Day Camp Coordinator
Help kids from Homer and beyond connect with the ecosystems of Kachemak Bay, become better stewards, and develop a love for the natural world. The Day Camp Coordinator will work with the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies (CACS) Day Camp, based out of Homer. Participants in this camp are ~7-9 years old, and many are Homer locals. For 2026, Day Camp is anticipated to have 4-5 staff each week, collaboratively managing a cohort of 22 kids.
Each week of Day Camp (Monday-Thursday) features a different nature-based theme (i.e. “Wild About Wildlife,” or “All About Water.”) Camp is equally focused on place-based and inquiry-based environmental exploration, social emotional learning, and campers’ sense of fun.
Day Camp starts and ends each day at the Wynn Nature Center—15 minutes from our office in Homer. The Day Camp staff will interact directly with participants, leading fun and educational activities. Activities take place at the Wynn, or include field trips to other nature preserves, the Homer Harbor/Spit, area beaches, local trails, and other field sites. In addition to supervising staff and managing the schedule, the coordinator will communicate regularly with day camp families, and coordinate with community partners. They will also interact directly with participants, leading and co-leading fun and nature-based activities and exploration at various locations throughout Homer.
Many Day Camp activities are documented from recent years, but campers can often return for several years in a row; therefore activity planning requires a level of creativity and flexibility to avoid camp feeling repetitive. Camp staff frequently attend to children’s social-emotional, behavioral, developmental needs with help from a Support Staff; some of these needs can be frequent or high. Kids’ engagement and familiarity with Camp and staff can vary widely; some campers only attend one week through the whole summer, while others attend regularly to fill a childcare need.
Position runs from May 18 – August 21, 2026 (end date negotiable). Pending grant funding, there is the possibility this position could be extended to begin appx. April 20th through to appx. September 25th.
Pay is $21/hour with shared housing provided ($24/hour without housing).
Core Duties:
Plan and lead fun and educational activities for day camp participants, including an emphasis on weekly themes. Work with Day Camp Counselors to create a weekly schedule that includes a balanced mix of games, guided exploration, directed activities, art, crafts, guest speakers, and free exploration time. Schedule field trips and guests from the community to help lead activities or exploration.
Supervise and mentor 3-4 counselors/Support Staff, interns, and volunteers, including scheduling of daily tasks, and providing feedback and evaluation for team members. Lead or schedule trainings for staff.
Develop and ensure a safe, fun, and positive environment for all youth participants. Work cooperatively with guardians and other CACS staff and volunteers to provide high-quality experiences for participants. Administer basic first aid. Set behavior expectations and work with participants to redirect behavior as needed.
Collaborate with other camp staff to provide modifications to summer camp activities, as needed, to allow all campers to participate in the day. Assist with documentation of camper support/behavior and family communication.
Serve as the main point of contact for guardians and work closely with Day Camp team, CACS Program Director, CACS Executive Director, and/or CACS Bookkeeper to address any special challenges or needs that may arise. Communicate program schedule and expectations with guardians at the beginning of the summer and on a weekly basis.
Additional Duties:
Maintain CACS program supplies and perform daily/weekly cleaning of the Day Camp space and vans used for transportation.
Coordinate and provide transportation of the group in 12-passenger and/or 15-passenger vans.
Provide photos for social media and advertising and complete basic administrative tasks.
We are a staff that works as a team and adapts to our communities’ needs; therefore this position may work on additional programs and duties as mutually agreed upon.
Training & Mentorship:
Required participation in paid training period in Homer and at the Peterson Bay Field Station at the start of the summer, which will include training on natural sciences, interpretation, and the cultures of Kachemak Bay. Additional opportunities may be offered throughout the summer for paid professional development in specific areas related to your work (such as social emotional learning, positive behavior supports, and/or culturally responsive education practices).
Qualifications:
First Aid/CPR Certification required. Youth Mental Health First Aid or comparable training (or willingness to obtain one prior to start date) required.
Experience or background in childhood education, special education, behavioral intervention and/or extensive experience working with children in outdoor settings.
Experience identifying and meeting individual needs and supporting children with challenging behaviors in a large group setting or one-on-one. Familiarity with Autism Spectrum Disorders, neurodiversity, social & emotional learning.
Awareness of or training in Trauma Informed teaching practices.
Commitment to facilitating experiential, place-based, fun, and inclusive learning experiences for children.
Experience leading small teams of educators, counselors, volunteers, or interns. Ability to work in a highly collaborative work environment, including skills for providing and receiving timely feedback.
Flexibility and willingness to learn on the job and adapt to changing circumstances (such as weather, group needs, etc.)
Strong communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly with co-workers and maintain respectful and open communication with guardians, as well provide concise and easy-to-follow directions for kids, communicate concepts in an age-appropriate way, and make children feel welcome.
Familiarity with—or interest in learning more about—the nature of coastal Alaska.
Valid drivers license preferred.
We’ve left our list of desired qualifications flexible in recognition of the many forms of knowledge and experience that can exist both within and outside of typical employment or academic pathways. If you are passionate about the work and think you could do it well, please apply!
Our application form will ask for a 1-page résumé, a 1-page cover letter describing your desire to work with Coastal Studies as an organization, and a short-answer question asking you to describe your interest in the specific position. If you have questions about our application process, please navigate back to our Employment page and explore the FAQ.
