shadowing MVP counselor Mark

MVP shadowing counselor Mark 

I shadowed counselor Mark of MVP throughout his daily experiences at the camp. From Mark I learned that MVP is a very well behaved camp, both campers and counselors. The counselors of MVP are extraordinary in what they do which includes taking on the responsibility of keeping the campers safe each day. Not only this, but the counselors also teach the campers Y core values such as caring and responsibility.

Counselors are given a great responsibility each day. Parents are counting on counselors to do their job and look after their children. It may not go through the counselors’ head each day that parents entrust them with their most prized possessions, but that is the reality. Parents’ treasures are left under Mark’s supervision daily and daily Mark takes on the responsibility. Sometimes someone from the YMCA staff removes a camper from the group, to see how long it takes for the counselors to find out. It doesn’t take more than a few minutes to realize. The counselors are really good with looking after their group. For every activity that they do, they count their campers in the beginning, middle, and end.

There are many different activities that the campers play each day but these are not always outside. Each day campers play inside with board games and other games in boxes. When they are done everyone helps to clean up the games whether they played with them or not. As well with lunch, the campers make a mess. The campers are made to clean up their mess because if they don’t, everyone is made to pick up five pieces of trash. From this, the campers learn to be responsible. If they don’t help clean up and put away the pieces back where they belong, the pieces could get lost and then the campers won’t ever be able to play with the game again. Also, if the campers leave their lunch waste behind, the room in which they eat could get too dirty for the campers to use anymore. Campers have learned at home that they cannot leave things lying around nor can they leave food around the house. Although away from home it’s easy for the campers to think they can get away with not cleaning up after themselves the campers are learning that they must be responsible everywhere they go. After everything is cleaned up, the counselors wait patiently for the campers to line up and stop talking before they head outside to play their main event.

The main event is a focused sport that the campers play every day. It’s the sport that is on the schedule. Sometimes the kids don’t want to play the sport that is planned, but they have to, because it’s what’s on the schedule. The counselors can’t change the schedule for one camper. The campers have to play whether they want to or not, not just because it’s on the schedule, but also because they can’t ruin the fun for everyone else. Through this the kids learn about caring. Sometimes the campers need talking to; the kids aren’t perfect, or always in a good mood, nor do they always understand. No camper is the same, but every child is treated the same. It doesn’t matter what their age or their gender, because they are still learning and Mark and the other counselors are there to teach them. The counselors are never mean to the children. The counselors do know, however, what to do if a camper is misbehaving. A short talk about why it is wrong, and maybe a few quick crunches, and the kids are on their way. It is important that the campers learn that sometimes they have to do things they don’t want to, because it is good for everyone. 

 In conclusion, Mark does an extraordinary job as a counselor. He is always on top of his group and making sure they are safe and together. It is a hard job being a counselor. Regardless, Mark is able to be a good counselor and also teach the kids at the same time. Every day the campers learn how to be responsible, even if it’s just from picking up trash, and also how to care, from participating when really they might not want to. The kids are learning these things that they will keep for life with the help of the Y’s amazing counselors.

 By Greg Motta