URJ Camp Newman

UPDATES: Hiring for Summer 2025!

Hiring:

The Program Director is a senior-level leadership role responsible for supporting the director team and overseeing all recreation areas, including nature, adventure mountain, sports, art, and music. This position involves guiding unit heads and department heads, collaborating with the Associate Camp Director, and ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of camp programs. The Program Director is also on duty and available to unit heads and department heads as needed, providing leadership, problem-solving support, and guidance.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Work in partnership with Shoresh (senior leadership) team members to create meaningful programs, efficient schedules, and positive work relationships.

• Regularly check in with Department Heads, providing support and guidance as needed.

• Be on duty and available to unit heads and department heads as needed to provide leadership, problem-solving assistance, and operational support.

• Collaborate with the Associate Camp Director to monitor and adjust the daily schedule to ensure smooth operations.

• Assist in planning and executing all-camp programs.

• Attend daily Shoresh (senior leadership) meetings.

• Maintain availability via radio/walkie-talkie and/or cellphone to provide on-the-ground leadership.

• Be visible and engaged in camp activities, participating when appropriate.

• Document key insights and operational notes for future summers.

• Plan and execute general and specialized staff training sessions.

Our Program Director is required to have: 

• Prior leadership experience managing multiple systems.

• Strong leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to think critically and adapt to challenges as they arise.

• An approachable and supportive demeanor with the ability to collaborate effectively with the Geza (Leadership) Team.

Our Best Program Director Is:

• Organized and able to manage multiple responsibilities effectively.

• A strong leader who can inspire and support staff.

• Eager to ensure camp runs smoothly, solving problems proactively.

Ropes Course specialists spend their days on Adventure Mountain: a collection of climbing and challenge elements consisting of the 50-foot Alpine climbing tower, the high ropes course, the initiatives/low ropes course, and the archery range. Prior to camper arrival, all ropes specialists receive free, site-specific ACCT accredited training (no prior experience is needed).

Rope Specialist responsibilities include:

• Orienting campers on safety protocols including proper harness and helmet use

• Belaying climbers on the Alpine Tower, providing encouragement and guidance in a “Challenge-by-Choice" environment Leading team building exercises and facilitating group challenges at the low ropes initiatives course

• Facilitating evening “night climbs” for select groups of campers and staff

• Teaching campers the proper technique for archery, maintaining safety protocols, and rotating archers through the open stations

• Stand for extended periods of time in significant heat (Although belaying locations are shaded, our location in the Santa Rosa Mountains frequently reaches upwards of 90-100 degrees F)

• Navigate heights and the elements of adventure mountain

• Climb uneven ad steep terrain (Adventure Mountain is at the top of our site and paths are often steep and unpaved)

• Use their hands for extended periods of time, particularly in belaying and fitting safety harnesses on campers, setting up and storing equipment daily and performing on-going maintenance to equipment as needed

Outside of physical necessities, working with campers between 7-17 requires our ropes specialists to be:

• Patient and empathetic– Our campers have different levels of maturity and experience with climbing, it is essential that our ropes specialists are patient with campers in helping them through their time at Adventure Mountain

• Encouraging – All elements on Adventure Mountain are “challenge-by-choice” which means that participants are encouraged to climb as high or as far as they choose and ropes specialists are there to encourage, guide and celebrate participants without pressuring toward a singular climbing outcome. Not everyone’s goal is to reach the top!

• A team player – The common goal for all ropes specialists is for campers to leave Adventure Mountain having had a good time. To achieve this, it is imperative that rope specialists work as a team, stepping in to support each other when another specialist needs assistance.

In addition to their time at Adventure Mountain, ropes specialists live “in-bunk” with co-counselors and a group of 6-14 campers. Our best counselors are:

• Responsible

• Passionate about working with kids

• Full of spirit and energy

• Great communicators

All lifeguards, even if they have a current certification, will receive free, onsite Red Cross Lifeguard and CRP/AED Certification prior to camper arrival. This certification is valid for two years and is transferable to any facility where Red Cross Certifications are accepted.

Lifeguard responsibilities include:

• Attending in-service trainings facilitated by the pool director

• Actively scanning your zone while at a lifeguard station

• Administering basic first aid and, if necessary, ensuring proper communication with the medical team

• Facilitate pool rules orientation and swim tests when new groups arrive

• Facilitate and be on-duty for evening pool parties for sessions

• Care for and maintain pool equipment including covering/uncovering the pool, cleaning the pool deck, collecting lost and found, organizing equipment, etc.

• Being a strong swimmer – To qualify for lifeguard certification, the Red Cross requires trainees to swim 300 meters (either freestyle or breaststroke)

  continuously, tread water for 2 minutes without using your hands, and retrieve a weight from a minimum depth of 7 ft and swim with it on your chest for 20 yards in addition to performing rescues.

• Spending extended time outside in high heat – Each lifeguard station is equipped with an umbrella for shade and electrolyte powder is available to the team, lifeguards spend long periods of time outside in the sun (we frequently experience temperatures upwards of 90-100 degrees)

• In addition to handling the physical demands of this position, to maintain pool safety for a wide range of camper ages, lifeguards must also be:

Lifeguards live “in-bunk” with co-counselors and a group of 6-14 campers.

Our best counselors are:

• Responsible

• Passionate about working with kids

• Full of ruach (spirit)

The nature specialists’ primary responsibility is planning and facilitating overnight campouts for groups of kids ranging in age from 9-17 and in group sizes of 12-40. Natural specialists also lead nature-oriented activities when not on the campout for a variety of age groups.

As a part of the overnight camping program, specialists:

• Lead an interactive hike, appropriate to the session age group, to the overnight site

• Help prepare a campfire dinner for the group (including fresh pita with chocolate spread for dessert!)

• Lead nature-themed programming at the overnight site

• Sleep at the overnight site in a tent (or under the stars!)

When they are not sleeping at the overnight site, based on preference and camp staffing needs, Nature Specialists can live out of bunk (not with campers) or live “in-bunk” with co-counselors and a group of 6-14 campers.

• Compassionate and empathetic

• Passionate about working with kids of all ages

• Responsible

• Good at time management

• Full of spirit and energy

• Great communicators

• Team players

• Patient

Logistics staff are responsible for much of the behind-the-scenes, day-to-day running of camp. Because our logistics team must be added to our camp insurance to drive camp vans, all logistics team members must be 21+, have a clean driving record and a valid, up to date driver’s license.

Although the responsibilities of our logistics team may vary widely day-to-day some consistent responsibilities include:

• Transporting camper luggage to the correct locations on arrival and departure days

• Organizing and facilitating snack for each session unit twice daily

• Fulfilling supply requests which includes trips offsite to make purchases

• Dropping off and picking up camp laundry offsite

• Bringing program supplies to locations around camp

Logistics Staff do not live in-bunk with campers. Due to the tasks generally assigned to our logistics team, it is necessary for team members to be:

• Comfortable driving both a large vehicle (such as a van) and a golf cart

• Comfortable bending, squatting, and lifting heavy objects

• Ready for every day to look different

• Possess a clean driving record

General counselors are the backbone of camper care at Camp Newman. These in-bunk staff members spend their whole day with the 6-14 campers in their bunk participating in fun camp activities and ensuring campers are having a great time.

The daily responsibilities of general counselors include:

• Waking up your cabin and ensuring campers have everything they need for the day ahead

• Keeping your campers on time and on schedule throughout the day

• Ensure campers get their medications at meals

• Take campers who are under the weather to the infirmary

• Attend an elective with a group of campers to act as extra supervision and have some fun

• Make a splash at the pool and ensure your campers have everything they came with when it’s time to leave

• Go to fun programming like the climbing tower or circus arts

• Lead an evening cabin bonding activity before bed and say good night to your campers

• Rotate sitting night duty (remaining in your cabin to be available to campers if anything comes up with your co-counselors

Our best general counselors are:

• Compassionate and empathetic

• Passionate about working with kids of all ages

• Responsible

• Good at time management

• Full of spirit and energy

• Great communicators

• Team players

• Patient