One of the most common reminders that’s been shared repeatedly in my line of work is that “it takes a village to raise a child.” This old African proverb sheds light on the thought that we all play a part in creating a safe and healthy environment for our children to learn, grow, and thrive.
Now, I’m getting up there in years, and I occasionally forget a few things that my wife quickly holds me accountable for, but I will never forget the village of adults in my early life who taught me, supported and encouraged me, and, when necessary, redirected me to more productive outcomes. These were people beyond my parents—they were teachers, clergy, the neighborhood milkman (I’m showing my age!), a basketball coach, and countless other mentors along the way.
At the Y, we’ve been preparing our YMCA staff village (don’t worry… I’m not about to jump into a Village People story here) for the most exciting and demanding 10 weeks of the year—summer camp. In anticipation of this, we’ve been working to prepare over 500 YMCA leaders for the critically important work of caring for our incoming class of campers. These leaders interact daily with our children as day camp counselors, swim instructors, and lifeguards. In many cases, this is the first job and the first opportunity to transition from being cared for by the village to becoming a village leader.
This week, we welcomed 2,200 campers into our Ys and other program sites. If we do our jobs right, they’ll make new friends, learn new skills, get a little dirty, and hopefully fall asleep in the car on the way home! But most importantly, our goal is that they come away from their camp experience with the knowledge that there is a village of caring adults to lift and encourage them through both the good and bad times.
So, here’s my ask of you…
Your days of being a camp counselor, basketball coach, or lifeguard may have long passed, but your place in the village is just as important today as it has ever been. Summertime provides our children with a wonderful break from their school routine, allowing them to explore, dream, and conquer new things. So, let’s all be that extra set of eyes to care for our youngest neighbors as they build the memories of a lifetime.
Until next time…
Kevin Bolding, President & CEO
YMCA of Central Florida
The Y. For a better us.®
First Friday messages offer a monthly peak behind the veil of leading through change from the Y’s President & CEO.