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Job Description: Co-Head of Boys Area, Camp YJ, Amherst, NH

Job Length: June 16 - August 15, 2025

Who We Are: Camp YJ is an independent, non-profit overnight camp for kids ages 8-15 from a variety of Jewish backgrounds. We are located on 168 scenic wooded acres on the shores of Lake Baboosic in southern New Hampshire. Since 1939, campers,counselors, and alumni have experienced the Joy of Judaism and incredible Journeys of growth that shape their lives by being part of our camp community.

Our community is composed of:

• ~400 campers largely from the eastern seaboard and their families –– at least 30% of our campers have a parent who went to YJ
• Summer staff of 80 counselors –– 80% of whom are former campers and 20% are international
• 20 summer administrators, specialists, and medical professionals –– all of whom are college graduates and some with 10+ years of experience at CYJ
• 6 year-round staff (current configuration: f/t Executive Director, f/t Chief Operating Officer, f/t Director of Facilities, f/t Assistant Director, p/t Director of Recruitment and Family Engagement, p/t Director of Alumni Engagement)
• 5,000 active alumni –– many of whose children and grandchildren attend camp

We welcome children 8-15 years-old (completing grades 2-9) for 2 week, 3 ½ week and 7 week sessions. Our oldest campers (completing grade 10) participate in a culminating, educational experience in Israel or Europe for 5 weeks and then return to camp “deep in the hills of New Hampshire” for 2 weeks of leadership training. Camp YJ is a private, independent, non-profit organization and is not affiliated with the Young Judaea movement or other camps with similar names. We are proud to be the original Camp YJ.

Co-Head of Boys Area Position:

The Head of Boys Area, of which there are two (one for campers completing grades 2-6, and one for campers completing grades 7-9), plays an integral role in creating a magical summer camp experience for YJ campers. Working with and reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, they are responsible for managing and supporting all aspects of Boys Area (also known as the Neighborhood), ensuring that both the campers and counselors have an incredible camp experience. In addition to supporting the campers in their assigned bunks, they work directly with and supervise every counselor working in those bunks.

Responsibilities:

Bunk Counselor Leadership

• Responsible for supervising all counselors that live or work in assigned bunks. This supervision includes daily check-ins, informal positive and constructive feedback, support during difficult or emergency situations, and providing input and direction about strategies for working with specific children or the group as a whole. They also support the staff in developing and implementing fun, creative and engaging activities in each of their assigned bunks.

• Formal feedback will be given to with all Bunk This includes a formal

check-in during orientation, one at the midpoint of the summer and one at the end of the summer. Head Counselors are responsible for filling out feedback forms for each staff member and providing information to the Executive Director about job performance and recommendation for rehire.

Camper Experience

• Facilitate the social growth of their campers through formal, planned activities and during less structured times. In addition, they give the counselors who work directly with their campers the tools they need to successfully help our campers succeed at camp.
• Responsible for managing behavior of campers which may include de-escalation, parent follow-up, and creating behavior plans, when necessary.
• At the end of the summer, Head Counselors work with counselors to write formal reports about the progress of each camper in assigned bunks.

Parent Partnership

• Serve as are the main line of communication between camp and camper
• Develop a strong working relationship with our camp parents and provide outstanding customer service.
• Provide extra communication support to families of new campers, prioritizing phone calls and other outreach within the first few days of camp.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 23 years of age or older
• Previous camp experience, successfully planned and carried out activities at camp or similar setting
• Commitment to being at YJ for the entire summer 2025

Other Qualifications:

• Highly motivated to create an inclusive, spirited, and fun camp experience for everyone
• Ability to multitask and handle multiple projects at the same time
• A willingness and flexibility to step in to support unexpected turns of events
• Great organizational skills, and a commitment to growing as an organized leader
• Ability to address significant challenges with a positive attitude and a problem solving orientation
• Strong logistical mind
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal
• Other qualities: Creative, caring, flexible and self-

Application:

Please submit a cover letter and resume outlining why you are interested in this position and how your qualifications make you a good fit for this position. Resume optional and please limit the cover letter to 400-600 words. Please email to: Melissa Hertzel, Chief Operating Officer, [email protected].