Program Team Leaders

Join our team and make a difference in people’s lives!

Placement: April 25, 2026 (or late June) - September 4th, 2026 (possibility of extension 

through September)

Wage: $150-$165/day plus Room & Board Included!

Join YMCA-YWCA Camp Thunderbird, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, near Sooke, BC and help shape tomorrow’s leaders through outdoor adventure, nature programming, and wilderness immersion! We offer both overnight and day camp programs. With 1200 acres of wilderness and a commitment to excellence, our camp provides children and youth with skills, confidence, and appreciation for the natural environment. Activities include canoeing, rock climbing, kayaking, archery, orienteering, ropes courses, environmental education, lake swimming, games, campfires, drama, and 3-5 day trips in the BC wilderness. 

• You'll be part of a tight-knit and caring team.
• You'll lead activities, teach skills, facilitate safety, build community, and promoteinclusion.
• You’ll also get:

❖ Staff special events such as evening socials (build your own sundae, nacho night etc.) 

❖ All meals while working. Our dining hall boasts tasty and nutritious meals including daily bottomless salad bar, evening desserts and warm breakfast with breakfast bar.

❖ Free membership to the YMCA-YWCA gym and pool facilities during employment

❖ 4% vacation pay on top of your daily wage.

Our Camp Thunderbird and Outdoor Education Team Leaders (TLs) are leaders and role models in the camp community, and support our front-line program staff, in the delivery of quality outdoor education and summer camp programs. They provide a range of support from direct program instruction to guidance and mentorship of counselling staff members. Allstaff participate in daily cleaning, maintenance, and janitorial duties.

Successful applicants will be energetic, motivated, organized, and capable of creating a positive sense of belonging for all participants. TL’s will be required to live on-site during our program season in rustic, shared accommodation, and will be required to support counselling staff in providing care for children 24hrs/day.

What you’ll be doing: 

• Supervise counselling staff, maintain and develop systems for organizing camp programs and logistics, develop new programming.
• Communicate with, and respond to feedback from, Outdoor Education clients (teachers and group leaders) to ensure satisfaction with schedule, program delivery, meals and accommodation.
• Responsible for a section of campers, up to approximately 60-80 campers per session.
• Support campers and their families by communicating with parents as required.
• Perform administrative and organizational tasks related to their section.
• Function as an in-ratio counsellor when required.
• Seek help from a supervisor when it’s necessary. They are there to help!
• Contribute to day-to-day camp operations such as support of dining hall logistics and/or meal supervision, direct supervision of groups of campers, and other duties as required.

What you’ll need before work starts:

❖ A clear police information check, with Vulnerable Sector Screening 

❖ Education: Enrollment or completion of post-secondary education in a related field is an asset.

❖ Successful applicants will have several years of day or overnight camping experience.

❖ Current Standard First Aid with CPR C or higher

❖ Current Bronze Cross or National Lifeguard (NL) certification is valued (those with NL will earn a higher wage than those with equivalent experience but without NL)

❖ French-speaking bilingual is an asset

❖ 40- or 80-hour Wilderness First Aid with CPR-C is an asset

❖ SKGABC Assistant Overnight Guide and/or Paddle Canada Canoeing certifications an asset