The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia is made up of 173 churches with more than 68,000 members spanning from Northern Virginia to the James River, from the Shenandoah Valley to the Chesapeake Bay. The diocese is committed to discipleship and formation, racial justice and healing, and vocation and call through an inclusive faith that welcomes all on their journey in Christ. Shrine Mont Camps is a key discipleship ministry of the diocese, dedicated to the faith formation of young people, as reflected in its mission statement: “The Diocese of Virginia’s summer camp program at Shrine Mont promotes the emotional and spiritual development of children, youth, and young adults through the fostering of a safe and positive environment for all. It is the goal of this program to encourage the growth of relationships with self, others, and God.”
About the Ministry
Shrine Mont Camps encompasses a collection of eight different camp programs, each one distinguished by unique names, themes, activities of focus, and different age groups hosted on the sprawling 1,100-acre campus. While the primary age group is 7-17, camps for full families and individuals with intellectual disabilities expand that age group into multigenerational programming. In 2024, just over 400 campers attended a camp at Shrine Mont.
The Ideal Candidate
An ideal candidate is a committed follower of Christ, willing to uphold the values and beliefs of the Episcopal Church and experienced in programming for all ages. This person is a systematic thinker, a relationship builder, a seasoned manager, and a believer in the value of summer camp.
Key Responsibilities
The key responsibilities can be aligned into three areas of oversight: Leadership and Vision, Program Management, and Administration.
- Collaborate closely with the Shrine Mont Camps “architect” team (once established) to uphold the camp vision, implement strategic goals, and strategically communicate the vision broadly across the diocese and beyond.
- Recruit, hire, train, supervise, evaluate, and terminate (as needed) all staff, including but not limited to full-time support staff, summer assistant directors, and summer staff.
- Create a healthy organizational culture, developing and ensuring inclusivity, encouragement, kindness, and reconciliation, where all are welcomed and supported in their personal faith journey.
- Ensure the spiritual formation experiences and camp programs align with the values of The Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Virginia.
- Oversee and monitor crisis and risk management, healthcare procedures, and emergency response plans, ensuring fully trained teams who are equipped to respond with confidence.
- Approximately ten years’ direct experience in residential camping ministry or translatable ministry experience working with children, youth, and young adults
- Excellent interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships and manage complex and diverse teams
- Flexible, creative, and able to work effectively in unstructured environments
- Emotional intelligence in all spaces
About the Community
During the summer (June-August), the director lives on site in provided housing at Shrine Mont in the picturesque Shenandoah Valley. The remainder of the year the director is located in Richmond, V.A. at the diocesan offices. Richmond is a thriving historical city known for education, the arts, and a diverse food and beverage scene.
Interested candidates can learn more and should apply at this link.
- Approximately ten years’ direct experience in residential camping ministry or translatable ministry experience working with children, youth, and young adults
- Excellent interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships and manage complex and diverse teams
- Flexible, creative, and able to work effectively in unstructured environments