Senior Leadership Trainer White 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 White Water facilitates leadership development programs for youth through on-site programming and extended white water canoe trips. The position works with a co-guide and the Outdoor Pursuits team to support participants in developing leadership, technical, interpersonal, resilience, and self-awareness skills. Trainers provide 24/7 supervision during the program and reside in the same accommodations as participants, providing ongoing instruction, mentorship, and support. The role mentor participants through practical leadership experiences and plans and facilitates leadership programming before and after wilderness trips, including meaningful on-site leadership and skill-building opportunities. The position supports safe, high-quality program delivery both at camp and in remote settings.

In this role, you will:

• Plan and facilitate leadership activities, learning sessions, debriefs, and skill-building experiences that support participant self-awareness, leadership development, and group well-being.
• Plan, prepare, and facilitate extended white water canoe trips that prioritize risk management, technical skill development, and participant growth.
• Deliver high-quality programming on-site and on trip, including coordinating participant placements in different areas of camp, stewardship projects, and other leadership opportunities.
• Supervise program participants continuously while on-site and on trip, including residing in the same accommodations as participants.
• Mentor and coach participants to understand how their actions affect the group, apply leadership skills, and build confidence and resilience.
• Plan and coordinate trip menus, food preparation, gear selection and organization, and other trip logistics with support from the Outdoor Pursuits team.
• Ensure group equipment and safety needs are met by maintaining, inventorying, and repairing assigned equipment and following safety protocols before and during trips.
• Build relationships with participants, families, members, staff, volunteers, and community partners.
• Attend Leadership Information Day in late May to meet participant families.
• Provide hands-on resource support when not delivering a program, including dish support, gear repair, and food dehydration.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

You bring:

• Current Standard First Aid and CPR-C certifications, valid until at least the last day of the contract.
• Current National Lifeguard certification, valid until at least the last day of the contract.
• Wilderness First Responder, White Water Rescue Technician, Food Handler Certificate, Moving Water 2 and ORCKA Canoe Tripping Level 3 certifications 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 extended white water canoe trips.
• Demonstrated risk management skills in remote settings.
• Ability to develop and facilitate high-quality leadership development programming.
• 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 in a team environment 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 timely and constructive feedback to participants.
• Minimum 20 years of age by the start of the contract.
• 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.
• 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.