As a Valley of the Sun YMCA day camp counselor, I like to write my campers letters at the beginning and end of each summer.
It’s a great way to welcome them to the program and close out the summer, reflecting on the fun times we’ve had at day camp. Because of the pandemic, last summer was one I’ll never forget. Looking forward to an even better summer of day camp this year. Here’s the letter I’m sending out to my new campers this year…
Dear Camper,
My name is Kain, and I’ll be your camp counselor at the Ahwatukee Foothills Family YMCA this summer! I’m so excited to meet you. I hope you are as excited about this summer as I am… we are going to have so much fun!
Each week at a day camp this summer will be different, so there will always be something to look forward to! From sports to superheroes, each week is jam-packed with activities that focus on a theme. Which week are you most excited about? I can’t wait for Wet ‘N Wild Water Games – I love to swim, and the water balloon toss is one of my favorite outdoor activities! Last summer my favorite event was from Carnival week – we had a carnival and watched my favorite movie, The Greatest Showman! It was fun dressing up for carnival day.
If you haven’t been to camp before, you may be a little nervous about what to expect. It’s my job to make sure you feel safe and have fun. At the Y, we make sure our staff and campers follow the Y’s core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. In fact, we give out ribbons for campers who go above and beyond – their names get added to our summer spirit rope at our opening ceremony each week. I’m sure you’ll do your best while you’re at camp and you’ll get a ribbon, too!
I went to day camp in the summers as a kid, too. Some of my favorite childhood memories are from day camp! I still remember my counselors’ names and talk to some of my camp friends. Looking forward to the fun memories we make this summer. We can’t wait to see you at the Y!
Your camp counselor,
Kain
For more information on summer day camp, click here.