Camp Carter Jobs (NOW HIRING)

YMCA Camp Carter is a beautiful 360-acre year-round summer camp located right in the heart of Fort Worth, TX. At camp, we offer 11 weeks of care that runs from Tuesday, May 26th through Friday, August 7th with an exciting variety of camp options to please every kind of camper at every age! Our traditional multi-activity camp provides options like STEM, arts, horseback riding, swimming, boating, fishing, and more! In our shoulder season, we offer Groups & Retreats, Conferences, Events, Equestrian Programs, Outdoor Education Field Trips, Family Camps, Holiday Camps, and much more. Learn more about Camp Carter in this quick video: https://youtu.be/ZoxPalxUmic?si=4Q_WrrMjBozWsq0e

The Senior Program Director is a high-ranking program leader at YMCA Camp Carter and provides strategic oversight for the camp’s core, revenuegenerating program areas: Day Camp, Overnight Camp, Outdoor Education, and Groups, Retreats & Events. This role blends highlevel vision with handson leadership, ensuring programs are missionaligned, safe, innovative, and consistently delivered at a high standard.

The Senior Program Director is a key member of the Camp Carter leadership team and reports directly to the Branch Executive Director. While the SPD is not directly responsible for departments such as Equestrian, Aquatics, Maintenance, Food Service, or Custodial, they are a highranking leader on site and are expected to bring a cando, solutionoriented mindset and a willingness to jump in and support camp operations as needed.

This position requires living onsite in provided housing and includes nights, weekends, and early mornings consistent with overnight camp operations, supported by a reasonable rotating ManageronDuty (MOD) schedule.

Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. It's who we are, who we aspire to be and how we show up every day. We are cause-driven. We don't just show up, we show up with purpose. As a cause driven leader you are expected to be:

• Welcoming - Accept neighbors eagerly, warmly, hospitably, and as equal participants.
• Nurturing - To care for, support, and help develop through encouragement.
• Hopeful - Take an optimistic or positive view of future outcomes.
• Determined - To devote full strength and concentrated attention to the cause.
• Genuine - To be honest and open in relationships with others.

We act with intentionality to connect people to our cause. Join us and help transform lives!

Reporting Structure & Team Leadership

The Senior Program Director directly supervises and leads:

• Program Director of Day Camp & Outdoor Education
• Groups & Retreats Director
• Seasonal Overnight Camp Director

In addition, the SPD provides leadership, coaching, and strategic direction to yearround and seasonal program staff and collaborates closely with fellow department heads across camp.

As a Senior Program Director, you will have the opportunity to:

• Lead and mentor a talented team of fulltime, parttime, and seasonal program leaders
• Live onsite in a private 4bedroom, 3bath home with utilities covered (compensation value of $24,000+ annually)
• Shape and oversee transformative camp experiences for youth, families, schools, and groups
• Strengthen community partnerships that expand access, impact, and visibility For ALL
• Champion program quality, safety, and creativity aligned with YMCA values and ACA standards

The Senior Program Director oversees the design, implementation, evaluation, and growth of Camp Carter’s core program portfolio. Direct program leadership is required yearround, working alongside fulltime program directors in the offseason and collaborating with seasonal camp directors during peak summer operations.

All responsibilities are guided by the YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth Camp Leadership Playbook, organized around three leadership lenses:

You are the chief designer of Camp Carter’s program experience.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee and integrate all program areas: Day Camp, Overnight Camp, Outdoor Education, and Groups/Retreats
• Design seasonal calendars, program rotations, and curriculum frameworks
• Ensure programs are ageappropriate, inclusive, engaging, and missioncentered
• Align Outdoor Education curriculum with TEKS standards and school partner expectations
• Maintain consistency across programs while encouraging creativity and staff ownership
• Provide handson leadership during program delivery, especially during highimpact seasons

You ensure Camp Carter programs don’t just run — they run with excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead program quality assurance, evaluation, and continuous improvement systems
• Maintain ACA accreditation readiness, documentation, and staff training
• Oversee risk management practices, camper safety systems, and behavior support strategies
• Train and support staff in supervision, inclusion, camper wellness, and crisis response
• Monitor feedback from campers, families, schools, and group partners to inform improvements

You cultivate the relationships and strategies that grow Camp Carter’s reach and impact.

Key Responsibilities:

• Build and sustain partnerships with school districts, nonprofits, and community organizations
• Support outreach efforts, open houses, and referral strategies across program areas
• Collaborate with marketing staff to tell the Camp Carter story and increase visibility
• Monitor enrollment trends and proactively address participation barriers
• Represent Camp Carter at community meetings, events, and conferences

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) in education, recreation, outdoor education, environmental sciences, or a related field
• Minimum of 3 years of experience as a camp director, with strong preference for overnight camp or residential program experience
• Proven experience leading multiprogram camp or youth development operations
• Strong background in staff supervision, program design, and risk management
• Ability to lead with clarity, flexibility, and a solutionsfocused mindset
• Excellent communication, organizational, and relationshipbuilding skills
• Knowledge of or experience with American Camp Association (ACA) standards preferred

Day camp leadership experience is valuable and transferable; candidates must understand the operational demands of overnight camp environments, including nights, weekends, and early mornings.

• Salary: $52,000 – $55,000 (commensurate with experience)
• Housing: Required onsite living in a private 4bedroom, 3bath home with utilities included
• Benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance; life and disability coverage; YMCA retirement plan with up to 12% employer contribution (once eligible); generous paid time off (up to 288 hours annually); and free or discounted YMCA programs for you and your family