Equestrian Director - North Woods & Pleasant Valley Camps

Department: Child Development: Overnight Camp

Location: Pleasant Valley Overnight Camp

Pay

$440 – $580 per week

Key Responsibilities

• Assumes full responsibility for the horseback riding program, including proper care, feeding, and grooming of 12 horses.
• Maintains a clean, safe riding area and supervises and teaches campers involved in the program, both in the ring and on the trails.
• Provides instruction that includes western riding for North Woods and Pleasant Valley campers.

Specific Responsibilities

• Supervise other staff working with horses, both care and instruction.
• Ensure every camper has a happy, rewarding, and safe first riding experience to foster a healthy attitude toward horses and riding later in life.
• Maintain clean and safe riding equipment.
• Ensure horses are properly cared for: keep horses clean, administer basic horse first aid, and notify Director, Outfitter, and Veterinarian (in that order) in case of illness or injury.
• Instruct all campers in basic western riding, including but not limited to trail riding, trotting, and basic horsemanship.
• Keep the riding ring and stable area clean.
• Repair fences (report repairs beyond the instructor’s ability to the Camp Director).
• Feed and water horses; ensure adequate hay and grain are ordered and administered according to the outfitter’s feeding schedule.
• Ride trails during a camp search if a camper is lost.
• Keep trails cleared of falling trees, brush, and other hazards.
• Maintain every prudent and practical safety precaution possible to minimize program risks while upholding high‑quality standards.
• Supervise counselors and Counselors‑In‑Training when assigned to assist in the program.
• Stimulate and promote skill improvement through a challenging program that interests campers of all ages.
• Encourage and help build camper confidence in horsemanship.
• Report all injuries immediately; if a camper falls from a horse, notify the nurse and director right away and provide at least one hour of observation.
• Assist in camp duties on rainy days when riding cannot be held.
• Participate in the overall camp program to ensure a safe and happy camping experience.
• Adhere to personnel policies and ensure all staff reporting to the Horseback Riding Instructor follow them.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• High school graduate or equivalent.
• Extensive experience in horse care and prior instructional experience.
• Desire and ability to work with children and adults in a camp setting.
• Ability to creatively schedule programs, facilities, and staff.
• Experience supervising staff and campers.
• Enthusiastic leader with sense of humor, patience, self‑control, and strong supervisory and counseling skills.
• Current CPR and First Aid certifications.
• Ability to communicate and work with groups of varying ages and skill levels, providing necessary instruction to campers.
• Ability to observe camper behavior, assess appropriateness, enforce safety regulations and emergency procedures, and apply appropriate behavior‑management techniques.
• Visual and auditory ability to identify and respond to environmental and other hazards related to the activity.