Dates: December 2023 to August 2024 (renewable)
Wages & Benefits: $30-35/hr for about 165 hours of program development in 2023 and 2024, and the remainder during July and August 2024, for a total of about 350 hours.
Point People: Education Committee Chair, Family Education Coordinator and Temple Israel Board of Directors
Location: Remote or local during the development phase. Must be available to meet in person once a month. During the summer program, the Program Director must be on-site full-time in Deerfield, MA.
About the Summer Camp: This is the first year Temple Israel Greenfield is running a summer camp. The hours of operation will be 8:30-3:30 M-Th and 8:30-12:30 on Fridays. We are expecting 25 campers each week for a 2 week camp. The goal of Temple Israel’s summer program is to design and implement an outdoor education program for kids ages 5-12 where they explore Jewish tradition and culture through activities focused on nature and peace-building.
About Temple Israel Greenfield: Temple Israel of Greenfield is an egalitarian, unaffiliated synagogue located in the culturally rich, rural farming community of Western Massachusetts. As the only synagogue in Franklin County, we serve approximately 120 Jewishly-identified households, both in Greenfield and in surrounding towns. Temple Israel has a mission to be a vibrant center for Jewish life in Franklin County, and strives to identify and meet as many community needs as possible, encouraging everyone with a connection to Jewish life and culture to participate in our offerings.
About the Position: The Camp Director oversees and coordinates all things pertaining to the programming, policies, and personnel of the summer program. They supervise and mentor staff; communicate and coordinate with the host site; manage parent communications; oversee program implementation and evaluation; and coordinate policy development, compliant with Temple Israel, state and town regulations, as well as health inspections.
Summer Camp Director Duties
Program Development (46%)
- Aid in developing curriculum rooted in Jewish tradition/culture to create joyful and meaningful opportunities for kids to connect to peacebuilding and nature.
- Attend regular meetings and communication with the Core Team (Project Coordinator, Consultants and Education Committee) to build relationships and determine administrative tasks in the Program Development and Program Implementation phases;
- Prepare logistically and programmatically for summer 2024;
- Write job descriptions for Lead and Assistant Counselors and participate in the hiring process;
- Develop program policies in compliance with Temple Israel By-laws, as well as state and town regulations;
- Responsible for implementing staff training before camp begins
Program Implementation (54%)
- The Camp Director is responsible for implementing the program curriculum and preparation of camp logistics.
- Train, supervise, and evaluate Lead and Assistant Counselors;
- Communicate and coordinate with the host site with regards to all logistics related to site use;
- Communicate with parents before and during the summer season about camper forms, behavior, and medical issues in relation with the Project Coordinator;
- If necessary, revise policies in accordance with state and town regulations, and Temple Israel By-laws;
- Responsible for wrap-up– staff debriefing at the end of the program and making recommendations for the following summer;
- Engage problem-solving skills throughout each phase of camp.
Required Skill and Experience:
- Significant experience leading and teaching at summer, outdoor, after school and/or nature-based and/or Jewish programs;
- Demonstrate attention to detail, organization, and kindness as well as strong skills in working with children;
- A record of training and supervising teams of people of all ages;
- Ability to self-start, identify tasks and take initiative;
- A basic understanding of Jewish traditions, ritual and culture;
- Enthusiasm for working collaboratively with people from diverse backgrounds including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, class, and religion;
- Excellent written and verbal communication with people of all ages;
- Up-to-date certification in standard first aid and CPR by the start of staff training
How to Apply: To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter to alyssa@templeisraelgreenfield.org. A completed CORI check, first aid and CPR courses will be mandatory if hired.
Application Deadline: Priority deadline November 17. Thereafter, applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.