Canoe Program Staff

Job Posting

Canoe Program Staff

Canoe Program Staff

Muskoka

ABOUT US

Help Bring Back the Joy of Childhood

Since 1983, Campfire Circle has delivered healing through happiness to thousands of kids with cancer or serious illness and their families across Ontario. Our programs are offered in paediatric hospitals across Ontario, in local communities, and at our medically supported overnight camps, offering year-round experiences that provide life-changing moments of joy, connection, and resilience.

And we’re just getting started. Today, over 40,000 kids in Ontario face serious illness, many without access to the psychosocial support they urgently need. That’s why we have a bold vision: to grow from serving 3,000 campers a year to 10,000. We’re building a passionate, talented team to help make that vision a reality. When you join Campfire Circle, you become an integral part of a dynamic team helping to transform the lives of thousands of kids with serious illness, alongside our dedicated community of volunteers and donors.

Help us give back the joy of childhood to every kid with serious illness who needs it most.

At Campfire Circle, we are committed to making employment accessible by reducing financial barriers for our summer staff. All required training and certifications for your role are provided at no cost, in accordance with the terms of employment. Based on identified need, we may also be able to assist with additional job-related costs such as loaning camping equipment, outdoor clothing or gear, and coordinating transportation options. If you require assistance to help make your employment with Campfire Circle more accessible, please let your manager or HR know after you are hired and before your start date.

THE OPPORTUNITY

We are searching for Canoe Program Staff to join our Summer Staff Team in 2026. This posting is for an existing vacancy for the upcoming summer season.

Reporting to the Manager, Overnight & Leadership Programs, the Canoe Program Staff role is accountable for working with co-instructors and sessional volunteers to provide our campers ages 6-18 at our Muskoka overnight site with valuable canoe experience. This role will focus primarily on instructing canoeing and supporting other waterfront programs such as Swim, Kayaking and Paddle boarding programs.

Start Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2026

End Date: Friday, August 28, 2026

Rate: $5,000 (for the full contract)

*Training/virtual training dates may occur prior to this date and are included in your full contract rate*

Key Accountabilities:

Programming and Facilitation:

• Development and instruction of Canoe programming that is: safe, creative, challenging, accessible, experiential, age appropriate, environmentally friendly, and fun.
• Maintain equipment, track inventory, and report on needs for program growth.
• Work with the Head of Waterfront and Manager of Overnight & Leadership Programs to adapt and adjust curriculum and activities from session to session based on feedback and experiences.
• Support Canoe Tripping program to teach and coach volunteers and campers in canoeing skills.
• Adhere to cleaning procedures and logging as trained and directed.
• Set up and prepare activities and activity areas in accordance with, but not limited to the standards of the camp, and the guidelines of the Ontario Camps Association (OCA).
• Ensure that camp programs incorporate camp values and traditions.
• Support all camp programming in addition to designated program area.

Lifeguarding & Waterfront Safety:

• Support in lifeguarding of recreational waterfront swimming activities when needed.
• Fill in as instructor for other waterfront activities when team members are on time off or unable to fulfill their duties.
• Demonstrate knowledgeable and skill in standards and procedures at all waterfront areas.
• Demonstrates strong skill level in lifeguarding standards, practicing preventative guarding.
• Follow safety procedures as trained and instructed and provide first aid and water rescue as required.
• Assist with swim/boat testing for all campers, staff and volunteers.
• Support swim/canoe/kayak/paddleboard emergencies and emergency procedures.

Volunteer and Camper Support:

• Participate in risk management with the program area and Site emergency procedures.
• Assist in facilitation of on-site volunteer training.
• Support the planning, prepping, and execution of camp wide programs, theme, and other activities.
• Support, coach, and lead volunteers in achieving safe, fun, and engaging programs.
• When not at the program area, working alongside volunteers in providing general support and supervision to campers and families.
• Attend and participate in various program areas, staff meetings, and socials as required.
• Support with summer bus programs and bus chaperoning as needed.

Communication and Administration:

• Support the task of ensuring the program binder is kept up to date (program plans, inventory, and camper records.
• Communicate Canoe needs and concerns to the Head of Waterfront and the Overnight & Leadership Program Manager.
• Report on the achievement of site-specific program plans and Canoe program plans.
• Ensure incident report forms are completed.
• Produce an End of Summer Report capturing daily procedures, reflections on the summer and notes for future staff members in this role.

Leadership and Community:

• Help build and maintain a positive, inclusive, and supportive camp community, ensuring that lines of communication are accessible, open and positive and acting as a role model within the camp community.
• Identify staff/volunteer concerns as they arise and alert Camp Directors of recurring or unresolved issues.

ABOUT YOU

In accordance with our mandate of creating a caring and safe environment for children with serious illnesses and their families, we require an attestation of childhood vaccinations, criminal record checks and vulnerable sector screenings depending on the age of the applicant. Seasonal boosters against Influenza and the most recent circulating strain of COVID are strongly encouraged. We also require TB testing for all our program-facing staff. Additionally, all our staff are required to be currently eligible to work in Canada and for Campfire Circle.

Our Campfire Circle summer staff bring boundless enthusiasm, a can-do attitude, and a commitment to creating unforgettable and meaningful experiences for campers and their families. Come join the Circle!

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Criteria:

• Experience as a staff or volunteer in a camp environment and/or working with children in a recreational setting.
• Experience working with children with disabilities and/or additional physical, behavioural, and/or psychosocial needs as well as experience facilitating adaptive programming.
• Experience instructing canoe skills and programming.
• ORCKA Basic instructor or Camp Canoe Instructor Certification or willing & able to successfully take the certification (paid for by Campfire Circle).
• Valid Bronze Cross certification for the duration of the contract or willing & able to successfully take the certification (paid for by Campfire Circle).
• Valid Standard First Aid & CPR-C certification for duration of the contract or willing & able to successfully take the certification (paid for by Campfire Circle).
• New employees who are under 30 years of age at the time of hire will have their Criminal Record Check completed by the Organization, while those who are 30 years of age or older are required to obtain a Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening.
• All members of the summer staff team must be at least 19 years of age by the start date of their contract.

Advantageous Criteria:

• Overnight summer camp experience.
• National Lifeguard (NLS)
• Pool or waterfront lifeguarding experience.
• Experience in outdoor education or adventure education
• Demonstrated ability to work with children with serious illnesses and an understanding of how illness impacts the entire family.
• Demonstrated commitment to volunteerism or volunteer sector.
• A current G or G2 Class driver’s license, and eligible to be insured under camp policy.

Particular Working Conditions:

• This position requires living at the Muskoka campsite for the duration of the contract – room and board, which will be shared communal accommodations, are provided. Routine evenings and weekend commitments are required.
• In consideration of the population Campfire Circle serves, the incumbent is a non-smoker.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Campfire Circle acknowledges that the overall health and wellness of you and your family are important; for this reason, we offer an employee assistance program accessible to all our summer staff team members.

ACCESSIBILITY & DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Campfire Circle is deeply committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. We welcome applications from racialized persons/persons of colour, Indigenous People from North America and around the world, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, and those who bring diverse perspectives and experiences. Our commitment is to provide equitable employment opportunities to all and to maintain a work environment free from discrimination and harassment.

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Campfire Circle acknowledges that we operate on the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples, and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

On this land, we are grateful to share the magic of camp with children and families, and we endeavour to create a community of joy, hope and healing. Acknowledging the land that we occupy is just one small step on the path towards Truth and Reconciliation.