Seasonal Camp Director - The Trustees of Reservations

Who We Are:

Founded in 1891 by a group of visionary volunteers, The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is the nation’s premier conservation and preservation organization. The Trustees’ preserves, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts. Our properties are open to all, and we thrive by involving as many people as possible in all that we do. We aim to protect special places for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity, and have helped protect more than 50,000 acres, including 27,000+ acres on more than 120 reservations that are open to the public. As a non-profit conservation organization, we are funded and supported entirely by our visitors, supporters, volunteers, and our 100,000 Member households. We encourage you to learn more about The Trustees on our website, www.thetrustees.org.

Posting Information:

Salary/Hourly Rate: $22/hour

Hours per week: 40 hours/week, Mondays-Fridays, 8AM-4PM

Job Classification: Seasonal, non-exempt

Job Type: Onsite

Duration: June 1–August 15, 2025

Location: World’s End, Hingham, MA

What You’ll Do:

Your Impact:

Are you a youth-loving leader who wants to support fun and engaging camp experiences for elementary campers this summer? Do you love being outside exploring and want to stimulate the same curiosity in others? Are you interested in being at the intersection of campers, counselors, and parents while supporting experiential learning in a stunning natural environment?

World’s End’s thirty campers aged 5-11 spend each day exploring the rocky shores, beaches, salt marsh, rolling hills, and woodlands of this unique 400-acre peninsula habitat in Hingham, MA. They discover the plants, animals, sea life, and minerals that call this place home – and learn about the delicate balance that supports all living things. Creative projects, active games, friendship building, and fun are also part of every camp day.

For more information about our camp, please visit Trustees Camps.  

The Role:

As the Camp Director, you are responsible for directing and overseeing the daily activities of camp, empowering staff, supporting campers’ needs, engaging in parent communications, and fostering a safe and fun camp environment. You will lead staff training weeks, respond to parent and staff feedback, and manage camper social-emotional and medical needs. You will take the lead in building a strong camp community, empowering Camp Educators (Counselors) to contribute collaboratively to the daily schedule of their campers, while overseeing the development, scheduling, and implementation of camp activities.

Specifically, you’ll:

·       Plan and facilitate staff training week, including demonstrating educational methods and activities, consulting on curriculum development, safety and emergency training, and leading medical and behavioral camper scenarios

·       Supervise and support Camp Educators (Counselors), fostering their growth and professional development, and filling in as a Camp Educator during absences

·       Demonstrate environmental education activities and encourage Camp Educators to lead them independently

·       Provide support and feedback that empower Camp Educators to collaboratively create and implement an intentional and fun camp experience  

·       Schedule and oversee breaks and observe camp staff in action for evaluation

·       Lead weekly camp staff meetings, including team building and morale-boosting fun

·       Communicate with parents regarding camper experiences, at times having difficult conversations requiring sensitivity and empathy

·       Support campers with social-emotional challenges, manage behavior incidents, and maintain incident log in conjunction with the South Shore Camps Behavior Specialist

·       Be the Health Care Supervisor responding to camper injuries, dispensing camper medications as necessary, and maintaining the medical log

·       Train and supervise Counselors-in-Training/CITs (ages 15-17)

·       Take and manage photos used for parent communications and marketing

·       Organize and monitor supply inventory

This is a seasonal, non-exempt position 40 hours/week reporting directly to the South Shore School & Youth Programs Manager/Camp Director.

Requirements

What You’ll Need:

Skills and Experience:

·       Completed or working towards a Bachelor's degree in education, environmental education, science, psychology, or other relevant course of study

·       1-3 years working in a camp, as a classroom teacher, environmental/informal educator, and/or childcare provider with children ages 5-10

·       A special interest in place-based education, especially in a coastal environment   

·       Experience leading a team of individuals and fostering a supportive environment for growth and communication   

·       Experience leading and designing environmental education programs    

·       Highly organized with excellent written and verbal communication skills.

·       Strong ability to work independently, as well as effectively work as part of a group

·       Positive attitude and ability to work outside in variable summer weather conditions with children

·       Ability to take initiative and accomplish necessary tasks in a timely manner, and respond to sudden obstacles using sound judgement 

·       Must be outgoing and bring unbridled joy and enthusiasm to work  

·       Demonstrate inclusion of all, and an open-mindedness to learn through new experiences 

Eligibility Criteria:

·       Minimum age 21 years old

·       Full availability for camp staff training weeks (June 9-20) and all weeks of camp (June 23 – August 15); part-time availability in late May/early June for camp preparation and training

·       Reliable transportation to and from work

·       Ability to lift 40 pounds   

·       The following certifications are required and will be provided as needed: 

o   American Camp Association Camp Director course, or equivalent

o   First Aid and CPR certification

·       Current authorization to work in the United States by the first day of employment.

·       A satisfactory criminal background (CORI) check.

Don’t quite have all the skills and experience listed above? We still want to hear from you! Research shows that historically marginalized groups are less likely to apply if they do not meet every single requirement. We are committed to building a diverse team and encourage you to apply even if you are missing some of the skills and experience above.

Want to learn more? Set up an informational call with a member of our People Team by emailing people@thetrustees.org.

Benefits

Your Benefits:

• Sick Time: Mass Sick Leave Accrual
• Trustees Discounts: Enjoy free entry to all Trustees properties, discount event tickets, and discounted merchandise at our stores, cafes, and on stays at our inns. 

• Museum Reciprocity: Employees have access to free and discounted admission and membership to more than 50 nearby museums and cultural institutions. 

Equal Opportunity and Diversity:

The Trustees is a proud equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any protected status including, but not limited to, age, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual preferences, nation of origin, religion, or disability status and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with varying abilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants. We aspire to reflect and effectively serve the residents and communities of Massachusetts, who are at the core of our mission.

The Trustees’ commitment to advancing the organization’s vision for this work may be found here: Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion and Equity.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible work environment. To request reasonable accommodations during the application or interview process, please contact us at people@thetrustees.org.