Camp Director

Camp Shomria/Hashomer Hatzair USA

Camp Director

Purpose of the Position – The Camp Director is responsible for recruitment of campers  and the administration and operation of Camp Shomria and other major events throughout the year.  During the school year, the Camp Director’s primary responsibility is to recruit participants for year-round activities and for all six weeks of Camp Shomria, to hire staff and order supplies, and to ensure that the physical plant of the camp is in good repair.  The Camp Director is expected to participate in and be physically present for Camp Shomria  (including Peulat Avodah, Construction, 6 weeks of summer camp  and Deconstruction), any Family Camp, Peulat Stav, Mosh Choref, Lag B’Omer and the Board Retreat.  The Camp Director is expected to oversee the work of the Site Manager, the Development Manager, the Mazkirimot, Hadracha, the Summer Staff and the Bookkeeper, and to work collaboratively with the Shlichimot

Responsibilities –

1. Recruitment and enrollment – The Camp Director will develop and implement a recruitment and retention plan in collaboration with members of the Board  and the Shlichimot.

• The Camp Director is expected to engage the Mazkirimot, Hadracha and campers in implementing the recruitment and retention plan
• The Camp Director will work with parents and other potential hosts to hold open houses to encourage interest in Camp Shomria and year-round events.
• The Camp Director will host on-line info sessions with potential parents.
• The Camp Director will develop powerpoint presentations and other materials to be used at open houses or info sessions to recruit new campers.
• The Camp Director will use best efforts to develop relationships with parents, organizations and community groups that could be a source of campers.
•  Recruiting children aged 7-8 for one week of camp is a great way to build interest in attending camp  for the future.  The Camp Director will work to recruit roughly 20  mini-mosh campers each summer for the first week of each of our two sessions.
• The Camp Director will participate in camp fairs and other events that provide exposure and recruitment opportunities
• The Camp Director will work with Hadracha, the Mazkirimot, Board members and the Finance Committee to develop a plan for making a six week Camp Shomria  the standard length of stay for campers.
• The Camp Director will maintain relationships with parents and existing campers to encourage retention.
• The Camp Director will reach out to alumni to encourage them to enroll their kids at Camp Shomria
• The Camp Director will develop a plan to encourage campers to sign up for all six weeks of Camp Shomria and will develop a plan to improve enrollment at Camp Shomria during the fifth and sixth week of camp.
• The Camp Director will meet with Roshei Kenim at least monthly and will help them with outreach and communication to members of Hashomer Hatzair USA and parents.
• The Camp Director will cultivate good relationships with youth leadership, including the Rosh Mosh, Hanhaga and Hadracha.

2. Outreach and communication – 

• The Camp Director will develop and maintain relationships with key constituencies, including the Board, parents, youth movement members and campers, Hadracha, Hanhaga, Mazkirimot, the English Desk of the World movement, other  staff, alumni, donors and partner organizations

• The Camp Director will plan and implement Hashomer Hatzair USA’s marketing and public relations program  in collaboration with Board members and/or other task forces engaged in outreach and marketing 

• The Camp Director will develop written materials such as brochures and flyers to be distributed at camp fairs and other public events

• The Camp Director will use social media and other channels to promote Hashomer Hatzair USA and its activities, including summer camp

• The Camp Director will create opportunities for partnerships with other organizations in order to build community, including camping organizations, Jewish organizations and the JCCs of Harlem and Manhattan.

• The Camp Director will develop ways to build recognition for Hashomer Hatzair USA and Camp Shomria in the camping and Jewish world

• The Camp Director will participate in events for Jewish summer camp professionals offered by partner organizations (JCamp 180, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and PJ Library, FJC, American Camp Association,etc.) to engage with other camp professionals, support organizations and for networking opportunities.
• The Camp Director will analyze and update data related to recruitment and enrollment and will create a dataset that can be shared with the Board periodically
• The Camp Director will collaborate with Hashomer Hatzair Canada and with Hashomer Hatzair World Movement.

3. Administration – The Camp Director is responsible for all administrative tasks related to Camp Shomria  (including Peulat Avodah, Construction and Deconstruction), Peulat Stav, Mosh Choref, Lag B’Omer and one or more Family Camps. The Camp Director will give an update to the Board at the May Board meeting as to where things stand with respect to the state of repair of the camp site, the certified nurses at the camp, the training of lifeguards, the plan for mental health and inspection by state and/or local agencies.

• The Camp Director will be responsible for all logistics relating to Camp Shomria and other major events, including billing, budgeting, hiring, transportation, etc.

• The Camp Director will oversee Hadracha who are involved in Camp Shomria and year-round activities.
• The Camp Director will oversee training of all non-Hadracha summer staff, including zoom sessions and other training activities prior to the summer

• The Camp Director will make sure the Site Manager is keeping Camp Shomria in good repair and that the camp meets New York State and local health and safety standards.

• The Camp Director will oversee Hashomer Hatzair USA’s social media 

• The Camp Director will develop a schedule for all email, snail mail and social media communication from Hashomer Hatzair USA 
• The Camp Director will oversee purchasing for all aspects of Camp Shomria and the other major events

• The Camp Director will lease a site for Mosh Choref

• The Camp Director will ensure that there is a certified nurse at Camp Shomria throughout the summer and will have plans for medical emergencies at any other Hashomer Hatzair USA activity.

1. The Camp Director will ensure there are a sufficient number of people certified in First Aid to comply with Department of Health recommendations.

• The Camp Director will ensure that there are a sufficient number of certified lifeguards and other mandatory aquatic staff at Camp Shomria throughout the summer so that the pool can be used regularly throughout the duration of camp. 

• The Camp Director will recruit a community care team to address mental health issues at  Camp Shomria throughout the duration of camp.  The Camp Director will work with the Educational Shaliach/a to ensure that there are appropriate protocols in plan and training so that the counselors know what to do if a mental health issue arises

• The Camp Director will be the main contact with all relevant agencies regarding certification, permitting and accreditation so that Camp Shomria can operate

• The Camp Director will make sure that Camp Shomria can pass  inspection by the New York State Department of Health prior to the start of Camp Shomria  and throughout the camp season.

• The Camp Director will ensure a safe environment for staff and campers  for all events sponsored by Hashomer Hatzair USA, including all events that take place at Camp Shomria.

1. The Camp Director will have primary responsibility for enforcement of the Code of Conduct and developing new protocols (to be approved by the Board) as needed.  The Camp Director is in charge of discipline at all major events held by Hashomer Hatzair USA, including the summer camp, and for overseeing the management of conflicts with parents, campers, Hadracha and summer staff.  The Camp Director will ensure that the Board Co-Chairs are aware of any significant disciplinary issues.

• The Camp Director will develop job descriptions for all non-Hadracha staff members and will execute contracts with staff members clearly laying out their obligations and responsibilities
• The Camp Director will work with the Shlichimot, other staff members and the Board to ensure that Hashomer Hatzair USA is making progress in implementing its strategic plan.

4. Planning and Execution of Programming

• The Camp Director will make sure that Shlichimot and Hadracha have developed programming plans prior to the commencement of the summer camp, Peulat Stav, Mosh Choref and Lag B’Omer, and that there are back-up plans in the event an event falls through.
• The Camp Director will ensure that there are back-up plans for bad weather 
• If programming is taking place at a new venue, the Camp Director will make sure that an appropriate personscouts the venue prior to the event.

5. Development 

• The Camp Director will work with the Development Manager, the Development Committee, the Shlichimot, Board Member and Hadracha to establish fundraising goals, ensure there is a strategy to achieve those goals and will work with the team to cultivate donors.

• The Camp Director will work with the development  team to make sure Hashomer Hatzair is taking advantage of all fundraising opportunities – and to make sure that the Development  Committee is aware of Hashomer Hatzair USA and Camp Shomria’s fundraising needs.

• The Camp Director will oversee the work of the Development Manager and will make sure that the Development Manager is meeting with donors and is working to execute the development plan.  The Camp Director will participate in weekly meetings with the Development Manager and the Central Shaliach/a.

• The Camp Director will help identify parents who may be willing to donate to Hashomer Hatzair USA.

• The Camp Director will work with the Development Manager to design an outreach plan to donors and will review development communications before they go out.

• The Camp Director will review grant applications.

• The Camp Director will help with major donor calls and cultivation, and will work with youth leadership to reach out to recent alumni and low dollar donors.

6. Family Camp 

• The Camp Director will be responsible for marketing and outreach for one or more Family Camp(s) each year. In addition to the traditional Family Camp for people who are new to Hashomer Hatzair, the Camp Director should explore creating an additional Family Camp for people who were part of Hashomer Hatzair in their youth (Bogrimot Family Camp)
• The Camp Director will be responsible for making sure that all logistics related to Family Camp are completed. 
• The Camp Director will ensure that there are age -appropriate programs in place so that people attending Family Camp get a taste of what Camp Shomria would be like.  There should be a mix of fun and educational activities. 

7. Budgeting

• The Camp Director will work with the Central Shaliach/a to draft an annual budget during the fall that will be approved by the Finance Committee in December and adopted by the full board at the first Board meeting of the year. 

• The Camp Director will ensure that activities stay within the budget approved by the Board of Directors, and if there is a cost overrun that exceeds the approved metrics, the Camp Director will get approval of the Finance Committee before incurring excess costs.

• The Camp Director will work with the Central Shaliach/a and the Finance Committee to update the annual budget quarterly to account for major changes in Hashomer Hatzair USA’s finances.

• The Camp Director will ensure that profit is an element of building the budget for each major activity held by Hashomer Hatzair USA.

• The Camp Director will serve as Treasurer for Hashomer Hatzair USA.

8. Professional Development

• The Camp Director will attend webinars and other information sessions to learn best practices and improve their knowledge relating to insurance, health and safety and other aspects of running a camp or working with youth.

• The Camp Director will attend the Board Retreat

• The Camp Director will collaborate with professionals at Hashomer Hatzair Canada and the World Movement to implement best practices

• The Camp Director will meet at least monthly with Hashomer Hatzair USA’s relationship representative at JCamp 180 

• The Camp Director will join any Hashomer Hatzair USA cohort engaged in training or other development programs offered by JCamp 180, Foundation for Jewish Camp, American Camp Association and other similar groups.

9. Board Relationships and Institutional Memory

• The Camp Director will attend each Board meeting to ensure that the Board is aware of all of the activities of Hashomer Hatzair USA and to respond to questions.

• The Camp Director will meet periodically with the Board Chair-Co-Chairs as agreed by the parties

• The Camp Director will keep a database that contains all executed agreements, policies, and protocols for Hashomer Hatzair USA

• The Camp Director will maintain databases of current members of Hashomer Hatzair USA (including campers, Hadracha and Hanhaga), alumni, parents, donors and other stakeholders

• The Camp Director will help acclimate new shlichimot when they start their job in the United States, including introducing them to key stakeholders, helping them understand Hashomer Hatzair USA’s expectations and ensuring that they are integrating into the tri-state area.

• The Camp Director will ensure that there is a staff lead for each Board Committee

Succession Planning

• The Camp Director will help identify and train their successor.

Reports to: The Camp Director reports directly to the Board of Directors and works in cooperation with the Shlichimot.