Conservation Education Camp Supervisors have overall on-site responsibility for instructional summer camps operated by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for children ages 12 to 17. They supervise the administration of their assigned camp's environmental education and recreation programs, insure the health, safety, and welfare of all campers, volunteers and staff, and reside at the camps.
Conservation Education Camp Supervisors are employed on a temporary basis during the summer months. They direct the activities of camp staff to insure that program goals are met and that the camp runs smoothly. Positions in this class are characterized by a great deal of public and camper contact, written communication, and staff interaction.
Conservation Education Camp Supervisors are responsible for developing and supervising a comprehensive training program for staff and volunteers at their camps. They set program and work schedules, make staff assignments and review and approve the Conservation Education Camp Counselors' lesson plans. They evaluate staff's work performance as well as the overall effectiveness of the program. Camp supervisors are also responsible for insuring the camp's compliance with health and safety guidelines as established by DEC and the Department of Health.
Conservation Education Camp Counselors organize and implement a variety of environmental and educational programs and activities designed to increase the campers' awareness of environmental stewardship and related issues. Incumbents of these positions are responsible for the general welfare of a group of campers, children ages 12 to 17, and volunteers.
Environmental Educators conduct a broad range of environmental education and interpretive programs for school youth, teachers, special groups, and the general public. Environmental Educator positions are typically year-round positions located at an Environmental Education Center or in the central office in Albany.
Conservation Education Camp Supervisors perform a variety of critical tasks related to the overall operation of a summer environmental education camp for youth.
Develop and implement curriculum for Summer Camp Program.
Supervise all staff.
Manage facility operations.
Conservation Education Camp Supervisors receive general direction from an Environmental Educator 3 who is located in Albany. This arrangement requires Environmental Conservation Camp Supervisors to function independently and possess an extraordinary amount of sound judgment. They are frequently required to make decisions that may affect the safety of the campers and their interest in environmental activities. Errors in judgment on the part of the camp supervisor could result in injury and programmatic goals not being met.
Camp Supervisors work as closely as possible with the Environmental Educator 3 who travels to each camp, as necessary, to provide training, guidance and direction. The Environmental Educator 3 is available 24 hours per day to provide telephone assistance to the supervisors.
The camp program provides a handbook to all staff that discusses health and safety policies and procedures, environmental education lesson plans and resources, as well as other procedures for problems that commonly arise at camp.
Conservation Education Camp Supervisors perform a wide range of duties that require knowledge and experience in natural resources and education, group dynamics and social motivational theories. The supervisor has responsibility for the health and safety of approximately 60-80 individuals on a 24-hour basis, and for the administration of camp activities as well. The incumbent is, therefore, responsible for the overall success of the camp.
Incumbents of these positions constantly interact with parents, sponsors, campers and staff members. Conservation Education Camp Supervisors set the tone for the entire program at their assigned facilities. It is critical that they build rapport quickly to respond to everyone's needs and to achieve the program's objectives by motivating both adults and children to set goals and to work towards them.
Conservation Education Camp Supervisors also perform more routine administrative duties involving the compilation of data for weekly reports, bookkeeping and inventory of supplies/equipment, and the opening and closing of the camp facility.
Conservation Education Camp Supervisors communicate orally on a continual basis with campers, camp counselors, food service workers, and to a lesser extent, parents and sponsors in order to facilitate the smooth operation of the camp. Communication skills are critical during times of difficulty for the camper, since the supervisor must work individually with the affected child (and parent).
When staff conflicts arise, the camp supervisor must mediate disagreements in a clear, fair and diplomatic manner and in accordance with Department policies.
Conservation Education Camp Supervisors communicate regularly with professional staff within the Department to develop environmental education programs and with operations staff to insure timely repairs of equipment. In addition, they communicate directly with local vendors and Department of Health staff to obtain information pertinent to the success of their programs.
Written communication in the form of letters to campers conveying information and final reports are required of the camp supervisor.
As a manager of an educational camp, a Conservation Education Camp Supervisor directly supervises six to eight counselors, a cook, food service workers and volunteers. The incumbent makes work assignments, develops schedules, and approves time off. He or she conducts on-going evaluations of staff's teaching techniques for the purpose of assisting in next year's program plans.
Conservation Education Camp Supervisors must have a total of four years of college or work experience in the natural resources field, biological or environmental sciences, or environmental education. Experience in outdoor pursuits in areas such as hiking, canoeing, backpacking, hunting, fishing, water safety and archery is required. Camp supervisors must be certified in American Red Cross Responding to Emergencies or equivalent and in American Red Cross Basic Life Support for the Professional Rescuer or equivalent.