Overview
The Director of Opequon Quaker Camp in Harpers Ferry, WV is responsible for a residential camping program for 150-170 campers (50-60 per two-week session, for three sessions) between the ages of 9-14. The Camp Director is supervised by the BYM Camping Program Manager, under the general guidance of the BYM General Secretary. The Camp Director works closely with the Camping Program Committee (CPC), which oversees and coordinates the philosophy, policy, financing, and emphasis of the BYM Camping Program. The Director receives nurture and support from the Committee. The Director is responsible for hiring, training and supervising a seasonal staff of ~30 people, all of whom will report to the Director.
The ideal candidate will have a passion for youth development, the emotional and spiritual grounding to lead a diverse multi-generational community, experience with outdoor education and/or arts education, and very strong interpersonal communication skills. They will have the proven ability to manage both people and resources, to prioritize and complete multiple projects, and to fluently engage with issues of identity and community with youth. They will be committed to creating a generative and joyous camp experience each summer, and a program that is constantly growing and improving so that it can better meet its goals and manifest its values.
The Director works sporadic hours from September to December and between 5-20 hours a week from January through June to administer the program, which includes recruiting and hiring staff and counselors, reviewing acceptance information and literature, corresponding with staff, parents and campers, filing reports, and working with the CPC and the Camping Program Manager. The Director is required to live on-site at camp for eight weeks in the summer, from the start of staff training (mid-June) through the end of staff clean-up and closure (mid-August).
Qualifications:
KEYS TO SUCCESS
Strong skills in relationship-building and interpersonal communication
Calm, clear, & organized
Values-based drive to help the camp innovate, strengthen, and grow
Servant leadership and inclusive management
Commitment to equity and justice
About BYM Camps
ORGANIZATION SUMMARY
Baltimore Yearly Meeting (BYM) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) owns and operates four overnight summer camps in the Mid-Atlantic region, providing a summer camp experience each year for 550-600 young people between the ages of 9-17. Together, these four summer camps constitute the BYM Camping Program, and they are unique and distinctive but tied together by a belief in the value and brilliance of every person, no matter how young or old. From overnight wilderness camping to creative arts, from group games to collective work, our campers develop the kind of self-knowledge and self-esteem that leads to personal, emotional, and spiritual growth. These four summer camps provide a meaningful and unforgettable summer experience, but more than that, they produce in campers a lifetime of lessons, confidence, and connection.
