The Orange Site Manager is an important leader and member of our field team. They help create and manage magical and impactful day camps for children ages 5-12 year olds and teens 13-17 years old. The Orange Site Manager works to plan and prepare camp programs, hire and train staff, and lead camp through the spring, summer, fall, and winter seasons. This position is responsible for the day-to-day operations our Orange County camp locations including managing seasonal and year-round staff members and multiple camper groups.
At Schoolhouse of Wonder, we look for staff in any position to:
- Be committed to Schoolhouse’s mission and values
- Be kind, curious, and confident with a “can-do” attitude
- Have great verbal, interpersonal, and listening communication skills
- Desire a cooperative, team-oriented work atmosphere as well as the ability to work independently and follow through on tasks with minimal supervision, take initiative, and solve problems
- Work toward continual improvement, including receiving and giving feedback
- Be committed to providing safe programming including following our COVID procedures
- Take your work seriously but yourself, not so much
A Site Manager is a mentor worth remembering and emulating for children, teens, and staff
A Site Manager takes pride and joy in mentoring children, teens, and staff. These individuals can partner energy with patience and responsibility with fun.
General Responsibilities
Site Managers are expected to:
-
- Set the standard by modeling Schoolhouse’s values, methodologies, policies, and procedures, including creating a safe environment by following our COVID procedures. .
-
- Be a leader. Support staff to organize the games, tell the stories, and manage their groups. Use and model appropriate child-centered behavior management techniques. Stay on schedule and manage your time. Create a culture of safety, growth, and fun.
-
- Safeguard the physical, emotional, and intellectual safety of participants. Model Schoolhouse values like kindness, curiosity, and empathy. Patiently process conflict and disagreements.
- Manage staff through trainings, mentorship, giving and receiving feedback, modeling behavior, and creating a culture of individual and organizational growth.
-
- Set an excellent example in teaching and behavior management methods, work ethic, and attitude.
-
- Prepare quality programs. Create activity and staff schedules, manage your budget, order supplies, set up and break down program areas, and clean and maintain program spaces.
-
- Communicate with participants, their families, other Schoolhouse staff, and park partners. Create established lines of communication built on trust and empathy.
-
- Create and deliver activities. Partner with your staff to create and run high-quality, exciting, nature-based activities and camp schedules.
-
- Participate. Manage our CIT program to mentor and support counselors-in-training. Support staff to run the games, tell the stories, and manage their groups. Use and model behavior management techniques. Stay on schedule and manage your time. Create a culture of physical and emotional safety.
You can find a description of the physical activities common in our field staff positions here.
An Orange Site Manager Needs to…
- Be at least 18 years of age by your first day of work
- Have a passion for and experience in outdoor program development and delivery and are comfortable working outdoors in all kinds of weather
- Have at least three years of experience working with children and teens and want to mentor them to find and be their best selves
- Have at least two years of experience managing staff and want to mentor them to find and be their best selves
- Have at least one year of managing a similar nature-based youth program plant identification, naturalist skills, environmental education, survival skills, or other relevant areas
- Have exceptional mentoring skills, including effective communication, enthusiasm, resourcefulness, positive attitude, and patience
- Are able and willing to accept and effectively act on feedback and guidance including Google Workspace and Microsoft Office, with the ability to quickly learn new programs
- Are committed to providing safe programming including following our COVID procedures
- Have a college degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience a minimum of four years
We require current pediatric and adult CPR and First Aid certification by the first day of work. We accept certifications from the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI). We also require up-to-date COVID vaccinations or a documented exemption for all staff.
Bonus points (or at least a high-five) if you have…
- Experience working with diverse populations
- A relevant degree (e.g. Environmental Studies, Child Development, Outdoor Education)
- Teaching experience including experiential or inquiry-based learning techniques
- Multiple years experience managing a similar camp program
- Knowledge and interest in environmental education, the cultural history of the Southeast, storytelling, behavior management, and/or child development
- Experience or training in socio-emotional learning, trauma-informed care, or play-based learning
- Skill-based training or certifications (Lifeguarding, EMT, WFR, etc.)
- English/Spanish bilingual fluency
Evaluation
The Orange Site Manager reports to the Program Director and will receive feedback throughout the summer with a formal evaluation annually.
Office Location, Hours, Travel
The work of the Orange Site Manager is often performed both remotely and at our program sites. The Orange County Site Manager performs the majority of their programming work at Brumley Forest Nature Preserve.
Hours are dependent on organizational needs, vary by season, typically total between 32 hours and 60 hours per week, depending on the season, and range from 7:30a – 6p Monday through Friday, with the occasional weekend, evening, and/or overnight work requirements.
This is a full-time, salaried, exempt, “at will” position that reports to the Program Director.
Compensation
The wage range for this position is $40,000 to $43,000 annually, commensurate with experience.
Benefits Include:
-
- Schoolhouse of Wonder provides 100% paid health insurance
- A Professional Development Stipend
- An annual Gear Stipend
- Paid Time Off
- Paid Holidays
- Participation in Schoolhouse of Wonder retirement plan
Additional benefits include unlimited vitamin D, a steady stream of (mostly funny) stories, and being part of a pretty great organization.
Application Instructions
Preference will be given to applications received by August 14, 2023, but the Orange Site Manager position is open until filled. Only complete applications will be reviewed.
A complete application includes:
- Please upload a cover letter and resume combined as one document:
- Include a cover letter that explains your interest in working as the Orange Site Manger at Schoolhouse of Wonder (maximum one page). Please include your email and phone number.
- And your resume (maximum one page). Do not include photos of yourself on your resume.
Current certification in CPR and First Aid, up-to-date COVID vaccinations, and a successful background check are required before work can begin. Schoolhouse will pursue both indicated and non-indicated references.
This is a full-time, salaried, exempt, “at will” position that reports to the Program Director.
Qualified women, minorities, and bilingual candidates (English/Spanish) are encouraged to apply. We are fully invested in creating a supportive environment for all marginalized groups including women, people of color, and LGBT+ people by promoting community collaboration within our organization.
Schoolhouse of Wonder is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, disability, national or ethnic origin, or sexual orientation.
About Schoolhouse of Wonder
Founded in 1989, Schoolhouse of Wonder’s mission is to create kind, curious, and confident kids through nature-based outdoor adventures. We seek to achieve this mission through year-round, outdoor day camps, curriculum-aligned field trips, and leadership training for teenagers.
These core values guide our behavior and help us make decisions:
- We model and teach self-awareness and empathy
- We celebrate individuality; Different is just different
- Everyone deserves to be witnessed, heard and respected
- In nature, we’re all students
- Life should be filled with adventures and a sense of wonder
- We send every kid home dirty, tired and happy