Assistant Camp Director

Farm and Wilderness Foundation

We are looking to build our leadership team at Firefly Song!

We believe leadership is relational - it's all about the people. A summer with us is an amazing opportunity to practice the skills of collaborating, creating, inventing epic experiences - all while having fun. 

Firefly Song (FS) serves girls and nonbinary campers, ages 9-14. FS is one of the biggest overnight camps, with about 115 campers and ~55 staff (including leadership, cabin counselors, cooks, and trip staff). We run two three-week sessions for campers and a two-plus week staff training window prior to campers' arrival. FS campers learn technical and interpersonal skills and reflect on belonging, inclusion, and who they want to become.

The Assistant Director is part of the three-person leadership team overseeing all aspects of day-to-day operations at Firefly Song (Director, Assistant Director, Program Director). The person in this role focuses on camp wide systems, logistics, and collaboration with other Farm & Wilderness entities. In the absence of the Camp Director, the AD assumes all duties and responsibilities.   

The Assistant Director is tasked with making sure that campers have a magical experience at camp, particularly during the activity blocks.

Essential Functions: 

• Participates in the Behavioral Health team to support camper and staff wellness. 
• Works in a team to supervise the Lodge Head and Activity Area Heads. 
• Train, support, and supervise staff in enforcing safety and following emergency protocols. 
• Supports Trips Coordinator and trip program logistics.  
• Oversee all-camp chore scheduling and management (e.g., meal chores, trash, compost and recycling, misc. cleaning)  
• Manages the staff day off schedule. 
• Communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders including campers, families, FS staff, F&W year-found staff, and actively collaborate with assistant directors at other F&W camps. 
• Ensure the smooth running of the daily schedule for all campers and staff 
• Create and plan activities, events, and camper programming in alignment with F&W and FS expectations and values 
• Ensure consistent high-quality program through active monitoring and frequent coaching of staff 

Additional Responsibilities:  

• Help with the general flow of camp (lead by example, participate in activities, announcements, chores, driving, trip pack-outs, opening and closing day flow).   
• Oversight of the usage and driver scheduling. This includes two vans, one truck, and a golf cart. This requires collaboration with other camps and strict adherence to pre-established camp wide systems and schedules. 
• Assist with leading pre-camp set up, staff training, end of session, and post-camp breakdown. 
• Be present for formal and informal conversations with the Leadership team.  
• Be an active part of the FS leadership team 
• Write an end-of-summer report as advised by the Camp Director, Clarissa. 
• Effectively manage all digital files within our Microsoft 365 ecosystem  
• Keeping in mind F&W’s values of simplicity, resourcefulness, and recycling/reusing, acquire necessary materials for programming. 
• Work with the Camp Director to stay within the program budget.  
• Write an end-of-summer report as advised by the Camp Director, Clarissa. 

Every day there are new things for our campers to learn, grow, build and explore while inspiring personal growth!

A typical day:

Mornings are slow and deliberate. As sunlight streams into their three-sided cabins – because why would anyone want to put a wall between them and the view of the lake? – campers awaken to nature. Campers begin their day tending to the farm animals, setting the tables in the dining hall and doing other community chores. Music, laughter and movement fills the Firefly Song Lodge as everyone arrives for breakfast. After breakfast, a silent meeting provides quiet reflection before heading off for morning activities filled with fun and meaningful experiences. Barns and gardens provide a classroom to learn where our food comes from and how to work the land in a sustainable way. Work Projects give the campers the experience to work with their hands in light construction and outdoor living skills get their hands on axe handles and fire building.

Afternoons are filled with exciting possibilities. After a healthy lunch, campers enjoy a rest hour before choosing their afternoon activities. From rock climbing, pottery, building cabin shelves, kayaking, harvesting strawberries or an activity created by campers where the outdoors and creativity awaits.

Evening ranges from a time for self-reflection and bonding, or more adventures! As the evening descends over the mountains, campers may join together for a relaxed waterfront evening. In a different evening they may take part in a facilitated conversation to better understand race, gender, identity and practicing healthy boundaries at camp. Campers spend other nights full of intrigue and daring in an all camp game. Finally the glow from flashlights is replaced by the moon and dancing fireflies as everyone joins their cabin to drift off to sleep together.