Making a memory that will last a lifetime does not cost a thing. Working in a not-for-profit has taught me to be creative and resourceful, to always recycle everything, and to build anything out of cardboard and duct tape. Many of my supply lists have been consolidated or even turned down in the past due to budget concerns. There is much emphasis on character development, financial assistance, and, of course, budgets. The YMCA, as many people know, is a not-for-profit organization whose motto emphasizes youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. I smile, I greet every camper and every parent with excitement, I high-five everyone I see each morning, I promise the parents that the staff will take good care of their child, I wear silly hats and crazy costumes, I sing as loudly as I can even though I can’t carry a tune, and I make sure that everyone in my presence feels special. No one will ever know if I’m in a bad mood, that my car is broken again, that I can’t afford new sneakers this summer, or that I don’t feel good. I leave everything at the door when I get to camp. I don’t care if the campers remember my name 10 years from now, but I do want them to remember the feeling they had when Color Wars broke out, the laughs they had when they performed with their friends at the talent show, and the chants they made up to cheer on their team in the Annual Cardboard Regatta. The memories we create are not from the “things” we do, but the people we do them with. Chris used this example to show how important relationships are in our lives. The majority of the participants in his training, including me, knew exactly who they were with. He then asked if they remembered who they watched the Super Bowl with. He asked a large group of adults if they remembered the final score of the Super Bowl this year. My dear friend, Chris Naspo, a physical-education teacher and anti-bullying training facilitator, made a wonderful point in his recent seminar. By declaring myself Spirit Leader, I have tried to incorporate all of the ideas that come with those key phrases. Throughout the years, terms like “relationship building,” “camper engagement,” and “staff buy-in” have been peppered into every training I have been to, whether facilitating it or simply present as a trainee. Spirit Leader is a name I made up recently because it explains best what I do. My favorite role, however, is Spirit Leader. I have worked as a counselor, arts and crafts specialist, nature specialist, unit leader, archery specialist, program director, and even camp director. The summer of 2017 was my 25th summer involved in summer day camp.
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