STRONG KIDS | STRONG COMMUNITIES
YM.....CA!!! We all know the familiar camp call at the YMCA. Now, just imagine being surrounded by hundreds of camp counselors bringing that contagious and vivacious camp energy to their peers. When I was 23, as the Assistant Camp Director of New Discoveries Day Camp at the Montclair YMCA, I had the privilege of bringing about 60 camp staff to the annual "Day of the Camps" pre-summer celebration.
We got into our camp shirts, decked out with bells, whistles, and all the spirit wear, and loaded onto two school buses for the two hour trek to a day of professional development and fun. When we arrived at the South Mountain YMCA, we were greeted by a tunnel of enthusiastic counselors, camp leaders, and camp professionals of all sorts. We gathered to sing songs and skits, share favorite camp activities, tips and tricks for keeping campers safe and engaged, and even had an impromptu dance battle.
The feeling of bonding with my staff and seeing them truly embrace the role of camp counselor and come out of their shells was one I'd never had before, one of pride and excitement, of compassion and pure joy. Not only did I get to grow and bond with my own staff, but I saw the power and felt the energy of hundreds of camp counselors ready to make the Best Summer Ever for YMCA campers.
The skills one can learn at camp can last a lifetime. Teamwork, love of self, love of nature, and grace to others are all inherently values of camp and the positive development of our young leaders will continue to be felt far into the future.
The impact that one camp counselor can have on a camper is truly transformational and just imagining the good we can do as an organization is inspiring. Building and supporting community to support strong kids is the foundation of our work and what a way to see it at that "Day of the Camps".
YM.....CA!!! We all know the familiar camp call at the YMCA. Now, just imagine being surrounded by hundreds of camp counselors bringing that contagious and vivacious camp energy to their peers. When I was 23, as the Assistant Camp Director of New Discoveries Day Camp at the Montclair YMCA, I had the privilege of bringing about 60 camp staff to the annual "Day of the Camps" pre-summer celebration.
We got into our camp shirts, decked out with bells, whistles, and all the spirit wear, and loaded onto two school buses for the two hour trek to a day of professional development and fun. When we arrived at the South Mountain YMCA, we were greeted by a tunnel of enthusiastic counselors, camp leaders, and camp professionals of all sorts. We gathered to sing songs and skits, share favorite camp activities, tips and tricks for keeping campers safe and engaged, and even had an impromptu dance battle.
The feeling of bonding with my staff and seeing them truly embrace the role of camp counselor and come out of their shells was one I'd never had before, one of pride and excitement, of compassion and pure joy. Not only did I get to grow and bond with my own staff, but I saw the power and felt the energy of hundreds of camp counselors ready to make the Best Summer Ever for YMCA campers.
The skills one can learn at camp can last a lifetime. Teamwork, love of self, love of nature, and grace to others are all inherently values of camp and the positive development of our young leaders will continue to be felt far into the future.
The impact that one camp counselor can have on a camper is truly transformational and just imagining the good we can do as an organization is inspiring. Building and supporting community to support strong kids is the foundation of our work and what a way to see it at that "Day of the Camps".
I am the youngest of my family. My older sisters where 10 and 8 years older than me and out of the house. My mother was a single parent working two jobs. My elementary school had a Y program that I attended for a while. Unfortunately, when I was in 4th grade, they had to shut the program down. After that I had to start walking by myself to and from school rain, snow, or shine. Now that I'm older and I'm helping to raise my nieces and nephews, I want them to have a place to go afterschool, something to look forward too. Because my experience of the Y didn't end after the childcare did. I was able to join other Y programs throughout my childhood, the Briggs YMCA was the pool I learned to swim and teach my oldest niece to swim.
This experience might not be very cheerful, but I want to create newer and better opportunity for everyone. Remembering this event brings hope that learning from the past can help to better provide for the future. When I think of strong kids, I think of kids that despite whatever they are going through, or experiencing can learn, laugh, and have fun. Strong kids are important to our community because they are the future of our community. They need a place to go to experience new things in a healthy and safe environment.
I am the youngest of my family. My older sisters where 10 and 8 years older than me and out of the house. My mother was a single parent working two jobs. My elementary school had a Y program that I attended for a while. Unfortunately, when I was in 4th grade, they had to shut the program down. After that I had to start walking by myself to and from school rain, snow, or shine. Now that I'm older and I'm helping to raise my nieces and nephews, I want them to have a place to go afterschool, something to look forward too. Because my experience of the Y didn't end after the childcare did. I was able to join other Y programs throughout my childhood, the Briggs YMCA was the pool I learned to swim and teach my oldest niece to swim.
This experience might not be very cheerful, but I want to create newer and better opportunity for everyone. Remembering this event brings hope that learning from the past can help to better provide for the future. When I think of strong kids, I think of kids that despite whatever they are going through, or experiencing can learn, laugh, and have fun. Strong kids are important to our community because they are the future of our community. They need a place to go to experience new things in a healthy and safe environment.