Healthy Communities • Healthy Kids • YMCA Camps and Outdoor Education
Camp Chat: Our Program Heads
18 March 2019 - by Leigh Coffey
This summer, we will hire 900+ staff to deliver our Y Day Camp programs at 55 locations across the Greater Toronto area. We’ve already hired an amazing Camp Director team, and now these passionate individuals have the exciting responsibility of hiring their own teams! Our Day Camp locations range from 30 – 500 campers per week, and therefore our staff teams range from 4 – 60+ staff per location.
Our main on-site Day Camp positions include Counselors, Floaters, and Program Heads and at our larger sites where we have 130+ campers a week, we hire Assistant Directors.
Our Day Camp Program Heads’ primary responsibility is supporting our front-line Counselors to deliver the absolute best programs possible for our Campers. Each Program Head is responsible for 3-8 Counselors, meeting with them prior to the summer to discuss their goals for the summer, ensuring they understand the expectations on them, joining in on programs to ensure they are comfortable leading activities as well as managing their group, and demonstrating when required. It is important at the Y that our staff receive on-going feedback and are encouraged to continue to grow in their role. All Camp staff receive a performance appraisal at the end of the summer.
Jane, started with Y Day Camps as a Counselor and the following summer she was hired as a Floater (covering counselor lunches, stepping in for sick staff, basically doing whatever is required to keep things running smoothly!). And last summer Jane was a Program Head at our Ontario Place Y Day Camp.
Prior to the summer, our Program Heads participate in approximately 60 hours of paid training, including sessions on coaching their staff and how to be an effective supervisor.
If you, or someone you know, loves working at Camp and may be a good fit for our Program Head positions, learn more and apply at YMCAGTA.ORG/DayCampJobs.
Our main on-site Day Camp positions include Counselors, Floaters, and Program Heads and at our larger sites where we have 130+ campers a week, we hire Assistant Directors.
Our Day Camp Program Heads’ primary responsibility is supporting our front-line Counselors to deliver the absolute best programs possible for our Campers. Each Program Head is responsible for 3-8 Counselors, meeting with them prior to the summer to discuss their goals for the summer, ensuring they understand the expectations on them, joining in on programs to ensure they are comfortable leading activities as well as managing their group, and demonstrating when required. It is important at the Y that our staff receive on-going feedback and are encouraged to continue to grow in their role. All Camp staff receive a performance appraisal at the end of the summer.
Jane, started with Y Day Camps as a Counselor and the following summer she was hired as a Floater (covering counselor lunches, stepping in for sick staff, basically doing whatever is required to keep things running smoothly!). And last summer Jane was a Program Head at our Ontario Place Y Day Camp.
“Being a Program Head allowed me to improve my leadership skills and be part of a team in a diverse environment. It was also fun because I was able to be creative in how I implemented programming! I also really enjoyed seeing my staff learn and grow.”
Prior to the summer, our Program Heads participate in approximately 60 hours of paid training, including sessions on coaching their staff and how to be an effective supervisor.
If you, or someone you know, loves working at Camp and may be a good fit for our Program Head positions, learn more and apply at YMCAGTA.ORG/DayCampJobs.
