YMCA Summer Job Cheat Sheet

5 qualities we look for in students when hiring for summer programs

If you’re a student looking for a summer job, chances are you’ve heard that working at the YMCA can be a pretty great deal—after all, we’ve been named one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People eight years running. Want to work with our YMCA Summer Day Camps or the YMCA Summer Work Student Exchange Program as a counselor or local coordinator? We’re on the lookout for you, especially if you’ve got the following 5 qualities beyond your resume: 

1)      Be a great communicator.  Staff need to be able to communicate effectively with their fellow counselors, their supervisors, their campers/participants, AND their families!  Communication and teamwork are the key to a successful staff team.

2)      Be a problem solver. As structured and organized as these programs are, things can (and will) change at the drop of a hat. We look for people that can think on their feet, are flexible and can handle anything that comes their way!

3)     Be a lifelong learner. Whether you’re 17 or 30, if you’re  working at YMCA Day Camp or YMCA Summer Work Student Exchange programs, there will be opportunities to learn and expand your knowledge and skills! We look for people that have an “I want to learn more” attitude and are open and committed to new experiences; whether it be learning new programming activities or simply being open to learn more about yourself from the campers that you met.  

4)     Be passionate and committed: Both YMCA Day Camp and Summer Work Student Exchange programs are high energy work environments. Every day brings new and exciting challenges. We look for staff that are committed to the development of children and youth. Parents entrust their their children to us each day in the summer, so it’s very important that we hire staff that recognize the responsibility and influence their role has on these young minds. Our YMCA Staff put all their energy into ensuring our campers have safe, fun and memorable experiences.

5) Be engaged in your community. Whether at a camp location right here in the GTA or in a tiny town in Newfoundland, the one thing YMCA Day Camp staff and Summer work Student Exchange Local Coordinators have in common is that they are connected to their communities and want to contribute to making them healthy active places to grow up. Both of these summer job opportunities allow you  to lead and engage in new activities to expose others to great experiences--right in their own backyard.

Ready to apply? Here’s how to do it: 

YMCA Summer Day Camps: Send your resume, cover letter and an application form to daycampjobs@ymcagta.org.

Summer Work Student Exchange: Head over to summer-work.com, click “Apply”, then “Coordinators, and follow the instructions.

YMCA Summer Day Camp Staff are all smiles.