Halifax Regional Municipality is inviting applications for the casual full-time position of Adventure Earth Programs – Summer Youth Leadership Coordinator.  

Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is committed to reflecting the community it serves and recognizing Diversity and Inclusion as one of the Municipality’s core values. We have an Employment Equity Policy and we welcome applications from African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Women in occupations or positions where they are underrepresented in the workforce, Indigenous/Aboriginal People, Persons with Disabilities and 2SLGBTQ+ Persons.  Applicants are encouraged to self-identify on their electronic application. 

Adventure Earth Programs at the St. Mary’s Boat Club engage children, youth and families in paddling based experiential programs, youth leadership, and outdoor recreation. As part of the Halifax Municipality’s Parks and Recreation services, The St Mary’s Boat Club programs give children and youth safe access to water activities and the knowledge and experience to practice them safety. All the St Mary’s Boat Club programs are carried out on The Northwest Arm in Halifax.   

With our core values of community, learning, safety, sustainability, magic, and excellence as a foundation, we provide opportunities to reconnect with the natural world, to pursue a healthy and active lifestyle, explore on the water and develop paddling skills.  
 
More information on the St. Mary's Boat Club can be found at www.halifax.ca/smbc  

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Organizing and leading information nights for youth leaders and parents Creating and conducting the selection process, setting up a communication system with the youth, and scheduling successful applicants on programs. Planning and facilitating a full-day orientation/training session and overnight team building event at the beginning of the summer and planning and facilitating additional training and social events, conducting the selection process, scheduling participants on camps.  Daily tasks such as observing and evaluating the youth leaders’ participation in their volunteer leadership assignments, providing support and feedback and checking in with the youth leaders at the beginning and end of the day. Maintaining the Adventure Earth programs’ core values,  Keeping a record of events, attendance, and schedules Maintaining communications with youth leaders throughout the program Partnering with other Recreation Centres in our area and across HRM and overseeing and assisting youth leaders with planning and execution of a community action  Work with youth to organize and a community action activity Writing a summary report for the Community Outdoor Recreation Coordinator Organizing and staffing the three day/two night YES! Camp Program Support the Community Outdoor Recreation Coordinator in handling administrative duties such as registering participants, sending program mailouts, tracking and inputting statistics and maintaining a budget. Work collaboratively and in support of the summer coordinator and inclusion coordinator to run programs and ensure a safe working environment. Assist with paddling programs and help the summer coordinator in facilitating successful day camp programs.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and Experience: 

Must have a first aid certification, valid through to August 28, 2026 Must have experience leading either children or youth in an outdoor and/or environmental education or recreational setting  Must have previous paddling experience Must have canoeing, stand up paddleboard or kayaking instructor certification or willing to obtain (can be provided with training) 

Considered an Asset: 

Class 5 driver’s licence and access to a reliable vehicle Advanced first aid qualification Canoe, kayak or stand-up paddleboard certification Current Bronze Cross or National Lifeguard Service certification Previous experience working day camps and/or overnight camps at the Adventure Earth Programs an asset Managerial/supervisory experience Experience in designing outdoor environmental program curriculum  Studies in Outdoor Recreation, Environmental Education or similar courses Mental Health First Aid Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Experience facilitating youth in an overnight setting an asset  Experience with Halifax’s Youth Leadership Program an asset Understanding of Healthy Childhood Development 

Conditions of Employment: 

Applicants must be willing to obtain WHMIS training Applicants must be willing to attend all orientations/training sessions (dates to be determined) Copies of certification must be submitted upon hiring All successful applicants must be free to work August 5, 6, and 7 at the overnight YES! Camp if required.  Must attend the Youth Leader Coordinator Summer debrief on August 25th. Must be able to work indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.  Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must clearly demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

Security Clearance Requirements: Applicants must complete screening through the Child Abuse Registry and a Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Check .

Please note – Testing may be conducted as a component of the selection process to assess technical and job specific knowledge.  Candidates, who are selected for testing, may be tested in a group setting, scheduled at the employer’s discretion. 

COMPETENCIES: Analytical Thinking, Communications, Customer Service, Decision Making, Developing Others, Organization and Planning, Risk Management, Teamwork and Cooperation, Values and Ethics, and Valuing Diversity 

WORK STATUS: Casual Full-Time. May 4 – August 28, 2026 

HOURS OF WORK:  

May/June work hours are Monday to Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm paid 35 hours per week.  

July/August work hours are Monday to Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm paid 40 hours per week  

Hours in July/August are flexible and include evenings and weekends including YES Camp. (Aug.5-7) 

TRAINING DATES (MANDATORY): Training dates will be provided on hiring. Successful candidates must attend all training. 

SALARY: Non-Union; $21.45 (plus 4% vacation pay), paid out biweekly. Eligible for paid holidays (if you work 15 of the 30 calendar days before the holiday and your next scheduled shift after the holiday, per NS Labour Standards) 

WORK LOCATION:  St. Mary’s Boat Club (1641 Fairfield Rd, Halifax) 

CLOSING DATE:  Applications will be received up to 11:59 pm on Sunday, March 1, 2026.

Extra Rewards, Programs and Services: 
In addition to your summer wage, summer employment with the AEC also offers the following programs and services:  

Access to free training Canoe certifications, First Aid, and more. Employee & Family Assistance Program HRM’s Employee and Family Assistance Program provides confidential, professional support to employees and their families for personal or work-related challenges, available 24/7 at no cost. AEC Employee Recognition Program Recognition of your years of service and the hard work for the summer.Staff Socials Fun times outside of work hours to get know your coworkers better and have fun! Staff Awards Staff are recognized at the end of August for their contribution in a fun way every year at the “Reccies! Staff Retreats Staff are invited to a fun filled weekends during the school year – each centre will host an opportunity to bring staff together to do some team building, provide input on program and services and have fun! Make friends with like-minded people who love working in the outdoors! 

Please note: We thank all applicants for their interest in this position. Only those applicants selected for interview/testing will be contacted. 

To ensure a fair and equitable hiring process, candidates are expected to complete all parts of the recruitment process, including assessments, assignments, and interviews independently and without the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools or other forms of external assistance. The use of AI to complete any component of the hiring process is not permitted and may result in disqualification from consideration.

Shortlisted candidates will be required to provide proof of their qualifications, including, but not limited to, educational credentials, professional licenses, and relevant certifications.

During the recruitment process, applicants have the right to request an accommodation. Applicants invited to participate in an assessment process (such as interview or testing) and who require an accommodation, should discuss their needs with the Talent Acquisition Advisor when invited to the assessment process. For more information on our accommodation process please click on the link: Accommodations | Hiring | Employment | Halifax

(position # 78628242)