Outdoor Adventure Program Manager

The JCC Ranch Camp is not just the Denver JCC’s overnight summer camp, it’s also one of the best places to work during the summer. As a staff member, Ranch Camp will become your home away from home as you work to create a community where people can thrive. You’re a hero to your campers; you have the chance to do something you really care about and have a whole lot of fun doing it. Your experience as a staff member is just as important to us as our campers’ experience. That being said: We’re here to serve kids and make sure they are in the safest environment possible while having the time of their lives. 

First and foremost, all our staff are madrichim or counselors.  

All Supervisory Staff Responsibilities 

• Take care of staff and campers by prioritizing the physical, social, emotional health, safety, and well-being. 

• Work as a team with the supervisory team to make sure every day runs the way it’s supposed to by helping to lead meals, participating in all camp programming, supporting and maintaining cabin life, and providing coverage for cabin staff as needed.  

• Create a community that you want to be a part of and that you want campers to be a part of.  

• Include everyone and make sure everyone is included.  

• Jump into the camp life: ride horses, swim, camp, play games, sing songs, roast s’mores, be ready to do everything the campers do! 

• Act as a resource and support staff as they manage camp behaviors using positive behavior management techniques, enforcing appropriate safety policies, emergency procedures, camp rules, and more. 

• Be flexible and adaptable because things change quickly at camp. You have to be able to roll with it. 

• And other duties and responsibilities as assigned: you might need to make your campers’ dreams of a beach themed ice-cream campfire song session come true or become your favorite legendary Pokémon for an evening program. 

But our staff aren’t just counselors. We want you to do what matters to you while you’re at camp.  

Want to spend your summer outside, exploring the back country of Colorado and climbing mountains? We have a job for you. Does spending the morning playing soccer and the afternoon creating art make your heart happy? We have a job for you. Want to design a rocket that can make grilled cheese, but also land on Mars? We probably have a job for you, let’s talk. 

Outdoor Adventure Program Manager Responsibilities 

• Supervise the Outdoor Adventure program area team (Challenge Course, Mountain Biking, Archery, Hiking, and Outdoor Skills) as they create and run multiple programs each day for campers of all ages that are safe, fun, and memorable. 

• Ensure the documentation of the programming you and your team create for other staff members to use in the future.  

• Work with the program team to create and run programming for all of camp to participate in and for staff to do during off time. The best programs are safe, fun, and memorable! 

• Manage physical space where camp Outdoor Adventure activities take place – archery, rock climbing, ropes course & mountain biking. Ensure appropriate access limitation to Outdoor Adventure activities in conjunction with the director team.  

• Supervise daily set-up and breakdown of the challenge course, including inspecting elements and equipment used for the day and documenting that inspection. 

• Ensure proper safety equipment is used for staff and participants. Additionally, ensure that staff and participants are using all equipment safely and appropriately.  

• Ensure all equipment is appropriately maintained, provide maintenance to equipment, as needed and within scope, and report damaged items to the Director Team.  

• Manage scheduling and apply curriculum for Outdoor Adventure Specialty Camp. Manage staffing for all scheduled Outdoor Adventure activities 

• Assist the Outdoor Adventure staff in facilitating their activities. You may be jumping into a rock climbing challenge, a fort building mission, or a mountain bike journey. 

Finally, all staff must be able to attend staff orientations and be available to live at camp for the summer season. While we prefer staff to work for the entire summer, we understand if you can’t and encourage you to apply if you can work at least 5 – 6 weeks of our summer season.    

Physical Demands and Working Environment 

Physical Demands: This job requires the incumbent to have operative auditory and visual functioning. Employee must also be able to walk upwards of two (2) miles each day, including use of stairs and uneven terrain.  Employee may also stand, sit in chairs or on the ground, run, and swim. Employee may lift or body block campers when necessary.   

Work Environment: Working conditions may include being in indoor, often time’s loud spaces and spending extended time outdoors under the sun. Must have the ability to work in a hectic, sometimes stressful environment while maintaining the standard of care.   

Qualifications and Requirements  

Basic Qualifications:

• Must be 21 years of age or older 

• ACCT/PRCA Level 1 Certification or willingness to obtain 

• One year experience in a child care setting or a vested interest in working in a professional child care setting   

• 3+ years working on challenge courses and be familiar with ACCT (Association of Challenge Course Technology) standards for ropes course safety practices 

• Satisfactorily fulfill requirements for employment at the Staenberg-Loup JCC, including: background screening, three references, documentation, and compliance with CDHS law  

• Must be high-energy, enthusiastic, creative, and open-minded!   

Preferred Qualifications:    

• One year experience in a camp environment   

• Current CPR and First Aid certification 

• Bachelor's Degree or Degree in Progress or equivalent experience 

• ACCT/PRCA Level 2 

• Benefits Overview  

This is a seasonal job and is therefore ineligible for benefits.  

Please note: This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive statement of every duty and responsibility which will ever be required of an employee in this position; however, the employee will be held responsible for all duties assigned.  

The Jewish Community Center values diversity and inclusiveness and is an equal opportunity employer.