Camp Director, National Math Camps

Job Title: Camp Director, National Math Camps

Opportunity Overview:

Are you a highly organized and dynamic leader with a strong math background and a passion for creating unforgettable educational experiences for amazing young learners? We are seeking a seasonal Camp Director to lead one of our new residential summer camps for mathematically extraordinary middle school students. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment, excels at managing multiple priorities, has great attention for details, and is committed to creating a safe, supportive, and joyful camp community where our students can thrive.

Who We Are: National Math Camps

We believe that math camps provide transformational experiences that deeply strengthen students' mathematical knowledge and identity. Many of today’s premier mathematicians and scientists point to their participation in math camps as a critical step in their mathematical journeys. It is in these immersive programs that they discovered the beauty and joy of mathematics in a tight-knit community of other “mathy” students and decided to pursue careers that push innovation in the STEM fields.

However, summer math camps in the U.S. today are oversubscribed - most selective camps receive applications from 2-10x more eligible students than they have space for. We want to make sure that all mathematically extraordinary students have the opportunity to attend rigorous math summer camps.

We are building a nonprofit organization to run a variety of math camps across the United States. Our first step will be to run two pilot camps for ages 11 - 14 in summer 2025, with each camp hosting two 2-week sessions of about 30 students each. In subsequent years, we hope to expand each camp to serve more students over more sessions, and to open additional camps for this age group and others.

We are currently housed within Carina Initiatives, but will spin out as a separate nonprofit entity by the end of 2024, under the name National Math Camps.

About the Role:

As the Camp Director, you will be responsible for the overall execution of the camp program, ensuring a seamless and enriching experience for students, staff, and faculty. This includes not only overseeing day-to-day operations and logistics but also actively cultivating a strong, inclusive, and joyful camp culture. In this role, you will work closely with the Founding Academic Director and HQ team to refine and implement the camp’s vision. Alongside the Academic Director, you will also receive on-ground support from the Camper Support Director, who will collaborate with individual students and their counselors to address any social, emotional, or behavioral concerns.

What You’ll Do:

• Leadership & Management:
  • Oversee the overall camp program, ensuring a high-quality, well-coordinated experience for students, faculty, and staff.
  • Manage all non-academic staff, including the Camper Support Director, counselors, and camp nurse.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for all camp-related issues, making decisions and resolving conflicts as needed.
  • Lead regular meetings with the counselors and leadership team, assigning responsibilities and ensuring clear communication.
• Operations & Logistics:
  • Coordinate with the HQ team and local vendors to manage all logistical aspects of camp operations.
  • Ensure compliance with all safety and risk management protocols, addressing any issues in collaboration with the HQ team.
  • Lead the setup and breakdown of camp facilities before and after camp.
• Counselor Hiring & Supervision:
  • Contribute to the recruitment and selection of counselors, including making final decisions on which counselors to invite to your camp.
  • Train, supervise, and mentor counselors, ensuring they are equipped to handle their responsibilities and provide a positive experience for students.
  • Manage counselor schedules, ensuring appropriate coverage while allowing for daily breaks and time off.
  • Coordinate daily reporting from counselors on camper attendance, progress, and engagement.
• Community & Culture:
  • Foster an inclusive and supportive camp community that promotes collaboration, curiosity, and a love of learning.
  • Plan and facilitate camp-wide activities and traditions that contribute to a joyful and cohesive camp culture.
  • Work with counselors and other staff to ensure a variety of recreational options are available to campers each day.
• Collaboration & Communication:
• Work closely with the Academic Director to align on programmatic goals and support the integration of academic and residential components.
• Serve as a liaison between camp staff, students, parents, and the broader organization, ensuring clear communication across all groups.
  
• Student Admissions
  • Contribute to the student selection process, including participating in admissions test grading and making recommendations on which students to admit to your camp. Please note that final admissions decisions lie with the Academic Director

What We're Looking For:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in mathematics or a related field.
• Experience working in a residential summer program, preferably a math or STEM camp.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with a proven ability to manage complex programs and logistics.
• Ownership mentality and a commitment to successful execution with a willingness to pitch in and do whatever tasks are needed in the moment to get the job done.
• Excellent leadership, interpersonal, and culture-building skills, with the ability to inspire, guide, and build strong community among both staff and students.
• Experience working with middle school students in an educational setting, particularly those with advanced academic abilities.
• Level-headed under pressure, with a calm and confident approach to problem-solving and conflict resolution.
• Passion for creating engaging and supportive learning environments for young students.

Logistics:

• We’re looking for someone who can commit to one of the options below for summer 2025. Please note that dates and locations are still tentative and will be finalized by the end of October
  • 6/11 - 7/15 in the Los Angeles area of California
  • 7/2 - 8/5 in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina
• Due to the importance of the Camp Director role in establishing a new camp, we’re asking for a minimum commitment to participating in both the summers of 2025 and 2026. Please note that we expect each camp to run for six weeks in summer 2026.
• The stipend for the Camp Director position is $7,500 for the summer, plus room, board, and roundtrip travel. This includes up to 5 weeks on-site. We are willing to accommodate Camp Directors traveling with families or with specific housing requirements that prohibit them from utilizing the room & board benefits.
• We will also pay $40/hr for remote preparatory work taking place in the winter & spring (e.g., counselor hiring, logistics planning, admissions). We anticipate the additional time commitment required to be approximately 50 - 100 hours in total, with a high degree of flexibility to accommodate schedules and working preferences.
• For questions or more information, please reach out to sarah[dot]trebatleder[at]carina[dot]fund.

Our Team So Far:

• John Murray is our Entrepreneur in Residence for this initiative. He is charged with the strategic design and execution of the program, including launching a new nonprofit organization to house the new camps and supporting infrastructure. John is himself a parent of mathematically talented daughters who have benefited greatly from the many resources that make up the math enrichment ecosystem. He has witnessed firsthand the transformative power that summer math programs have had on his children, and he is passionate about expanding these opportunities to serve more kids each year. John’s background in growth strategy, experiential design and nonprofit operations has prepared him well for this exciting challenge.
• Sarah Trebat-Leder is our Program Director. Sarah is leading the effort to design and launch new camps, including the recruitment of faculty and counselor staff. Sarah’s lifelong passion for mathematics and teaching, as well as her experience launching and working in the math enrichment experiences space, will be invaluable in this role. Most recently, Sarah served as the Director of Talent Strategy for AoPS, where she has held a number of key roles since joining in 2018.
• We are working closely with Carina Initiatives and the Polynera Fund on this effort. These well-respected organizations have a demonstrated commitment to increasing opportunities and improving outcomes for mathematically extraordinary students of all backgrounds.