As the holiday season approaches, and the year comes up to a close, our family takes time to take an inventory of the past.
Reminiscing back to the third-grade (when my now high schooler) started summer camp for the first time at the Youth Center, he would come home to tell me of his days filled with games, art projects, field trips, both educational and the fun ones, swimming, ethnic food, dance, art and storytelling, and carnivals.
Wow, what an array of things to do compared to the other camps David had previously attended. By his own admission, he called one camp “Why Must Children Attend.”
Every summer until the 6th-grade, David would anxiously wait for school to end and summer to begin so he can go to camp and see his friends and the staff members he liked so much.
Through these early camp experiences, my son learned how to really get along with others, both peers and adults, how to have a high regard and to accept and value other cultures which differ from his.
He also learned to be self sufficient and partly independent in experiencing field trips with his friends and the staff members. I, for one didn’t worry for one second, knowing that my child was looked after by competent and caring staff members. I was also very pleased because the ratio of staff to kids is very high.
When sixth-grade came around, David made the transition from private school to Oak Middle School and he then participated every day in the services the Youth Center offered. I again, had no worries because I knew he would be okay after school in an environment that provided an atmosphere filled with friends, homework help, games, snacks, and computers.
When sixth-grade was completed, and my son decided to apply to volunteer as a junior camp counselor of his beloved summer camp. Well, that was an even greater summer! He designed the campers’ T-shirt and was so proud of his design and accomplishments. That summer, my son learned the value of patience with the little kids, and in fact many times when I came to pick him up, I would find a young one on his back getting a piggy back ride, he would get invites to 6 year old birthday parties. What a great thing for self esteem!
Holidays have come and gone with the Youth Center’s Christmas tree lot again and again volunteering to help with customers is the thing to do—along with my son, there are many volunteers! This experience helps the kids learn customer service, dealing with and accommodating the public, the easy sales and the more difficult. It teaches perseverance and the early bird get the worm philosophy in life, along with great lessons in how to become a business person.
The summer between eighth-grade and high school finds him again a junior camp counselor. He missed the experience the summer before and looked forward to spending it at the Youth Center with the kids and staff. It was every bit as much the fun times that he has always had with the Youth Center except this time he helped out on field trips. This experience taught him how to be a responsible member of society looking out for others.
David continues to come to The Youth Center pretty much every day also during high school. Now it is more like a socializing with friend’s type of thing, but it is something he looks forward to at the end of the day. This promotes relaxing and enjoying what is in the moment which many of us forget to do.
Looking forward, my son and the Youth Center will never part ways. It will always be there for him, and he will always be there for it. All in all, The Youth Center experience has taught my son valuable life lessons which he will never forget and will prepare him to become a future leader of our community.
