Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Hockomock Area YMCA Counselors Share Impact Summer Camp Has On Participants

Across the 15 communities the Hockomock Area YMCA serves, there are many opportunities for young people to work and contribute to the community. The Y summer camps are one such opportunity. In fact, across the five summer camps of Bellingham, Foxboro, Franklin, Mansfield, and North Attleboro, the Y employed 301 camp counselors this year – many of whom are former campers themselves. These valuable members of the Y community are vital to the success of each of the 1,300+ campers that participate in the Hockomock Area YMCA camps each day.


Sam Taggert, a counselor at Camp Elmwood
Sam Taggert, a counselor at Camp Elmwood

Sam Taggert, a counselor at Camp Elmwood at the North Attleboro Y since the age of 16, cites her own experiences as a former camper and the importance of camp to the kids as her reasons for becoming a Camp Elmwood counselor.

“I knew I wanted to have this job because I looked up to my counselors so much,” said Taggert. “Camp’s changed my life. It made me realize how important it is, how important this job is to the kids, to everybody. Kids come here to have a good time, to not worry about what’s going on at home, and it’s so important to me to give them a fun opportunity to spend the day having fun and playing outside.”
Carlos Jeri, a counselor at the Invensys Foxboro Y’s Camp Wapawca
Carlos Jeri, a counselor at the
Invensys Foxboro Y’s Camp Wapawca

Carlos Jeri, a counselor at the Invensys Foxboro Y’s Camp Wapawca, talks of a personal connection with one of the campers to whom camp served as a safe haven.

“We have campers who come in from orphanages or homes where they really don’t have parents,” said Jeri. “There was one camper who was having a particularly rough time, and he and I started talking and we formed a connection. He started telling me about his life and how camp was his escape from everything. We started to create a connection and I found out how much of an actual impact we made.”

Throughout their time at camp, each counselor wears a t-shirt which bears the words “role model.” Colin Maximiuk, a counselor at Camp Wiggi at the Bernon Family Y, considers what the term means to him.


Colin Maximiuk, a counselor at Camp Wiggi at the Bernon Family Y
Colin Maximiuk, a counselor at
Camp Wiggi at the Bernon Family Y

“The idea of a role model to me means that I’m this figure that kids look up to,” said Maximiuk. “So throughout every day I’m acting the best that I can, so that the kids can learn to not only be as good as me, but better than me.”

Joe Milosh, a counselor and former camper of the North Attleboro Y’s Camp Elmwood, speaks on what he believes to be the importance of imparting the YMCA’s values to campers.

“It means a lot about how you’ll be when you grow up, and the type of person you want to be,” said Milosh. “I want to make sure that all the children are learning how to carry themselves in a respectful, kind way. And I think that’s what the core values do – they show children a way to act, and set guidelines for how you should be when you grow up.”
Joe Milosh, a counselor and former camper of the North Attleboro Y’s Camp Elmwood
Joe Milosh, a counselor and former camper
of the North Attleboro Y’s Camp Elmwood

Hundreds of young people take part in the camp programs every summer, and whether they are already counselors or are working to become counselors, they contribute greatly to the Y. Through the Counselor-in-Training program, the Leader-in-Training program, and the Cadet program, there are many ways to join the Hockomock Area YMCA camps and forever positively influence the lives of kids in our communities.

For more camp information, visit www.hockymca.org/camp/


About Hockomock Area YMCA:

Where Cause Meets Community. At the Hockomock Area YMCA, strengthening community is our cause. The Hockomock Area YMCA is an organization of men, women, and children sharing a commitment to nurture the potential of kids, promote healthy living, and foster a sense of social responsibility. 
Our YMCA is committed to partnering and collaborating with others to create and deliver lasting personal and social change in the 15 communities we are privileged to serve. The Hockomock Area YMCA is a not-for-profit charitable cause-driven organization with facilities in North Attleboro, Foxboro, Franklin, and Mansfield. For more information visit hockymca.org.

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