Program Coordinator – Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS)
Kostopulos Dream Foundation | Camp Kostopulos (Camp K)
Salt Lake City, Utah – Emigration Canyon
Full-Time | Year-Round
Compensation: Based on experience
Benefits: Medical, dental and vision insurance; paid holidays; accrued vacation and sick leave; pension benefits
Make a Difference Through Recreation
At Camp Kostopulos (Camp K), recreation is more than fun—it is an opportunity to build confidence, independence, friendships, life skills, and a stronger connection to the community.
Since 1952, the Kostopulos Dream Foundation has created meaningful recreation, education, and growth opportunities for people of all abilities. Our programs serve children, teens, and adults and are designed to help participants discover what they can do while experiencing adventure, belonging, personal growth, and plenty of Camp K fun.
We are seeking an energetic, compassionate, and highly organized Program Coordinator and Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) to help lead our year-round programming.
This is a hands-on position for someone who wants more than a desk job. One day you may be developing a therapeutic recreation program; another you may be training seasonal staff, facilitating a ropes-course experience, coordinating a community outing, supporting campers and families, or helping create an unforgettable week of summer camp.
If you believe recreation can change lives and enjoy bringing people, programs, and great ideas together, we would love to meet you.
The Role
The Program Coordinator works closely with the Program Manager to develop, coordinate, implement, and evaluate high-quality therapeutic recreation and inclusive recreation programs throughout the year.
During the summer, the Program Coordinator plays a leadership role in Camp K's Summer Camp programs, including Residential Camp, Day Camp, and adventure-based programming. Throughout the fall, winter, and spring, the position helps lead Community-Based Programs that give participants opportunities to socialize, develop skills, build independence, and enjoy meaningful recreation throughout the Salt Lake Valley.
The Program Coordinator also assists with recruiting, training, supervising, and supporting program staff, interns, and volunteers and serves as a key point of communication among participants, families, staff, and community partners.
In the Program Manager's absence, the Program Coordinator may assume designated program leadership responsibilities.
Above all, every Camp K team member shares one essential responsibility: creating a safe, welcoming, inclusive environment and providing exceptional service to every participant, family member, volunteer, guest, and visitor.
What You'll Do
Program Development & Therapeutic Recreation
- Develop, coordinate, implement, and evaluate therapeutic recreation, summer camp, and community-based programs.
- Use Recreation Therapy principles and best practices to create purposeful programs that encourage independence, confidence, social connection, skill development, healthy recreation, and community participation.
- Help develop engaging activities and experiences appropriate for participants with a wide range of physical, cognitive, developmental, and medical needs.
- Continually evaluate programs and identify opportunities to improve participant outcomes, efficiency, safety, engagement, and customer service.
- Maintain appropriate program documentation, participant records, schedules, and other required materials.
Summer Camp Leadership
- Help plan, coordinate, and facilitate Camp K's summer programming and special events.
- Assist with camper groups, cabin organization, activity schedules, program areas, staffing assignments, and daily camp operations.
- Help prepare program areas and equipment prior to the summer season and ensure areas remain safe, organized, clean, and appropriately stocked.
- Be an active presence at camp—supporting staff, building relationships with campers, solving problems, and helping create the welcoming and adventurous atmosphere that makes Camp K special.
- Respond calmly and professionally to participant, staff, program, safety, or environmental situations requiring immediate attention.
Year-Round Community Programming
- Plan and facilitate Community-Based Programs during the fall, winter, and spring.
- Coordinate recreational, educational, social, and community-integration experiences such as sporting events, bowling, arts and cultural activities, holiday celebrations, outdoor recreation, and other special events.
- Identify new program opportunities based on participant interests, therapeutic goals, community resources, and emerging best practices.
Staff & Intern Leadership
- Assist with recruiting, interviewing, selecting, onboarding, and training seasonal program staff and interns.
- Support recruitment efforts through universities, career fairs, professional networks, and community partnerships.
- Help organize and facilitate comprehensive staff and intern training.
- Provide day-to-day supervision, coaching, and guidance to program staff and interns.
- Clearly communicate expectations, model professional behavior, provide constructive feedback, and help create a positive team culture.
- Assist with staff performance evaluations and ongoing professional development.
- Help coordinate and support volunteers participating in Camp K programs and activities.
Participant & Family Support
- Build positive, respectful relationships with participants and their families.
- Communicate clearly with participants, parents/caregivers, staff, interns, volunteers, and community partners.
- Help address participant needs, behavioral or developmental concerns, program questions, conflicts, and family concerns with professionalism and empathy.
- Promote participant dignity, choice, independence, inclusion, and safety in all programs.
Safety, Quality & Compliance
- Work with Program Managers to maintain program compliance with applicable federal and state requirements, American Camp Association (ACA) standards, DSPD requirements, NCTRC standards, and organizational policies.
- Help maintain current safety procedures and coordinate required staff safety training and emergency-response drills.
- Collaborate with facilities and maintenance staff to ensure program spaces, vehicles, equipment, and activity areas are safe and ready for use.
- Promote a strong culture of safety, professionalism, preparedness, and accountability.
- Maintain accurate and timely program documentation and records.
Adventure & Team-Building Programming
- Lead or assist with Camp K's challenge-course, team-building, outdoor recreation, and experiential learning activities.
- Facilitate groups in ways that encourage communication, confidence, problem-solving, teamwork, and personal growth.
- Challenge-course experience is preferred; training may be provided based on organizational needs.
Professional Leadership
- Participate as an active member of the Camp K Programs Team, including department meetings, planning sessions, trainings, and special projects.
- Maintain CTRS certification and remain current on Recreation Therapy practices, disability services, camp programming, risk management, and program leadership.
- Represent Camp K professionally in interactions with participants, families, volunteers, community partners, and the public.
- Contribute ideas, energy, creativity, and a willingness to jump in wherever needed.
- Perform additional responsibilities and special projects as assigned.
What We're Looking For
Required Qualifications
- Current Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential through NCTRC.
- Appropriate professional licensure as required by the State of Utah.
- Experience working directly with individuals with physical, cognitive, intellectual, and/or developmental disabilities.
- Working knowledge of disabilities and support needs that may include autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, developmental disabilities, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and other physical or cognitive disabilities.
- Strong interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills.
- Ability to plan programs, establish goals and objectives, organize multiple priorities, and follow projects through completion.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
- Demonstrated responsibility, dependability, sound judgment, and maturity.
- Ability to remain calm, flexible, creative, and solution-oriented in a dynamic program environment.
- Current First Aid/CPR certification or ability to obtain and maintain required certification.
- Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record.
- Ability to successfully complete required background screening.
- Must be at least 21 years of age.
- Ability to meet the physical requirements of an active recreation and camp environment, including lifting, carrying, and loading adaptive recreation and sports equipment weighing approximately 50 pounds or more and participating in sustained physical activity.
- Commitment to creating a safe, positive, inclusive, fun, and team-oriented environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Two or more years of professional experience in Therapeutic Recreation/Recreation Therapy.
- Previous summer camp, organized camp, or residential program experience.
- Experience supervising staff, interns, or volunteers.
- Experience with staff recruitment, training, coaching, and performance evaluation.
- Challenge course, ropes course, outdoor recreation, or experiential education experience.
- Experience driving passenger vans and transporting program participants.
- Familiarity with ACA standards, DSPD services, NCTRC requirements, or similar regulatory/accreditation environments.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and comfort learning program databases and other technology platforms.
Who Thrives at Camp K?
The strongest Program Coordinator candidates are people who can be professional without being stuffy, organized without losing their creativity, and safety-minded without losing the fun.
You may be a great fit if you:
- Believe deeply in the abilities and potential of people with disabilities.
- Love creating experiences that have a meaningful purpose.
- Can lead a staff training in the morning and jump into a camp activity that afternoon.
- Notice the details while still seeing the bigger picture.
- Communicate well with participants, families, seasonal staff, interns, volunteers, and fellow professionals.
- Stay calm when plans change—which happens at camp!
- Enjoy mentoring young professionals and helping seasonal staff become confident leaders.
- Bring enthusiasm, humor, creativity, and professionalism to your work.
- Want your career as a CTRS to have a visible, meaningful impact on people's lives.
Why Camp K?
Camp K isn't simply a summer camp. We are a year-round community dedicated to opening a world of opportunities for people of all abilities.
Our programs combine therapeutic recreation, community experiences, outdoor adventure, friendship, education, and fun to help participants build skills and experience greater independence and community connection.
As Program Coordinator, you'll have the opportunity to help shape those experiences while developing professionally as a Recreation Therapy leader. You'll work in a unique environment where your CTRS expertise, creativity, leadership, and willingness to get involved can make a difference every day.
Come help us create opportunities, build independence, and make memories that last far beyond camp.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $50,000.00 - $60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Education:
License/Certification:
- Driver's License (Required)
Work Location: In person
