YMCA

TA

June - August 2018 • Long Beach, CA

What I liked

Working with the kids and having fun fieldtrips.

What I wish was different

I would've preferred having official days off.

Advice

Get to know the staff you're working with and dont be afraid to ask about further opportunities in the sector.

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Camp Counselor

July - August 2018 • Eastsound, WA

What I liked

I liked being able to work with young kids and make friends with them, as well as be a role model.

What I wish was different

The camp I worked at was streamlined and more suitable for kids who had never been away from home before. I'm looking to transition into a program where I can be a wilderness instructor for backpacking trips, because I enjoy both teaching about and being in the outdoors more.

Advice

This is a great job for high school graduates or college students, although wages are probably made with this demographic in mind. Either way, it's a low stress environment and a very fun place to work.

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Day Care Worker

June - August 2018 • Eau Claire, WI

What I liked

I enjoyed working with the kids everyday and having each day bring a new experience.

What I wish was different

I wish the organization was better and the management. I did not get the hours I was promised and I was under the impression that my position would be different.

Advice

I would say this is a good job to have to if you are going into a field that deals with kids because you really get to know them and better understand how and why they act certain ways. Also, you gain skills on how to deal with behavioral issues and talking to their parents as well.

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Camp Counselor

June - August 2018 • Yonkers, NY

What I liked

I loved that I was able to work with kids and was left to my own creative mind to keep the kids entertained and educated all summer long.

What I wish was different

I wish that I was able to take my kids to more places that regular summer camps aren’t able to.

Advice

Love every job you have no matter how small you think it is.

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Lifeguard

June - August 2018 • Tampa, FL

What I liked

Being able to work with kids through the YMCA’s summer programs.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Camp Councelor

May 2016 - August 2018 • Anna, TX

What I liked

Working With Kids

What I wish was different

Better benefits

Advice

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Camp Counselor

June 2017 - August 2018 • Woburn, MA

What I liked

I loved working with children from all different backgrounds and basically being able to play all day.

What I wish was different

I wish we had more resources, such as more arts and crafts and sports materials.

Advice

Working with children is a very fun and rewarding experience, but it is a challenging job.

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Counselor

June - August 2018 • Seattle, WA

What I liked

I liked being outside and working with kids and it paid well.

What I wish was different

I wish there was a better staff/camper ratio. Each counselor was responsible for up to 15 kids.

Advice

This job is exhausting, but rewarding.

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ymca youth swim instructor

May - August 2018 • San Francisco, CA

What I liked

I have been working here during the summer for years, and I always come back because love working with kids, the wonderful work enviroment the ymca creates, and the very fair wage they offer.

What I wish was different

I wish I could have gotten more training to get better at my job.

Advice

This job is amazing, and I would recoment it to any young adult who loves working with children.

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Youth Sports Referee

March - August 2018 • Ormond Beach, FL

What I liked

I enjoyed working with kids in an environment that promotes child growth. Since I am passionate about sports it made this experience even better. I felt like I learned a lot as a person by being responsible for many kids. It taught me how to think of creative activities to increase children engagement and learning.

What I wish was different

I wish that there was a more time for skill development. In both practices and games the children can learn many things besides the sport itself. I wish more time was taken by everyone for self-improvement. Instead, the focus of coaches and parents was strictly on winning. I believe it should have been more geared to becoming winners off the field or court.

Advice

Remember why you are doing it. No one becomes a youth sports referee/coach for the money. You do it to improve the lives of children and to share something you are passionate about. It is crucial to recall this in the trying moments when coaches and parents are upset. You must be able to take the brunt and move on because the kids need you to.

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Camp Counselor

May - September 2018 • Monticello, MN

What I liked

Working with children and being in the great outdoors all summer.

What I wish was different

Chosen a summer camp outside of Minnesota.

Advice

You have your whole life to work a desk job or work inside, choose a job where you get to experience something different.

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Youth Leader

May - August 2018 • Valparaíso, Valparaíso Region

What I liked

I loved interacting with the Chilean teenagers and forming relationships with people who had very different backgrounds. I also enjoyed practicing my Spanish abilities and being challenged every day.

What I wish was different

I wish I had taken advantage of the diverse classes offered at the YMCA and gotten more involved earlier in the experience.

Advice

I would tell future interns to go with no expectations and an open mind, and to get fully involved in the YMCA activities as early as possible.

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Summer Camp Leader

May - August 2018 • San Jose, CA

What I liked

Working with children in an environment that allowed them to be themselves and have fun was extremely rewarding. My fellow leaders and directors were always on top of everything when it came to ensuring the children were safe and having a great time. I really appreciated the structure of the working environment as it was consistent and lead to minimal stress.

What I wish was different

I wish that leaders had a little bit more say over what we do with our campers during the day.

Advice

I feel that this is a great first job for anybody looking to work with kids, because you get the support of other leaders while still maintaining freedom and the ability to working independently. I made wonderful memories with the campers and there were even times where it didn't feel like work. If you're considering a fulfilling summer job Y camp is the way to go.

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YMCA

May - September 2018 • Austin, TX

What I liked

I liked that I was able to work hands on with pre-teens between the ages 11-14. Working with these kids allowed me to be a kid again and gave me the opportunity to go outside of my comfort zone and try new things.

What I wish was different

I wish that I had joined the YMCA sooner since everyone was mainly a returning employee but they all made me feel very welcomed and apart of the YMCA family.

Advice

Don't be afraid to be a kid again!It will let you enjoy your time at the YMCA much more and you will find yourself waking up every morning wanting to go work with your campers and enjoy new activities!

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Camp Counselor

June - August 2018 • Manitowoc, WI

What I liked

I liked the opportunity to work with elementary aged students.

What I wish was different

I wish my supervisors would have been better communicators.

Advice

I dabbled with the elementary aged students a few times, and this is why I knew from the get go that I wanted to work with high school. So my advice would be to be open minded and still give opportunities a chance.

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