Position Summary

The Executive Camp Director leads all phases of the HSL Youth Foundation Inc. Hilltop Camp program, including planning, staffing, operations and evaluation for this ACA-accredited residential summer camp serving youth ages 7–14. The Director is responsible for the overall camper and staff experience, safety and program quality, and serves as the face of Camp to members, families and the organization.

Beyond the summer season, the Director oversees the year-round operation of the Comfort, TX facility, including the off-season Group Rentals program and the ongoing development and upkeep of the property. Three other year-round positions support the Comfort facility — the Facility Director, the Maintenance Director and the Camp Administrator — all of whom work in close coordination with the Executive Camp Director.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct the development, implementation and year-over-year evaluation of the entire Camp program.
• Recruit, hire, train and personally interview all seasonal camp staff, including background and reference checks.
• Supervise the Assistant Camp Director, Food Service Director, Maintenance Director, Facilities Director, Health Management Coordinator, Administrative Assistant, Counselors, Kitchen Staff and Medical Staff.
• Oversee camper and staff safety, maintaining a staff-to-camper ratio that meets or exceeds ACA and state requirements.
• Ensure compliance with ACA accreditation standards and all applicable state licensing and health regulations.
• Manage the Camp budget, facilities and capital improvement planning in coordination with the Home Office.
• Lead staff development, including Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention training.
• Oversee the Counselor-in-Training (CIT) application, interview and selection process.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for parents and guardians regarding camper care and communication.
• Represent Camp within the broader organization and community, including at lodges and conferences.
• Obtain and oversee Group Rental events during the camp off-season.
• Maintain, train on, enforce and update Emergency Procedures, including the emergency manual.
• Work with the Communications team on outgoing marketing materials such as flyers, ads and articles.
• Work with the Finance and Legal teams to develop lease agreements and other legal documents.

Fall & Winter Duties

Evaluate and elevate the summer program. Prepare an evaluation of the summer camp for the HSL Youth Foundation Inc. Board of Directors, including:

• Campers — review all Friday evaluations and Tuesday check-ins throughout the summer, then re-read them from the camper’s perspective at season’s end.
• Parents — send a survey to each parent the Sunday following departure, with a follow-up one week later. Re-read and personally respond to any negative surveys, as they offer the most useful feedback.
• Staff — one week before the end of the season, send staff a survey for completion.
• Self — after reviewing the camper, parent and staff perspectives, evaluate the summer from your own viewpoint: staff performance, activities, risk management, and the operation of the clinic, kitchen, housekeeping, landscaping and maintenance. Identify improvements and new program ideas for the following summer.

Staffing for the next summer.

• Prepare the summer calendar with the Home Office, including the number of operating weeks, Open House dates, Volunteer Work Day(s), Senior Staff Development, Skill Development Week (Ropes Course & LG Training) and Staff Development Week.
• Begin hiring early — waiting too long is a common and costly mistake. Once the calendar is set, prepare staff agreements, the Welcome Booklet and job descriptions for seasonal roles.
• Prioritize senior, kitchen and medical staff. Begin hiring overseas kitchen staff as early as possible, and hire returning kitchen staff by October, since their visas process quickly.
• Have HR review all hiring documents, then begin outreach to returning staff and ongoing interviews of new and overseas candidates.
• Collect employment paperwork and maintain personnel files per Human Resources direction.
• Select staff through application review, background investigations, reference checks and interviews, in compliance with the Texas Department of Health and the American Camp Association.
• Attend the Texoma Camp Conference, bringing key staff members moving into leadership roles the following summer, and attend the ACA National Camping Conference.

CIT-1 and Junior Staff interviews.

• Coordinate with the Grand Lodge to invite CIT-1-aged campers to apply.
• Interview all potential CIT-1s and Junior Staff. CIT-1 applicants must complete an application and interview with the Executive Director.
• Eligible Junior Staff must have completed the CIT-2 Program, submit a staff application and interview with the Executive Director.
• CIT-2s are selected from the prior summer’s successful CIT-1 candidates; no additional interview or references are required, as they are not changing status.

Budget. Prepare the following year’s budget.

Maintenance and facility.

• Coordinate with the Facilities Manager on areas needing clean-up, organization and repair.
• Maintain a working maintenance list, reviewed monthly with the Facility and Maintenance Director and reviewed with the VP of Member Benefits.
• Conduct a facility walkthrough twice annually with the VP of Member Benefits and the Comfort Crew to prioritize projects against budget.
• Oversee major maintenance projects and develop long-term and short-term maintenance plans.
• Oversee the closing of camp, including securing all buildings and inventorying all camp supplies.

Marketing and sales.

• Write a monthly article for the Hermann Sons Life Newspaper describing camp and rental operations for the membership.
• Visit lodges to discuss camp and rental operations.
• Plan and oversee off-season events: the staff Christmas party, directors’ staff meetings, certification week, open house, the alumni organization’s annual event, scholarship fundraising events and special lodge events.
• Maintain the Camp website through the Home Office Communications Department.
• Prepare a training program for summer camp.
• Review all photos taken during the summer for use in brochures, the Dining Hall and other materials.

Compliance.

• Prepare all files and documentation per the ACA manual.
• Review, clean up and organize the camp’s laptops and computers, and organize Shared Folders for the current year.
• Shred staff files per Grand Lodge direction (after 7 years) and store all health forms for the required retention period.
• Finalize and follow up on all Workers’ Compensation and Health Insurance paperwork.
• Review all applicable state requirements, particularly for river operations — including a parent acknowledgment that the river area is in the floodplain.

Spring & Summer Duties

• Review and implement all Camp policies.
• Apply to the State of Texas as an organized camp (January).
• Prepare all staff training materials, including manuals and development programs, and update the Activity Lesson Plans, Health Care Policies and Procedures, Food Service Manual and Program Assistant Manual.
• Supervise the Hilltop Camp Directors in their summer duties and support the supervision of their staff and program implementation.
• Supervise all director-level staff, including the Food Service Director, Maintenance Director, Facilities Director, Health Management Coordinator and Administrative Assistant.
• Oversee the Counselor-in-Training application and selection process and supervise the program.
• Oversee and enforce Health Care and Risk Management programs.
• Prepare program development and review camper programs, including activities, nightly programs and special events.
• Secure and purchase all supplies needed for safe operation of the summer camp program.
• Review, assess and implement all American Camp Association standards, Texas Department of Health requirements and insurance carrier regulations.
• Maintain close contact with area emergency services.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be at least 25 years of age, per American Camp Association accreditation requirements.
• Bachelor’s degree in Recreation Administration, Education, Youth Development or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• At least five years of leadership experience at a residential/overnight youth camp, including prior camp director or assistant director experience — equivalent to at least two seasons as a director-level camp professional, or three years as the director of an organized camp.
• Demonstrated experience hiring, training and supervising seasonal staff.
• Working knowledge of American Camp Association (ACA) accreditation standards.
• Strong understanding of youth safety, risk management and child protection practices.
• Current CPR/First Aid certification, or the ability to obtain one before employment.
• Clean criminal background check, including National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) clearance.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for working with campers, staff, parents and organizational leadership.
• Willingness to live on-site during camp sessions and work the extended, irregular hours typical of a residential camp environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with a member-benefit or fraternal-benefit organization.
• Budget and facilities management experience.
• ACA visitor/reviewer experience or similar accreditation involvement.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus.

Essential Job Skills

• Character and morals that make for a strong role model for campers and staff.
• Physical energy to perform duties across a 15-hour day, 7-day week during camp season, including moving around the property to supervise staff and campers.
• Strong communication skills with supervisors, parents, campers and staff.
• Knowledge and judgment to manage both the Camp program and the facility.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to respond to emergencies at any hour during camp sessions.
• Ability to lift and move camp equipment and supplies as needed.

Work Schedule

• Typical schedule is 40 hours per week and includes weekends, which support the smooth operation of group rentals and company events.
• During the summer camp season (April through August), hours will exceed 40 hours per week.
• Typical off-season hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Benefits

• Salary plus bonus
• On-site residence at Hilltop Camp
• Access to a company vehicle for business travel
• Group medical and dental insurance
• Life insurance
• Family and medical leave
• Paid vacation, holidays, sick leave and funeral leave
• 401(k) Retirement Plan

Position Summary

Hermann Sons Life Dance Instructors are responsible for running the day-to-day operations for their specific School of Dance, with the help of their Parent Liaisons, as well as leading classes, creating dances and organizing an end-of-year recital.

Specific Responsibilities

• Monitor beginning-of-the-year registration for their school and create classes for the year.
• Manage finances for their school, including intake of payments and purchases.
• Teach all classes a variety of Tap, Ballet and Jazz, and create curriculum for each class.
• Coordinate fundraisers with outside vendors for parents and/or the school (optional).
• Design and see through an end-of-year recital, including ordering costumes, booking a venue, teaching and cleaning all class dances, managing a rehearsal and overseeing the recital.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• One year of experience teaching dance, or 2 years as an assistant teacher.
• Enjoys working with children and has a great attitude.
• Must be able to work in the United States.
• Must pass a criminal and sex offender background check.

Position Summary

Each summer we build a full residential camp team to serve campers ages 7 to 14. Seasonal roles span programs, food service, maintenance, housekeeping, health care and administration, working under the direction of the Executive Camp Director and the department directors.

Departments and Age Requirements

• Ages 16+ — food service, maintenance and housekeeping.
• Ages 17+ — program and counselor positions.
• Ages 21+ — administration and director-level positions.

Commitment

Our preference is for staff members to work the entire summer, but we do have some positions for staff to work as few as three weeks.

Training and Certification

Staff trainings and certifications will begin in the spring. We offer our staff the opportunity to become Challenge Course certified as well as certified lifeguards and CPR/First Aid certified through the American Red Cross free of charge. We will also train our staff in archery and riflery.

Screening

All seasonal staff are thoroughly screened, including a criminal background check for staff 18 and older, at least three reference checks and verification of previous work and volunteer history, a personal interview with the executive director or a designated representative, and a check of the National Sex Offender Public Website across all fifty states.

How to Apply

Seasonal camp staff apply through our CampBrain staff portal, where you select the positions and sessions you are interested in. You will also need two non-family references.