YMCA

Counselor

June - August 2021 • Cary, NC

What I liked

It's a really positive environment and you can directly see the positive impact you're making.

What I wish was different

I wish there was opportunity to work for longer hours.

Advice

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Summer camp counselor

June - August 2021 • New York City, NY

What I liked

I loved meeting the new children at the camp and making a lot of friends at the job. Everyone is so friendly.

What I wish was different

Nothing. I have no complaint about the job.

Advice

That this job is very meaningful. You see these children and realize that you truly make a mark in their lives.

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Youth and Family Programs Coordinator

August 2020 • Chesapeake, VA

What I liked

Working with children and being able to make a difference in their lives.

What I wish was different

More of a work life balance.

Advice

Train and research as much as possible about dealing with bad behaviors among children.

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Camp Counselor

May 2019 • Williamston, MI

What I liked

I love being able to work with the kids especially this summer. After the pandemic, the kids that came to our camp really needed a way to get back to learning and academics so that they could have a successful school year. We focused on creating activities for the kids that focused on STEAM and would teach them new skills while still being fun.

What I wish was different

Something I wish had been different was the lesson planning. The staff members all had to make lesson plans for each day, each week. While this was a great opportunity for me to practice as a aspiring future educator, it cause some problems as schedules overlapped due to them being made individually. I think that camp would have run smoother if we had a time to work with all the staff to figure out time slots for where groups would be at different times so that there wouldn’t be any overlapping.

Advice

It’s always important to come prepared for camp, from bandaids and bug spray to a list of different games to teach the kids if there’s down time. It’s also important to watch your mental and physical health, as we want to ensure we can come to camp and give the campers our 100%.

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Membership Representative

June 2021 • Chula Vista, CA

What I liked

Great working environment

What I wish was different

Hiring process can take a while

Advice

Make sure to get reliable references to fill out the survey

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Summer camp counselor

June - August 2021 • Ashland, OR

What I liked

Gaining experience working with kids in a group setting.

What I wish was different

The counselor to child ratio.

Advice

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Teacher

June - August 2021 • Mission Viejo, CA

What I liked

The pay was great, the kids were great, the location was great, and I got along with with my coworkers and boss. I really enjoyed this position

What I wish was different

Sometimes the schedule wasn’t prepared enough so we weren’t sure exactly what to teach, but the kids never minded extra time outside

Advice

Bring a big water bottle, sunscreen, and good hat. You’ll be outside lots during the hot part of the day and you want to stay protected. Also, bring good walking shoes and a packed lunch!

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Camp Counselor

June - August 2021 • Wyckoff, NJ

What I liked

Loved the people and the kids, as well as how organized the camp was

What I wish was different

More variety of activities

Advice

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Summer Youth Mentor

May - July 2021 • Asheville, NC

What I liked

Impacting the lives of children and working as a team

What I wish was different

Different hours

Advice

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Childcare Worker

May - August 2021 • Columbus, OH

What I liked

The flexibility

What I wish was different

Pay should have been more for the work I was doing.

Advice

If you cant handle being with children during their highs and lows this job is not for you.

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Camp Counselor

June - August 2021 • Penfield, NY

What I liked

The employee atmosphere and kids make the experience very fun.

What I wish was different

I wish i lived in the present work day more. Now in college I miss the kids.

Advice

Definitely at one point of your life work with kids. It is very mind opening and can help de-stress yourself from reality.

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Day Camp Counselor

June - August 2021 • Red Wing, MN

What I liked

I had a wonderful intern experience. I liked being able to get some experience working with kids because I never really had and I thought it would be a good experience. I also have plans to be a school guidance counselor so it was important to me to see if I would want to work with kids in the future. Between all the laughs, memories, and awesome people met, it was a very worthwhile experience.

What I wish was different

Advice

I would recommend that when you are looking for your internship that you really keep an open mind as well as stay patient. It can be a long journey to find your internship so stay calm and trust that you will find something that works for you!

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Lifeguard

June - August 2021 • East Hampton, NY

What I liked

Friendly staff

What I wish was different

more lifeguards

Advice

Keep a clear head, don't think about time

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Cousilor

June - August 2018 • Rochester, NH

What I liked

I loved working with the kids and the team was nice.

What I wish was different

It is a very outdoors day camp and I could have taken chage of more of the situations. Plus it was just a little bit disorganized.

Advice

You have to be willing to talk and make friends with the kids and you should expect a few problem kids and figure out how to handle them.

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Camp Counselor

June - August 2018 • Brookfield, WI

What I liked

Staff and interaction with children in a teaching enviroment

What I wish was different

more staff for lower children/counselor ratio. Higher pay

Advice

If you are considering a field in education this is a great start to introduce you to lesson planning and working with kids of all ages.

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Day camp leader

May - August 2018 • Rancho Murieta, CA

What I liked

I loved having a job that was hands-on with kids. We played group games and went on fun field trips, but my favorite part was the rest of the staff. My coworkers were all kind and understanding and overall fun to be around. It was a great group of teachers and a great group of kids.

What I wish was different

I wish the job extended to fill my whole summer. Camp ended 4 weeks before I cam back to USD. It was nice to have a break but I also wished I could have made more money.

Advice

Don't put fun summer plans over finding a job. Plan summer plans around the job.

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Manager of an outdoor pool

May 2017 - August 2018 • Leipsic, OH

What I liked

I liked making my own schedule. I also like how I was in charge to make different decisions that were made about the facility.

What I wish was different

I wish that some of my suggestions would have been taken into consideration earlier throughout this summer and not pushed off till the end of the summer.

Advice

As a manager not everyone is going to like you, you just have to deal with that and move on with your day.

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Youth Sports Instructor

April 2018 • Waterville, OH

What I liked

I liked how I was able to be a mentor for the kids I had for Camps, leagues and clinicals. The parents were engaging and it made it a lot more fun for the children. They were excited and anxious to learn.

What I wish was different

I wish I was paid more and sometimes wish I had more help with transferring equipment.

Advice

Kids really look up to people who are older than them, so they pay attention to everything you say or do. Must move accordingly.

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Program Intern

June - August 2018 • Silver Bay, NY

What I liked

The incredible community, sense of fun, beautiful landscape, and the intense personal growth it offered. I had a chance to be creative, independent, and to pursue my own initiatives in creating programming events and activities for both guests and employees.

What I wish was different

I wish I hadn't also been team leader of the rock wall and an RA. I would have liked to have more free time to go on adventures with friends and do more hiking. I chose to work a lot of overtime instead.

Advice

This is a great opportunity for people who love the outdoors and want a summer experience which goes far beyond a job. It is an opportunity to live in a dorm at a YMCA family retreat and conference center in the Adirondacks. Apply for the several scholarships available to college age employees and make use the extensive employee alumni network.

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