Summer Camp Waterfront Director - Isola Bella 2026

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF:

ANNOUNCES AN OPENING FOR:

Summer Camp Waterfront Director

Dates: June 21, 2026 – July 25, 2026

CLOSING DATE: UNTIL FILLED:

REV:                            1/2/2024:

POST:                         1/12/2026:

The American School for the Deaf (ASD) is the oldest school for the deaf, founded in 1817 by Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc. The American School for the Deaf is committed to serving deaf and hard of hearing infants, youth, and their families in development of intellect and the enhancement of quality of life utilizing specially designed instruction through an American Sign Language and English Bilingual Approach, empowering them to become educated and self-directed life-long learners.

ASD is located in West Hartford, a town recognized as one of the top ten towns for raising families. West Hartford residents value education, evidenced by the high quality of public and private schools.  There is also much to do in West Hartford.  There is a wide array of parks and recreation.  There are pools and hiking trails.  There are historic sites to visit as well.  If shopping is on the list, then Blue Back Square, located in the center of town, offers many retail stores and a variety of restaurants to satisfy everyone.

SCOPE OF DUTIES:

Nestled in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains on Twin Lakes, Salisbury, Connecticut, “Isola Bella” means Beautiful Island in Italian.  Isola Bella was bequeathed to The American School by the late Ferrari Ward and his wife, Muriel Alvord Ward.  Both were members of the ASD Board of Directors and Mrs. Ward was the first woman to serve on the board.  Through this wonderful gift, the American School became the United States’ first school for the deaf to offer a summer program for hearing impaired youngsters and is the only camp for deaf children in Southern New England.  Isola Bella is a scenic island estate that has been turned into a recreational/residential summer camp for deaf children ranging in age from 8 years to 17 years old.  A wide variety of activities are offered depending on camper’s skill and interest level.   Some of these activities include: archery, arts & crafts, camp studies, swimming, sailing and canoeing, water skiing, overnight camping, hiking, team and non-competitive games and a variety of special trips and projects.  The philosophy of the program is “learning through experience.”

PRIMARY DUTIES:

Under the supervision of the Camp Director provides the aquatics program to campers ages eight to seventeen at a summer camp focused on campers who are deaf/hard of hearing or children of deaf adults.

• Responsible/prepares for all waterfront and aquatics/boating activities.

• Ensures compliance with policies/regulations of school, town and state.

• Maintains licensing requirements for the Department of Public Health and certification requirements for the ACA.

• Ensures adequate safety/health care issues are in place and implemented by staff, campers and visitors.

• Responsible for general maintenance/ care of waterfront/ boating equipment and registration/insurance. Reports equipment problems to Camp Director.

• Instructs, on a scheduled basis, a series of classes in small craft (boating), water safety and is responsible for the beginning and end of summer inventory of waterfront equipment and needs assessment.

• Evaluates campers’ swimming/boating skills to establish appropriate record keeping procedures.

• Participates in general camp activities (e.g. off island camping, day trips) as directed.

• Performs other duties as assigned by the Camp Director.

EDUCATION / SKILLS:

• Applicants must be 21 or older

• Must have current WATERFRONT lifeguard certification, boating license, small craft safety certification and experience pertaining to operating a waterfront facility.

• Proficiency in American Sign Language is strongly preferred.

SALARY:

• Compensation range is based on experience and available upon request

HOW TO APPLY:

ASD is ALL ways able. Should you require an accommodation for applying to this position, please contact the Human Resources Department.

American School for the Deaf does not discriminate on the basis of an individual's age, ancestry, color, genetic information, learning disability, marital status, past or present history of mental disability, intellectual disability, national origin, physical disability, race, religious creed, sex (including pregnancy, transgender status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or civil union status) work place hazards to reproductive systems, and criminal record (in state employment and licensing).

All applicants will be screened, and the most highly qualified applicants will be invited to interview.