Camp Director

Camp Shomria/Hashomer Hatzair USA

Camp Director

Our Camp Director is responsible for administration and operation of Camp Shomria and year-round programs, including recruitment of campers and hiring of staff.  The Camp Director will be working in collaboration with the Israeli staff and overseeing the work of American staff members.  Our target campers are aged 9-16, with a smaller program for 7–8-year-olds.  After 10th grade, campers become CITs and counselors.  We currently have roughly 165 campers during the summer.  We also host delegations of Israeli Jews and Arabs who spend 1-2 weeks at camp.  Knowledge of Hebrew and familiarity with Israel is a plus.

Who Are We? Founded in the US in 1923, Hashomer Hatzair USA (HH USA) is the American branch of a worldwide youth movement headquartered in Israel (HH World). HH USA believes in fostering youth autonomy and developing leadership skills. Our summer camp incorporates elements of scouting and has a small farm.  We work to strengthen children’s identification with Judaism and with Israel.

HH World provides us with two senior staff members, one of whom is responsible for operations and the other for education.  Today, HH USA operates a 6 week summer camp and several weekend overnight camps during the school year, as well as bi-monthly meet-ups primarily in New York City and New Jersey.  Our camp director is involved in all of these activities.

The Camp Director will have professional development opportunities through mentorship programs run by JCamp180, the  Foundation for Jewish Camps, the American Camp Association and similar groups.

Responsibilities

1. Marketing and Enrollment – The Camp Director will:

• develop and implement a marketing and retention plan for the summer camp and year-round activities, including overnights in the fall, winter and spring, at least one Family Camp and several seminars.  
• develop and maintain relationships with parents, parents, alumni, organizations and community groups.  communicating with campers. 
• analyze and update data related enrollment trends and periodically present this data to the Board.
• develop written brochures and flyers to be distributed at camp fairs and collaborate with staff to update and improve the HH USA website. 
• work with the youth leadership and marketing committee to develop and implement a social media strategy.  

1. Administration and Logistics -  The Camp Director will:

• be primarily responsible for all administrative and logistical tasks related to Camp Shomria and year-round activities, including billing, budgeting, hiring and entering into contracts, purchasing, renting a winter camp site, transportation etc.  
• oversee training of all summer staff. ensure that all staff, including counselors, are trained in camp policies, particularly the Code of Conduct.  
• maintain databases (or oversee the work of other staff) of current members of HH USA (including campers, counselors and youth leadership), alumni, parents, donors and other stakeholders.

III. Health and Safety - The Camp Director will: 

• ensure that Camp Shomria is in a state of good repair, overseeing the work of the Site Manager, with responsibility for ensuring the camp meets all NY State and local health and safety standards.  
• ensure that HH USA has received health forms for every camper and staff member.  
• ensure that we have appropriate nursing staff, mental health consultants and lifeguards during the summer.  
• be responsible for  ensuring compliance with all protocols established by the Board of Directors.

1. Development - The Camp Director will support the work of the Development Manager and Development Committee, helping to set fundraising goals and ensuring that the Development Committee is aware of HH USA’s fundraising needs.  
2. Board Relationships - The Camp Director will meet at least bi-weekly with the Board co-chairs and will participate in Board meetings which take place primarily on zoom 5 times a year, including one hybrid meeting at Camp Shomria.  The Camp Director will attend the annual Board and Leadership Retreat.  
3. Convention – In Summer 2027, HH USA is hosting a convention of counselors from all over the world at Camp Shomria.  The Camp Director will work with local staff and HH World to coordinate some aspects of the convention, including logistics and purchasing.

REPORTS TO:

The Camp Director reports directly to the Board of Directors and works in collaboration with the senior staff members provided by HH World