Specialty Area Director - Adventure Sports

Company: Greater Green Bay YMCA, Inc.
Location: Chicago
Posted on: April 1, 2025

Job Description:

As Specialty Area Director you will be directly responsible for the quality of programming in your Specialty Area which will include Climbing Wall, Bikes, Field Games, etc. You will assist in the planning and design of program activities, work with your team to develop best practices for running your program activities and consistently observe and adjust programming to ensure the highest efficiency and quality. These duties are in addition to your duties as a Resident Camp Counselor. You will live with, care for, and guide 10 -14 campers throughout the camp week. You will work closely with the leadership team as well as campers to create a positive, engaging, safe, valuable, and memorable camp experience for all.YMCA Camp U-Nah-Li-Ya is a Resident Summer Camp and Outdoor Education Center owned and operated by the Greater Green Bay YMCA. It is part of a mission-based Y organization focused on providing unique and valuable experiences to campers ages 7-17.ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Attend and contribute to all staff trainings, meetings, and events.
• Be dressed professionally and be prepared to make all parents, families, and campers feel comfortable with all questions answered on arrival and departure days.
• Live with and supervise 10-14 campers per week. Build close relationships, be a positive role model, and facilitate physical and emotional safety ensuring the campers have a pleasant camp experience.
• Lead and assist in leading any/all camp activities: Specialty Area Programming, Camp Games, Campfire, Cabin Activities, Meals, Thought for the Day, TAPS, etc.
• Work with leadership team to manage camper behaviors, use effective/appropriate discipline techniques, and ask for assistance as needed.
• Assume responsibility for the safety of all campers. In the event of an emergency, you will serve as a first responder (responding, reporting, and assisting).
• Serve as a lifeguard as assigned by leadership to ensure safe swimming and waterfront activities.
• Work with peers and leadership team to foster a positive and friendly camp culture for both campers and staff.
• Complete weekly paperwork: camper postcards, patch certificates, etc.
• Assist with camp clean-up after each group departs.
• Know your Specialty Area mission, program, and ACA regulations thoroughly.
• Keep record of safety checklists for Specialty Area.
• Act according to facility protocol to ensure safety of all staff and children, which includes:
  • Adhere to policies related to boundaries with staff and children.
  • Attend required abuse risk management training.
  • Report suspicious and inappropriate behaviors and policy violations.
  • Follow mandated abuse reporting requirements.
  • Meet weekly to assess Specialty Area Performance and adjust as necessary to ensure high quality programming, as well as work closely with the leadership team to continuously improve your Specialty Area Program.
  • Supervise camper skills patch accrual and distribution.
  • Assist with any/all camp duties as assigned.SKILLS AND TRAINING
    • Must be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or GED according to ACA regulations; at least 21 years old preferred.
    • Experience working with children.
    • Requires critical thinking skills along with the ability to prioritize workloads to meet timelines and goals.
    • Excellent telephone, face to face, and written communication skills tailored to the appropriate audience are essential.
    • Knowledge of ACA safety standards required.
    • Lifeguard, CPR, and First Aid certifications required; training provided.PHYSICAL DEMANDSEvery day is different. Living at camp, you will be flexible with your time to meet the needs of staff, participants and programs. Requires the ability to move freely including but not limited to running, hiking, boating, biking, and swimming. Work in all types of weather including precipitation and extreme hot or cold temperatures. The ability to lift and move equipment, and use camp tools is required. As a safety responder, the ability to crouch, stoop, kneel, move quickly, and/or lift at least 30 pounds will be necessary.COMPETENCIES
      • Building Relationships: Connect people to the Ys cause by developing inclusive relationships and collaboration. Create sustainable relationships within the Y. Assist members in becoming more connected to the Y and build small communities.
      • Emotional Maturity: How we understand and conduct ourselves impacts our relationships. Demonstrate an ability to understand and handle emotions effectively in all situations.
      • Advancing Our Mission & Cause: As a cause driven leader you will support the Y, its members, participants, and staff by living the Ys values of CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT, and RESPONSIBILITY in all interactions and aspects of job performance and demonstrate the desire to serve others and fulfill community needs.
      • Communication & Influence: Listens and expresses self effectively and in a way that engages, inspires, and builds commitment to the Ys cause.
      • Inclusion: Values all people for their unique talents and takes an active role in promoting practices that support diversity, inclusion, and global work, as well as cultural competence.
      • Critical Thinking & Decision Making: Makes informed decisions based on logic, data, and sound judgment.
      • Developing Self & Others: Develops self and supports others (e.g., staff, volunteers, members, program participants), both formally and informally, to achieve their highest potential.
      • Safety: Adhere to and enforce safety policies and procedures. You will be responsible for ensuring the safety of the camp property and people on it. You must be able to respond in a leadership role to a crisis situation as outlined in the Emergency Action Plan Binder.This job description represents the major functions of the job but is not intended to be all inclusive. The incumbent is also responsible for performing other duties as necessary for Association success.
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Keywords: Greater Green Bay YMCA, Inc., Chicago , Specialty Area Director - Adventure Sports, Executive , Chicago, Illinois