Healthy Kids • YMCA Camps and Outdoor Education
YMCA camp staff get ready for the summer
19 May 2016 - by Elizabeth Burrows
With 46 days left until the first day of camp, the Camp Directors of our 43 YMCA Summer Day Camps are hard at work preparing for a busy summer ahead. They have spent the past few months interviewing and selecting the best candidates available to join our team of more than 800 staff across Greater Toronto. YMCA Day Camp staff are selected for their teamwork and leadership skills, enthusiasm, experience and commitment to working with children.
In addition to hiring their teams, over the past few months each Director has participated in 18+ hours of training and meetings. However, the most exciting part of their training is about to kick off June 6, when 180+ senior camp staff meet at YMCA Camp Pine Crest for a week of team building, leadership development, and fun activities that will prepare them to lead their counselling staff through four full-days of pre-camp training the week before our campers arrive.
In addition to our pre-camp training, many of our specialty staff will participate in an additional training that pertains to their individual roles, such as integration, leadership, or aquatics training. On average, all of our counselors, both new and returning, participate in 40 hours of training while senior staff participate in more than 70 hours of training.
By starting training with senior staff, our full-time day camp management team is able to model what high quality training sessions look like, and teach the senior staff the key information important to their roles as supervisors of their camp staff teams. In addition to the training sessions around emergency procedures, coaching, program planning and other important topics staff have the opportunity to participate in a ton of new activities and games to take back to their camps.
Every day of training is started with an opening circle, which includes songs and games to boost energy and excitement. Everyone is able to take part in traditional camp activities through the week, all leading to the Day Camp Games, which close out the week with some fun competition. By participating in this week, senior staff get the full picture of what a week at camp should look like, which they can transfer forward to their staff team during their pre-camp training, and of course to all of their campers throughout the summer.
We believe bringing our senior staff together sets the tone for an exciting summer, builds up our camp culture and ensures that every YMCA Day Camp across the GTA is consistent in delivering the same high quality day camp programming. This training ensures every member of staff is prepared with the tools needed to succeed in their roles this summer, so that your camper has the best summer ever.
Most importantly it creates a positive team dynamic from the top down, meaning every camper is able to benefit from counsellors who are engaged, enthusiastic, and ready to keep all campers safe and happy through their time at camp.
For more information about all the 43 YMCA Summer Day Camps across Greater Toronto, visit our website and build a custom e-guide.
In addition to hiring their teams, over the past few months each Director has participated in 18+ hours of training and meetings. However, the most exciting part of their training is about to kick off June 6, when 180+ senior camp staff meet at YMCA Camp Pine Crest for a week of team building, leadership development, and fun activities that will prepare them to lead their counselling staff through four full-days of pre-camp training the week before our campers arrive.
In addition to our pre-camp training, many of our specialty staff will participate in an additional training that pertains to their individual roles, such as integration, leadership, or aquatics training. On average, all of our counselors, both new and returning, participate in 40 hours of training while senior staff participate in more than 70 hours of training.
By starting training with senior staff, our full-time day camp management team is able to model what high quality training sessions look like, and teach the senior staff the key information important to their roles as supervisors of their camp staff teams. In addition to the training sessions around emergency procedures, coaching, program planning and other important topics staff have the opportunity to participate in a ton of new activities and games to take back to their camps.
Every day of training is started with an opening circle, which includes songs and games to boost energy and excitement. Everyone is able to take part in traditional camp activities through the week, all leading to the Day Camp Games, which close out the week with some fun competition. By participating in this week, senior staff get the full picture of what a week at camp should look like, which they can transfer forward to their staff team during their pre-camp training, and of course to all of their campers throughout the summer.
We believe bringing our senior staff together sets the tone for an exciting summer, builds up our camp culture and ensures that every YMCA Day Camp across the GTA is consistent in delivering the same high quality day camp programming. This training ensures every member of staff is prepared with the tools needed to succeed in their roles this summer, so that your camper has the best summer ever.
Most importantly it creates a positive team dynamic from the top down, meaning every camper is able to benefit from counsellors who are engaged, enthusiastic, and ready to keep all campers safe and happy through their time at camp.
For more information about all the 43 YMCA Summer Day Camps across Greater Toronto, visit our website and build a custom e-guide.
