Senior Leadership Trainer Flat Water

Be the Spark! Join our dynamic team at YMCA Camp Pine Crest, where every day is different, and you will always be engaged with meaningful work!

YMCA Camping and Outdoor Education offers outdoor experiences that foster personal growth and build community. After taking part in our programs, children and youth return home more confident, independent, and with new friendships. YMCA Camp Pine Crest is an overnight camp serving children, families, and organizations through naturally focused programs that embody the mission, vision, and outcomes of the YMCA. Camp Pine Crest is made up of 650 acres of Muskoka wilderness surrounded by 3 interconnected lakes with 8km of shoreline; has over 26km of hiking trails and 7,500 sq. ft. of dock and has 60 buildings.

The Senior Leadership Trainer Flat Water facilitates intentional leadership development programs that build participants' self-awareness, resilience, confidence, and technical and interpersonal skills. The position mentors and supervises participants in camp and flat-water canoe trip environments, supporting safe, high-quality learning experiences and preparation for future camp staff opportunities. The role works collaboratively with staff, volunteers, families, and community partners and contributes to training and operational support within the camp community.

There are two Senior Leadership Flat Water programs:

• The French River
  While at camp, participants engage in the camp community, work with younger campers, and take part in leadership development and skill-building activities before embarking on an eight-day flat-water canoe trip through French River Provincial Park. During this expedition, participants learn the skills needed to lead a successful canoe trip. The two staff members running the French River program are also responsible for facilitating a High School Credit course, with support from the YMCA Academy.

• Senior Leadership Exchange
  This program focuses on leadership development while fostering connections with youth from across Canada. Pine Crest partners with another Canadian YMCA camp, allowing participants from both camps to join two camping trips—one in Ontario and one near the exchange partner’s location. While at camp, participants engage in dynamic programming designed to develop their leadership skills and promote collaboration with peers from other communities.

In this role, you will:

• Plan and deliver activities, learning sessions, and debriefs that develop participants' self-awareness, leadership, interpersonal, and practical skills.
• Coach Senior Leadership participants to understand how their actions affect group well-being and to identify constructive ways to improve their actions and the situation.
• Deliver high-quality programming on-site and during flat-water canoe trips, including participant placements in roles around camp.
• Supervise program participants on-site and during trips.
• Support participant high school credit requirements by facilitating assignments, marking work, and monitoring completion.
• Facilitate short canoe trips during training for younger staff.
• Maintain participant and group safety by following safety protocols and using sound judgment before and during trips.
• Maintain, inventory, and repair assigned equipment to ensure group equipment and safety needs are met.
• Build and maintain relationships with members, staff, volunteers, families, and community partners.
• Attend the Leadership Information Day in late May to meet participant families.
• Provide hands-on operational support when not delivering a program, including dish support, gear repair, and food dehydrating.
• Act as a positive, active, and inclusive role model and follow YMCA camp guidelines, policies, procedures, and Ontario Camps Association guidelines.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

You bring:

• First Aid and CPR certification that meets Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board requirements and YMCA policies.
• National Lifeguard certification, Wilderness Advanced First Aid, Food Handler's Certificate, Moving Water 2, and ORCKA Canoe Tripping Level 3 required by the start of the contract and valid until at least the last day of the contract.
• Lifesaving Instructor certification is considered an asset, with the ability to instruct Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross, and CPR-C.
• Minimum 3 years of experience working with youth in leadership development.
• Experience leading canoe trips.
• Extensive knowledge of canoe tripping.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt to change.
• Demonstrated organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and within a team to achieve collective results.
• Well-developed interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish rapport and communicate effectively with members, staff, and volunteers.
• Ability to provide mentorship and guidance to inexperienced and seasoned staff.
• Ability to provide participants with timely and constructive feedback.
• Ability to use frequent light to medium physical effort, including lifting up to 20 kg (44 lbs.), bending, stooping, pushing, carrying, and pulling.
• Flexibility to work days, evenings, overnights, weekends, and holidays as required.
• Minimum 20 years of age by the start of the contract.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and building a sense of belonging.

If you are interested in this position and do not possess the necessary certifications and require assistance in attaining them, please indicate in your cover letter. Certain certifications may be eligible for Financial Assistance through the YMCA of Greater Toronto, or through referral to additional programs outside the YMCA that offer similar support. Eligibility is to be determined on an individual basis.

What you need to succeed:

• Commitment to the YMCA’s Mission, Vision and Values.
• A commitment to uphold strong, safeguarding practices that protect the safety, well-being, inclusion of children, and youth.
• YMCA Competencies: Accountable, Relationship-Builder, Improvement-Orientated, Team Player & Leader, Equity and Wellbeing Promoter.

Why work for the YMCA?

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is a charity that ignites the potential in people, helping them grow, lead, and give back to their communities. We are committed to helping our employees reach their full potential and are recognized as a great place to work. We offer meaningful jobs and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals and the health of our communities. See what you can expect from the YMCA here.

Joining the Y means contributing to over 170 years of providing opportunities for people to shine through programs and services, such as health and fitness, licensed child care, camps, employment and immigrant services, education and training, and services for youth, families, and seniors. Learn more in our 2025–2030 strategic plan, Greater Together, which outlines how we are focused on building communities where people feel healthier and more connected to their neighbours.

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. We strive to remove barriers to employment and recognize that diverse staff who reflect the communities we work in enrich the experiences of our participants and our team. As an equal opportunity employer, we invite applications from all qualified candidates including racialized people/people of colour, Indigenous Peoples, disabled people/people with disabilities and members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

If we can make the recruitment process more accessible for you, please let us know when we reach out about a job opportunity so we can work with you to accommodate your needs.

In keeping with our commitment to safety and child protection, job offers are contingent on the successful completion of a Police Records Check. Within the first four months and every three years thereafter, a Vulnerable Police Records Check is required. Learn more about these checks here.

The YMCA only considers applicants who are legally entitled to work in Canada. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, due to the volume of applications we receive, we can only contact candidates who are selected for an interview.

Check out the next steps in our recruitment process and see what others are saying about working at the YMCA.