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Description
Eagle’s Nest Foundation
Eagle’s Nest Camp Director
Job Description
The Eagle’s Nest Camp Director (Director) is responsible for all aspects of the Eagle’s Nest Camp program including implementation of a unique educational experience emphasizing the natural world, community life, natural history, the arts, music, and outdoor/environmental leadership, all rooted in a firm belief in the value of experiential education in intimate relationship with the natural world. The Director also oversees the hiring of all seasonal and full time staff, the recruitment of campers and Hante participants, marketing the program, and camper/participant instruction and care during the camp session. The Director reports directly to the Eagle’s Nest Foundation Executive Director and serves on the Foundation Executive and Administrative Councils to help ensure cohesive programming across the Foundation.
Eagle’s Nest Foundation is the umbrella 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which oversees Eagle’s Nest Camp (Camp), Hante Adventures, and The Outdoor Academy (OA). Our shared programs provide the opportunity for a child to grow and develop with us from the age of 6 to 18. All programs share the campus at 43 Hart Road necessitating close collaboration among the directors of the programs and the Foundation’s administrative departments (Camp, OA, Finance and Development). We value the strength that collaboration brings to our Foundation. The directors meet annually to set strategic goals for the upcoming year and then at least monthly to review shared progress, to brainstorm and to troubleshoot.
Responsibilities:
1. Program Direction and Guidelines: The Director is responsible for developing and implementing educational goals for the overall direction of the Eagle’s Nest Camp and Hante Adventures program, consistent with the mission of Eagle’s Nest Foundation and the Core Values of Camp. This task shall include, but is not limited to, revising or selecting new programs and program materials and deciding upon activity offerings for participants. This task requires regular evaluation of the present program and research and understanding of what other programs are offering to their participants. The Director is also responsible for ensuring outdoor program compliance with industry standards in wilderness risk management.
2. Camper/Participant Recruitment: The Director is responsible for recruiting campers and participants to apply to and enroll in the programs. This task includes growing the number of prospective families and maximizing participant enrollment as well as increasing the overall diversity of the participant population. Marketing shall be done in conjunction with the Foundation Marketing team and OA Admissions. The Director is responsible for personally making periodic visits to areas with high participant numbers as well as visiting new areas that are identified as high potential for enrollment or that can help to broaden the types of communities served at ENF. The Director shall seek new sources of participants and oversee their cultivation from prospect to enrollee. The minimum enrollment goal for the Director to reach is an average of 128 campers per session over the course of the summer and the minimum budgeted number per Hante. Camp capacity is currently 140 students per session and approximately 12 per Hante. There is room for growth in the Hante Adventures program.
3. Finances and Tuition: The Director is responsible for the fiscal solvency of Eagle’s Nest Camp and Hante Adventures. This includes budget development and compliance throughout the year. Budget development shall include projecting needed tuition adjustments and requesting approval for such changes through the Executive Director and the Board of Trustees. The Director will work closely with the Finance Director and Executive Director on all matters concerning finances, budget development and compliance.
4. Camp Administration: The Director will establish and oversee an administrative structure to manage the Camp program, community affairs, and office coverage. Camp staff are directly responsible to the Director. The Director will work closely with the Executive Director on issues that seriously affect camper/participant and/or staff health and safety or camper/participant and/or staff breach of nonnegotiable policies. The Director will provide to the Executive Director an annual report on Camp to include an assessment of staff, camper/participant life, programming, finances, and status of annual and long-term goals. Updates to this report will be supplied as requested. The Director will work closely with the OA Director for hiring and supervision of employees who work within both the camp and school programs. The Director will oversee the maintenance of all official camp records, including camper/participant and staff records in accordance with ENF, accrediting body, and legal policies.
5. Risk Management: The Director ensures that Camp and Hante Adventures programs are operating within the most up-to-date standards pertaining to risk management including facility use, wilderness and other programming, best practices in youth protection, employment practices, sanitation, public health, and any other applicable area.
6. Staff Recruitment and Hiring: The Director is responsible for the recruitment, hiring and re-contracting of Camp staff positions. All positions are to be filled within the scope of the ENF Hiring and Salary Guidelines.
7. Staff Professional Development and Evaluation: The Director is responsible for the ongoing professional development and evaluation of Camp staff. The Director shall ensure that staff receive continuing professional development and enrichment in accordance with standards of the camp’s accrediting agencies. Although it is not the responsibility of the Director to train staff within each discipline or program, it is the Director’s job to ensure that all staff practice a consistent philosophy of teaching rooted in experiential learning.
8. Transcultural Responsiveness: In conjunction with the ED will coordinate the Camp’s efforts to fulfill its transcultural responsiveness, diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. These responsibilities will include efforts to ensure progress is made toward these goals related to camper populations, and camp staff members.
9. Fundraising: The Director will participate in raising funds specifically for Camp, coordinating all efforts through the ENF Development Director. This is to include researching families and making formal visits and calls to potential donors.
10. Long Range Planning: The Director, in conjunction with the Executive Director and Board of Trustees’ Camp and Long-Range Planning Committees, will determine long-range plans for Camp and Hante Adventures within the mission of Eagle’s Nest Foundation and the Centennial Priorities. These plans are to include a rolling three and five-year plan for the camp encompassing program, facility and financial needs. It is the Director’s responsibility to ensure the ongoing execution of these long-range plans.
11. Alumni Relations: The Director, in conjunction with the ENF Development Director and Annual Fund and Alumni Manager, will oversee all alumni relations and functions including ongoing communications with alumni and periodic alumni events.
12. Professional Contacts: The Director shall establish and maintain professional contacts with appropriate professional organizations, peer institutions, and partners, including the American Camp Association and North Carolina Youth Camping Association. These contacts serve to promote Camp and to help Camp remain aware of current trends and practices.
13. Camp Accreditation: The Director shall oversee Eagle’s Nest Camp’s continued accreditation with American Camp Association.
14. Marketing and Enrollment Materials: The Director is responsible for overseeing the development and updates of all Camp and Hante Adventures marketing and enrollment materials, including view books, brochures, website, social media, etc. that will be sent out to interested individuals, families and enrolled campers. This work shall be done in conjunction with the Camp Administration and Marketing Coordinator. This material shall accurately reflect the mission and philosophy of Eagle’s Nest Camp and ENF. The Director shall foster strong collaboration between the camp and school admissions teams.
15. Camper Interactions: The Director oversees all counseling and support needs of campers and participants. This work shall be done with assistance from the Camp Administrative Team. To facilitate these personal interactions the Director needs to carefully balance campus presence and engagement with participants and staff.
16. Parental Contact: The Director is responsible for ensuring that Camp stays in regular communication with each camper/participant’s family throughout the experience, including the pre-arrival preparation period, during the session, and during the immediate months following the session. The Director shall oversee all such contact, delegating responsibility as needed to the Assistant Director(s).
17. Financial Aid: The Director, working with the Financial Aid Committee, is responsible for determining all financial aid grants. The awarding of financial aid must reflect the Foundation’s commitment to make Camp accessible to all qualified campers/participants while ensuring the fiscal health of the program. When named scholarships are allocated, the Director shall provide reports about the recipients to the Development Director.
18. Physical Plant Management: The Director is responsible for working with the Property Manager in monitoring all of the campus facilities that are used by Camp. These facilities include all activity areas, cabins, dining halls, kitchens, and offices. The Director shall ensure that these areas are safe, well cared for, clean and inviting.
19. Teaching: The Director may instruct as time permits.
20. Other Duties: The Director works on other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Executive Director.
Current Strategic Initiatives:
The Director will play a significant role in advancing the following strategic priorities:
1. Promote a camp community that educates the whole child in becoming their best self, is safe and welcoming to a wide diversity of young people and staff, and supports the ENF mission.
2. Maintain full enrollment and support for Camp within the community and alumni body.
3. Provide staff with an environment for stimulating teaching, professional development and personal reward.
4. Pursue financial aid funding to sustain economic diversity of campers and participants.
5. Collaborate with Eagle’s Nest Foundation Executive Council and Trustees to set strategy and direction for the growth of Camp and Hante Adventures and to meet the priorities and goals set for Camp by the Foundation.
Employees directly responsible to the Eagle’s Nest Camp Director
Currently the following positions report to the Director for camp related functions:
1. Assistant Camp Director
2. Camp Program Manager - Outdoor Programs
3. In-Camp Program and Staff Manager
4. Camp Registrar and ENF Data Administrator (in conjunction with Executive Director)
5. Camp and Hante Adventures Seasonal Leadership and Staff
Whole Foods Program Manager (in conjunction with OA Director)
Requirements
Reporting to the Eagle's Nest Foundation Executive Director, the Camp Director will have day-to-day responsibility for the management, marketing, and finances of the camp, including Hante Adventures. Position responsibilities include implementing the established experiential curriculum; recruiting campers and Hante participants, fundraising; dynamically representing the camp to the public and to the educational community; recruiting and developing staff; developing the alumni network; and instructing, as time permits. Candidates should have a minimum of 5 years of experience in camp administration and teaching (or similar experience), residential environment supervision, experiential and outdoor education including risk management, community building and team playing, a visionary approach to "whole education", and an innovative spirit of service. Job qualifications include a minimum of a BA or BS degree and the ability to live on campus during the summer season