Director of Camps Position Description

Posted: November 4, 2026
Position: Director of Camps
Reporting Relationship: Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer
Classification: Full-time
Salary Range: $65,000 to $75,000 annually (dependent on experience)
Primary Work Location: Davis Campus, WV, with travel to Camp Horseshoe, Washington, D.C., and other program sites

Position Summary

The primary responsibility of the Director of Camps is to plan and conduct all camp activities for the National Youth Science Academy (NYSAcademy), including the National Youth Science Camp (NYSCamp), STEAM Adventure Day Camps, Outdoor Wonder Lab (OWL), and other camps as they are developed and implemented. The Director provides year-round leadership, strategic planning, and operational oversight for these programs, ensuring a safe, inclusive, and highly engaging environment that bridges outdoor recreation with inquiry-based STEAM learning. This full-time position requires several weeks of 24/7 on-site responsibilities while youth stay overnight on campus or at a partner facility. In coordination with the CEO and COO, the Director of Camps is responsible for planning comprehensive camp programming, promoting and soliciting applications from campers/delegates, hiring and managing camp staff, and recruiting presenters. The Director also works with other NYSAcademy staff to maintain relationships with all NYSAcademy stakeholders and partners, including supporting fundraising efforts for Academy programs and operations with granting agencies, donors, and alumni.

Programs Overseen

  • National Youth Science Camp (NYSCamp): The Academy’s flagship program, hosting over 100 domestic and international rising and graduating high school seniors. NYSCamp is currently conducted at Camp Horseshoe with programming in Davis and the surrounding area. NYSCamp typically includes a trip to Washington, D.C.
  • STEAM Adventure Day Camps: Weeklong day camp programming on various themes held at the Davis Campus and other partner venues around WV
  • Outdoor Wonder Lab (OWL): Weeklong STEAM overnight camp for 5th/6th graders focusing on inquiry-based learning and outdoor adventures
  • Other camp programs as the Academy reinstates and/or develops them

Qualifications and Requirements

Education

  • Required: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, preferably in Education, a STEM discipline, Recreation/Park Management, or a related field
  • Preferred: Master’s degree or higher, particularly in Education, Educational Leadership, Outdoor Education, Nonprofit Management, or a STEM-related field

Experience and Skills

  • Required: Demonstrated management and leadership ability, including a minimum of 3 years of leadership experience in a camp, school, or informal education setting
  • Required: Proven success in program administration, including budget oversight, community engagement, and marketing
  • Required: Experience developing or delivering informal STEM/STEAM youth educational programming across a wide age range
  • Required: Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Required: Valid motor vehicle operator’s license with an acceptable Motor Vehicle Record and ability to pass criminal, sex offender registry, and child abuse registry background checks
  • Preferred: Proficiency in Spanish
  • Preferred: Current Wilderness First Responder certification

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

  • Follow an annual program timeline, collaborate on recruitment and marketing, cultivate relationships with multiple stakeholders, prepare program reports, and iteratively improve program quality based on participant feedback.
  • Administer application and selection processes for all camps, coordinate logistics related to participant, staff, and presenter involvement, and collect all necessary information and forms. Support rigorous evaluation of all programs in coordination with other NYSAcademy staff and contractors.
  • Hire, train, and supervise seasonal staff for each camp, including counselors, STEAM instructors, and outdoor staff, in coordination with colleagues. Direct on-site residential operations during overnight camps and serve as the on-site lead in emergencies. Maintain, update, and implement operational policies in alignment with American Camp Association (ACA) standards. Enforce NYSAcademy’s health and safety policies and procedures. Ensure proper use, care, transport, and storage of NYSAcademy property. 
  • Implement age-appropriate STEAM educational programs for each camp, balancing tradition with fresh ideas. This process includes recruiting camp presenters, coordinating related logistics, working with program partners, and incorporating outdoor recreation experiences (focusing on West Virginia as much as possible). 
  • Follow NYSAcademy policies and procedures regarding purchasing, procurement, and other work-related expenditures. Appropriately manage and track budgets and contribute to grant applications and reports as needed. Assist with camp-related leases and contracts.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

  • Must be willing to reside on-site during residential camp sessions, including 24/7 responsibilities while youth are in our care on campus or at a partner facility
  • Ability to hike and navigate mountainous terrain in all weather conditions typical of WV
  • Ability to lift, load, unload, and move program equipment and supplies between the Davis Campus and other program locations (up to 50 lbs.)
  • Willingness to work evenings, weekends, and extended hours during camp sessions, and to travel, including to Washington, D.C.

To apply, submit a resume and cover letter outlining qualifications and interest in the position to ryan.haupt@nysacademy.org. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.