The Lifelong Value of Working as a Summer Camp Counselor at YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh
Pittsburghers who attended summer camps growing up know that there’s really nothing else like them. At the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh’s camps, there are endless opportunities to become friends with people from many diverse backgrounds, spend time swimming, crafting and adventuring outdoors, share campfire stories and learn new skills and hobbies.
Becoming a YMCA camp counselor comes with another level of benefits, which many counselors carry with them for the rest of their lives.
Working as a counselor gives teenagers and young adults the opportunity to give back to the community that raised them by mentoring campers, honing leadership skills and being a part of something larger than themselves.
For more than 90 years, parents have been sending their children to YMCA Camp Kon-O-Kwee (KOK) Spencer, where they carry on family traditions, fill their summers with special memories, and find their home away from home – the place they can’t wait to return to year after year.
Many former KOK counselors continue as active members of the KOK community by becoming camp board members and staying in touch with fellow staff, campers and families. Some even credit their time at KOK with helping them nurture their personal and professional skills, discover what career paths, and how they can make a difference in others’ lives.
Lizzie Rubenstein is a former counselor and advisory board member and branch representative for KOK. She feels strongly that her experience at KOK is unlike that in any other role or work environment.
“I think the experiences you get out of being a staff member far outweigh anything you can get in any other job experience,” she says. “What you take away from that experience are things that you will carry with you for the rest of your life, whether that’s the memories you make for yourself, or the friendships you make.”
After returning as a KOK camper for many years, and then a counselor, Lizzie decided to pursue a career related to environmental studies, and she wrote about camp for her college essay, as well as her personal statement for law school. The fulfillment she feels today in practicing environmental law stems from her time as a counselor working with kids and encouraging them to explore and spend time outside.
Catrina Vargo, another former counselor and current KOK board member for five years now, says going to camp is one of her favorite childhood memories, and it gave her a community in which she could grow into herself and develop leadership skills and confidence.
“Being a camp counselor creates a unique experience to step outside of yourself and put others first, and step into that caretaker role. You realize that the experiences of the individuals there, and their growth, falls on how good of an experience you can provide.”
Lizzie and Catrina’s stories are just two examples, among hundreds, that demonstrate the lifelong value of working as a YMCA camp counselor, and the rewards for young people to find belonging in an environment where they can learn from, mentor and inspire others.
If your child or someone you know is looking for a rewarding, potentially life-changing job this summer, where they can make lasting friendships and gain transferable skills, please encourage them to read more about YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh’s camps on our site and apply to be a counselor for the 2024 summer camp season!