Reshaping a staffing role to find a true culture builder
Client
Willow Lake Day Camp
Director of Staffing and Culture
Role
Alena Marsh
Director of Staffing and Culture
The Partnership
Willow Lake Day Camp, a well-known family-run day camp in northern New Jersey, needed a staffing leader. After a season of juggling seasonal hiring without support, the camp owners approached CampHire looking for someone who could own recruitment, strengthen staff culture, and lead with intention—year-round.
At first, the role was framed narrowly. They were looking for a Staffing Coordinator. But as we talked, it became clear the camp needed a strategic leader. We helped rework the role into “Director of Staffing and Culture,” shifting the focus from summer-only execution to long-term talent planning.
The Search
This was a highly localized search. The job required in-person presence at least four days a week, which eliminated remote talent. We mapped out the regional market and built a custom sourcing strategy, targeting professionals with both camp fluency and recruiting experience, a rare combination.
Most candidates had one skill set and not the other. Our team combed through LinkedIn, camps in the Tri-State, alumni groups, and targeting email lists. Eventually, Esther spotted the perfect profile on LinkedIn: Alena Marsh. She had the camp experience, was based nearby, and was working remotely for a national day camp organization. But she wasn’t actively looking for a new job, and hadn’t responded to our outreach, despite multiple attempts.
The Hire
Weeks later, one of our newsletters advertising the role landed in her inbox. That night, she responded and our recruiter Sarah hit it off with her immediately. They both live in New Jersey and share a love of camp. Through consistent, personal communication, Sarah helped Alena imagine what this role could mean for her career and her life.
After visiting Willow Lake to meet the team, Alena accepted. When the first summer wrapped up, Alena called us to say thank you. The role was everything she had dreamed of and more, and she was already looking at homes closer to camp.