevant camp/programming certifications.
- Under the supervision of the Summer Camp Director, develop and plan the summer camp programs (day, overnight, and teen leadership) as part of Sherman Lake YMCA's progressive camping program.
- Continually enrich and innovate the Sherman Lake YMCA summer camp program.
- Consistently demonstrate HCRR by building healthy relationships that model empathy, personal development, emotional regulation, responsibility, and other social-emotional learning skills.
- Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and provide ongoing evaluation to seasonal staff.
- Assist with the development of the implementation of summer camp marketing.
- Liaison with delegated camp partners and camp families in a variety of ways such as orientations, open houses, family night, etc.
- Budget development in consultation with the Summer Camp Director.
- Oversee and guide counselors and support staff in camper behavior management. Keep the Summer Camp Director apprised of camper behavior issues.
- Assist in creating engaging social media content.
- Maintain relationships with campers, staff, and caregivers.
- Responsible for clean, organized program centers and activity areas; specifically assigned program areas, sports shed, program office, program equipment, waterfront, Performance Shell, cabins, yurts, and pods.
- Assist with Sherman Lake Y events, and develop new programs to further advance the Y mission and serve more participants.
- Ensure risk management safeguards are in place for all Camp programming.
- Attend required abuse risk management training and adhere to policies related to high-risk activities and boundaries with consumers.
- Manage at least one “high-risk activity” area for all of Sherman Lake Y participants; highest risk areas include aquatics, ropes/climbing, and equestrian barn.
- Responsible for medication administration and health service management. On going training and continual education will be required.
- Participate in training and ongoing professional development that values cultural awareness, working with children, diversity, inclusion, and equity.
- Report suspicious/inappropriate behaviors and policy violations and follow mandated abuse reporting requirements.
- Provide program support to Integrated Education School Camping Programs and Retreats as needed. This may include running a group, providing on-call and on-site overnight support, serving as a counselor or instructor, or other duties as assigned based on the needs and approved by the Summer Camp Director.