Organizational Background

Christie Lake Kids (CLK) is a charitable organization that has been serving children and youth living in low income households in the Ottawa area since 1922. CLK provides year round services to children and youth through an excellent camp experience and strategically located city recreational opportunities through the STAR (Skills Through Arts and Recreation) program. Our mandate is to provide high quality recreation opportunities that help children and youth build the skills necessary for developing longterm resiliency.

Christie Lake Kids is an organization committed to reflecting the communities we serve, and we are deeply committed to equity in employment opportunities. Part of our commitment to building and maintaining a diverse workforce means that we encourage and will prioritize applications from those who have been equity-denied, including Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized people, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+, etc.

Job Summary

The Assistant Camp Directors are members of the Christie Lake Camp Management team who live onsite and are responsible for supporting the Camp Director with operational aspects of the summer camp program, including program administration, program development, program facilitation, staff support and camper behaviour management.

Camp Dates (on-site)

• Pre-camp training: June 25th – July 1st
• Session 1: July 2nd – July 12th
• Break: July 12th – July 16th (offsite)
• Session 2: July 17th – July 27th
• Break: July 27th – July 31st (offsite)
• Session 3: August 1st – August 11th
• Post-camp wrap up: August 11th – August 13th

*Senior Staff must be available to be on-site for all the above dates excluding breaks. You are encouraged to contact the hiring team as soon as possible with any questions related to availability conflicts/accommodations.

*Possibility of an additional contract between August 18th – August 24th. Details will be provided during the interview process.

Duties and Responsibilities

Including but not limited to,

Program Development

• Under the supervision of the Camp Director and in collaboration with relevant Senior Staff members, revise and modify current camp programming as needed.
• In collaboration with the Camp Director, strictly follow a budget to support the camp program
• During the camp season, oversee and support all day-to-day program activities
• At the end of the camp season, support evaluation to provide feedback to staff and for the program
• Ensure that all health and safety protocols are followed throughout the day and report noncompliance to the Camp Director

Human Resources and Staff Support

• In collaboration with the Camp Director and select members of the Senior staff team, supervise and support 50+ staff in various positions
• Take part in the interview process, conduct interviews if available and as needed
• Actively participate in the development of the pre-camp training schedule and facilitate training as required
• In collaboration with the Camp Director, determine the division of responsibilities between the management team and develop a system of support that keeps all staff members engaged and on task, including aspects of conflict resolution
• In collaboration with Camp Director, actively engage in discussions and decisions that support staff management, with attention paid to employee transgressions, disciplinary measures and/or termination when necessary
• Provide support to the Camp Director, as requested and as needed, and assume the position and its responsibilities when s/he/they are off site

Camper Support

• In collaboration with the summer staff team, support 125+ campers aged 8-15 years in a dynamic outdoor setting
• Support the registration of campers and communicate pertinent information to families before camp begins
• Participate in training for the Christie Lake Kids participant database and ensure all tracking/updates are completed
• Act as a mentor to Senior Staff, Counsellors and Junior Staff, as they work to support campers and each other
• Actively work to ensure the safety of all campers, serving as a direct support for all staff members and/or assuming the lead when supporting campers who are presenting with complex needs or behaviours
• In collaboration with the Camp Director, support the Section Directors or Health Care Providers through the decision-making and documentation processes and communicate with parents/guardians, as it pertains to sending campers home
• In collaboration with the Camp Director, support the Section Directors or Health Care Providers through the decision-making and documentation processes and actively collaborate with authorities as needed, as it pertains to camper disclosures and calls made to Children’s Aid services

General

• Work in a manner that preserves confidentiality, mitigates risk and always puts safety first
• Incorporate and strengthen collaborative and interdisciplinary teamwork
• Communicate clearly and respectfully with all staff members
• Maintain professional working relationships with all team members and cabin mates
• Respect and value intersectional inclusion, diversity equity and accessibility
• Contribute to the organization’s effort to collect, analyze, and report on data and relevant information
• Contribute to the organization’s work by participating in meetings as necessary
• Support the Program Director at all camp programs and clubs when possible
• Support Section Directors with section programs when possible
• Support Waterfront Directors and Awards Heads during swimming and awards when possible
• Sit with a cabin table as often as possible to ensure adequate ratios during meals
• Participate in general end of summer wrap-up tasks as well as those relating to the management team
• Maintain a clean and hygienic personal cabin environment
• Help in the cleaning of common areas, according to the schedule given out at the beginning of each session
• Support with camp-wide sweeps, according to the schedule given out at the beginning of each session
• In collaboration with the Camp Director and Junior Staff/Counsellor Director, support a positive relationship between camp staff and kitchen/catering staff
• Fill in or support in other areas if a team member is pulled away or sick
• Carry out any other responsibilities as designated by the Camp Director

Physical Requirements

The ideal candidate must be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation

Due to the nature of summer camp, candidates must be able to:

• Spend approx. 75% of each day outdoors and active (walking, swimming, canoeing, participating in programs etc.) with limited stationary time (while on-site)
• Occasionally transport supplies/equipment up to 40 lbs
• Work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions (heat, high sun exposure, rain etc.)
• Complete stationary work including reading, writing and/or completing registration related tasks requiring focus (primarily while off-site)

What we Provide

• Meals and accommodation during training, camp sessions and wrap up
• Training and certification opportunities
• Professional references, upon successful completion of summer contracts
• A unique opportunity to live and work in an outdoor setting and enjoy the amenities including canoeing, swimming, rock wall climbing, mountain biking and much more

How to apply

Interested candidates are invited to apply via our application portal linked here. Positions will remain posted until filled, candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. The hiring team can be reached at camp@christielakekids.com with any questions about the process and/or positions.

Interviews for this position are expected to begin as of February 19th. Please note that applicants may be contacted for interviews prior to this date. Applications will continue to be considered until positions are filled.

*No alcohol or substances are permitted onsite. Please inquire about the Christie Lake Kids Camp smoking policy if applicable (19+).