YMCA Summer Day Camp not only offers an amazing learning experience for the campers visiting our seven camp locations, it also opens up leadership opportunities for local high school students through our Summer Camp Volunteer Program. By assisting camp staff with day-to-day activities, summer camp volunteers learn important life skills and help enrich the quality of our camp offerings.
Among this year’s summer day camp volunteer contingent is Joliet Central student Kendall Love. Kendall is no stranger to the Y, as she previously participated in a wide range of YMCA programs herself including Kid Zone, Teen REACH, and of course, summer day camp. This summer, Kendall has had the opportunity to serve as a volunteer at our Salvation Army camp location. You can learn more about Kendall in the Q&A below.
Q: Why did you choose to volunteer with summer day camp this year?
The reason I wanted to volunteer was because I really like kids and I want to be a school teacher. I knew the YMCA helps kids and I knew it could help me do what I want to do in the future.
Q: What do you enjoy most about volunteering at the Y?
I love playing games with the kids. Especially sharks and minnows. I also love helping organize the supplies and then helping the kids figure out what they want to do.
Q: What is something you have learned from this experience?
You have to take your time and be down to earth in order to get kids to understand why you are asking them to do something. You have to try and put yourself in their shoes. Some of the kids need a little more help than others and you need to understand that. Whether we’re working on a craft, or explaining the directions on something that might be confusing, you can step into their shoes a little more and help them.
Q: What does the Y mean to you?
I feel like the Y has always been there for the special times in my life. I’ve been going to the Y since I was little, and I’ve made so many friends here. I grew up here and now I really enjoy volunteering here. A lot of staff I would call my family now. It’s created a lot of special memories.
We are so thankful for the volunteer efforts of students like Kendall and we know it has been another amazing summer day camp season at the Y.
