Located on lakefront property at Boulder Bay in Big Bear Lake, CA, Camp Big Bear is 12,000 acre camp that offers experiences for youth and families to enjoy the outdoors! Campgrounds include a lodge and kitchen, dorms, cabins, swimming pool, dock, craft shed, ropes course and other traditional camp activities.
In addition to year-round leasing for youth groups, church groups, or other organizations, Camp Big Bear is also home to Santa Monica Family YMCA families looking for an excuse to bond with loved ones and enjoy the outdoors. We host: Family Camp for MLK Weekend, Family Camp for Labor Day Weekend, and Youth Summer Camp in July!
Under the supervision of the Chief Executive Officer, the Camp Big Bear Director is responsible for the overall leadership, planning, development, administration, evaluation, and growth of Camp Big Bear operations. This role ensures high-quality camp programming, staff leadership, safety and risk management, fiscal accountability, facility oversight, and community engagement in alignment with Santa Monica Family YMCA policies, ACA standards, and mission priorities.
- Bachelor's degree in a related field required; equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
- Minimum five years of experience in camp leadership, outdoor recreation, or residential program management.
- Demonstrated ability to manage year-round camp facilities, infrastructure and grounds maintenance.
- Knowledge of safety compliance, risk management, emergency preparedness and ACA/YMCA standards.
- Experience planning and delivering high-quality camp programming for youth, families and specialty groups.
- Current CPR/AED and First Aid certifications required (or within the first 30 days) from one of the following:
- American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or American Safety & Health Institute.
- Provide year-round leadership and operational oversight of Camp Big Bear, including facilities, programs, staffing, group leasing, and guest experience.
- Manage Camp Big Bear facilities and grounds to ensure safety, regulatory compliance, seasonal readiness, and high-quality experiences for campers and guests.
- Plan and oversee facility inspections, maintenance, vendor coordination, capital projects, food service operations, and relationships with city and regulatory agencies.
- Lead the planning, delivery, and evaluation of Santa Monica Family YMCA camp programs, including summer resident camps, family camps, and specialty weekends.
- Recruit, train, supervise, and support seasonal staff, international staff, and volunteers while fostering a fun, inclusive, and mission-driven camp culture.
- Oversee camper registration, staffing plans, transportation logistics, safety training, and parent communication.
- Ensure compliance with ACA accreditation standards, YMCA policies, and all safety, risk management, and emergency preparedness requirements.
- Develop, implement, and manage the annual camp budget, monitoring financial performance and identifying needs related to facilities, staffing, and programming.
- Lead group leasing operations, including marketing, acquisition, scheduling, contracts, and on-site coordination for external groups and retreats.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with families, volunteers, donors, board members, community partners, and leasing clients.
- Serve as staff liaison to Camp Big Bear committees, board retreats, donor tours, and special engagement events.
- Support the Santa Monica Family YMCA's Annual Campaign and participate in association-wide initiatives, training, and events.
- Represent Camp Big Bear as a visible ambassador of the YMCA mission and values.
- Perform all other duties as assigned by the Chief Executive Officer.
- CPR/AED from a qualified organization within the first 30-days
- Completion of all required Child Abuse Prevention Trainings within the first 30-days
- Y-USA Leader Certification preferred