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"All of our campers from kindergarten to teenagers do this very uplifting song called "Something Inside So Strong." Kindergartners might not know what the lyrics mean but they know that it’s empowering. It just says, you can do whatever you want when you grow up. You’re not stuck in the predicament that society might have put you in."
Rommel “Cocoa Puff” Ritarita, Senior Program Director at McCrorey
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"My favorite camp story is when we took the kids to go hiking. I thought I was going to die. I thought it was the end. And all of a sudden, all of the kids turned around. And they said, “Come on, Miss Erica, you can do it!” And they stopped for me and encouraged me to come up the hill. And I survived."
Erica “The Officer” Collins, Assistant Coordinator at Steele Creek
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"My favorite word is joy. I just have a lot of joy in the work that God has given me. It’s been a real challenge to seek joy when I find myself in places that I don’t necessarily want to be, but I’ve been blessed with seeing the good in any situation God has given me."
Leslie “Dash” Pegano, Assistant Camp Director at Siskey |
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"I grew up in the YMCA as a kid. I went to camps and Afterschool and found it really kind of completed my childhood. So I wanted to continue working at camp. It's my thing."
Josh Stikelether, Lead Counselor at Lowe's |
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"My favorite thing about working with the kids at the Y is that in a way, I feel like I’m giving back things that I wanted as a child - just to have fun, to have somebody older than me to run around and just play."
Jordan “Peanut Butter Yogurt” Lowry, Counselor at Lincoln County |
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"Overnights are really neat at Eagle Rock. Everybody gets together and we do a campfire and we all spend the night. We’ve got 21 acres and we’re right in the middle of Charlotte, but you feel like you are hours and hours away. Really neat memories are made, especially for kids who may not get the experience of going to a full stay-away camp."
Cameron “Chuck” Ball, Counselor at Siskey |
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"Interacting with the kids is my favorite thing about working at camp. Seeing them every day and getting to play games with them keeps me active. The kids are fun to be around - and they keep me young."
Jeremy "Mop Top" Singleton, Camp Coordinator at Steele Creek |
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"The thing that I appreciate about the Y is that it’s so focused on family. And so really, really, family friendly. That’s one of the things that the Y focuses on for its members and I think that trickles down to the staff, too. And so it allows me to be the kind of parent that I want to be."
Rachel Kafsky, Program Director at Steele Creek |
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"My favorite camp story comes from the first talent show we ever did at day camp. The kids sang and danced - it was so wonderful. But the best part about it was when the parents came to me. They told me they didn't know they children had these talents. The parents were so excited to see that side of their children."
Brittania "Miss Beats" Borders, Afterschool Counselor at Johnston |
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"Growing up, I was obsessed with the Charlotte Knights and their mascot is Homer. My father would always call me Homer because my dream was to play for the Knights - not a major league team. That's why my camp name is Homer."
Michael "Homer" Grant, Counselor at Simmons |
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"I love working with kids because you always learn something new. I want to be the kind of teacher who teaches kids what to do outside of school. I want to explain to them how important it is for them to gain the characteristics of honesty, dedication and responsibility. But my dream job would be to stay with the YMCA and do day camp. Absolutely."
Frankerra Simpson, Site Leader at Lincoln County |
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"Lauren was one of my favorite campers! Every time I saw her she had the biggest smile on her face. She found a friend in me - not just a counselor, but a friend. I love connecting with the kids and making a difference."
Kathleen “Coleslaw” Allison,
Preschool Half-Day Camp Director at Harris
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"Some of the best experiences have been taking kids on adventure trips where we've gone whitewater rafting, caving and rock climbing. The kids get to experience things they haven't done before and overcome new challenges."
Derek "Hokey" White, Program Director at Lake Norman |
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"My dream job is to be a camp counselor all year. Seriously - I love it. Counselors literally get paid to play, to have fun, to laugh and to watch kids laugh. If I could make it a career, I would."
Melissa “Miss Rock Star” Ashwood,
Camp Counselor at Stratford Richardson
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