Equestrian Coordinator - Summer 2024

The Equestrian Coordinator leads and executes summer camp programming and curricula at Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries’ Carol Joy Holling Camp. The Equestrian Coordinator provides outstanding care and hospitality to campers and guests at our facilities. The Equestrian Coordinator serves as a role model with enthusiasm, positivity, and kindness. The Equestrian Coordinator acts as the primary facilitator of NLOM’s horse program, teaching campers horse/riding basics, leading trail rides, and maintaining camp barns. The Equestrian Coordinator will also lead, manage, and instruct staff serving as barn/wrangling staff each week at camp. The Equestrian Coordinator will work with all summer staff, full time staff, and volunteers to provide a top-quality camp program to all who come to camp for the duration of NLOM’s summer programming.

• Adhere to and carry out assigned daily schedule.

• Serve as a role model for campers and peers.

• Participate in all aspects of camp to the fullest and with enthusiasm. Provide supervision and support to campers.

• Recognize each camper’s unique personality and provide encouragement of individual gifts and achievements; foster positive self-esteem and confidence. Learn and use campers’ names.

• Lead, nurture, discipline, and interact with campers in accordance to positive youth development practices and NLOM policies and procedures.

• Provide a healthy, clean, comfortable, and safe “home away from home” for campers.

• Respond immediately and appropriately to camper needs, such as emotional or physical health concerns, homesickness, lost and found items, personal hygiene concerns, etc.

• Provide opportunities for discussion of individual or group problems or concerns. Allow time for conflict resolution, restorative justice, and reflection.

• Assist in leading faith formation activities, such as: Bible study, worship, meal time prayers, nightly devotions, and more using camp provided curriculum. Participate in confirmation class time as applicable or assigned.

• Be a team player, filling in on any site, camper, or coworkers needs as you see them.

• Be a part of creating an inclusive and welcoming community at camp for campers, staff, parents/guardians, guests, ministry leaders, and more. Treat all guests with respect, providing exceptional hospitality to all.

• Be respectful of nature and camp buildings. Maintain our spaces with fervor, teaching others the importance of caring for our environment and facilities as a part of living in community at camp and on earth.

• Prepare for and fully participate in any and all staff meetings and training sessions. 

• Submit all reports in a timely manner and with detail.

• Enforce all safety rules and regulations consistently and seriously. Carry out Emergency Action Plans as necessary.

• Adhere to policies and procedures in regard to appropriate interactions with campers, child abuse prevention, and positive youth development outcomes to keep campers safe both physically and mentally.

• Clean and check all equipment as related to the horse program.

• Maintain barn and storage areas. Keeping buildings and surrounding areas clean, tidy, and welcoming.

• Conduct daily health checks of each horse. Score body condition weekly. Pull horses from the line up that are unsound or have poor body condition.

• Update files making sure each horse has a current photograph, horse profile, training record, classification, and a health record sheet. Make notes weekly as related to performance and health.

• Record all equipment used for each horse, behavior modification plans, and classify each horse according to riding level.

• Fit tack, check equipment, make repairs as needed, and set up barn/tack shed in an efficient manner. Check equipment daily and record all repairs. Clean and oil tack as needed.

• Conduct initial and end of season inventories and store equipment in appropriate manner.

• Instruct both campers and staff on equestrian procedures, rules, and regulations.

• Serve as the facilitator for all camper learning sessions, arena rides, and trail rides.

• Enforce barn and trail rules, with safety as the number one priority.

• Assume a leadership role starting with summer staff training through the remainder of the summer. Provide staff with necessary training, support, encouragement, and instruction.

• Check in with assigned staff often to ensure their needs are being met; assist them where you can and give them breaks as needed.

• Provide comprehensive barn orientation and training to assigned summer staff on a weekly basis. Review barn basics, safety rules, special activities, and any other relevant information to ensure staff have a successful week at the barn.

• Oversee all operations at the barn.

• Fulfill all other duties as assigned.

• Desire and ability to work with children.

• Appropriate leadership and social skills to serve as a primary caregiver to campers.

• Exceptional role model qualities, such as: good character, integrity, kindness, etc.

• Enthusiastic attitude with a sense of humor, patience, adaptability, and self-control.

• Ability to observe and assess camper behavior.

• Ability to recognize and respond to environmental and other hazards.

• Ability to communicate professionally, positively, and effectively verbally and in writing to full-time staff, summer staff, and campers.

• Ability to relate to one's peer group positively and work as a member of a team, accepting support and supervision.

• Ability to be on feet for a majority of the day. Ability to walk long distances.

• Physical ability and strength to work with horses, move saddles, and tack.

• Current certification in CPR and Standard First Aid. (Training provided at camp.)

• Experience with horses, barn management, and horse safety.

• Coursework in equestrian management, horsemanship, equine safety, etc. highly desired.