Olivia Morton had just stepped off Turtle Trail, where she’d wound up a mega-strand of purple yarn that was used in an “imagination hike” after 2- and 3-year-old campers at Red Oak’s Imagination Station camp listened to the tale of Harold and the Purple Crayon.
“I think about belonging a lot,” said Olivia, 15. “If I can facilitate someone feeling like they belong, then I’ve accomplished one of my goals.”
Later that afternoon, Natalie Dee and Lynn Cook helped manage control of the pick-up zone at Blackberry Farm, where their Camp By the Lake and Camp Blackberry kiddos (still oozing with energy) just wrapped up a “Field Trip Day” across the street at Splash Country Water Park.
“I’m going to be a middle school teacher, so this gives me great experience with mentoring kids,” says Natalie, 19. “We try to create a really fun environment – that’s the number one goal.”
The three teens represent a unique – and growing – group at the Fox Valley Park District. Like more than a dozen current seasonal employees, they’re campers-turned-counselors, after spending large chunks of their childhood summers at various District-run camps and participating in seasonal activities.
“When I was a little kid at camp, I always thought it would be so cool to be a counselor,” said Lynn, 16. “I wanted to be the one the little kids looked up to one day.”
Counselors set the tone
The FVPD employed 349 counselors across our suite of 2024 summer camp programming, which is held at Blackberry, Red Oak, Vaughan Athletic Center, Prisco and Eola community centers, Splash Country and Phillips Park Family Aquatic Center. Staff at each facility relies on quality counselors to generate positive experiences for the 4,436 enrolled in dozens of camps Districtwide.
At Red Oak, where adventures through the woods are welcomed and encouraged, staff provides more leeway – more opportunities to explore – to seasoned campers who’ve shown responsibility and perhaps have indicated interest in becoming a counselor.
“They’ve learned the trails and know what they should and shouldn’t be doing, so we allow a certain amount of freedom,” Christy Graser, the District’s environmental education supervisor, said of veteran campers. “That bit of autonomy gives them a different insight on how to use the area – and then they use those skills when they transition to counselor.”
Several of Graser’s aspiring counselors through the years have received worker’s permits to begin employment at age 15.
“Age is but a number, right?” Graser said. “You show me maturity and ability and I’ll give you the opportunity to learn new skills.”
Program offered for counselors-to-be
The FVPD offers a Counselor In Training (or CIT) program as part of the Summer Blast Camp lineup. Components of CIT may vary a bit by facility, but the general curriculum involves learning the necessary skills to become a future counselor. Geared toward 14- and 15-year-olds, CITs participate in weekly leadership instruction, including emphasis on team-building, responsibility, communication, problem-solving, and safety.
“To watch these kids grow up, mature and become counselors is one of the most rewarding things for me,” says Laureen Baumgartner, recreation supervisor who heads up summer camps at Blackberry. “You can tell early on who might have counselor ambitions – they’re focused on all the little things going on at camp and how it works. They’re the ones who ask questions and offer to help: ‘Hey, can I go get more supplies, I know where the camp room is!’”
Said Lynn Cook, the 16-year-old CIT grad – and happy camper for eight years prior – who just finished her first summer of counseling at Blackberry: “The experience is everything I hoped it would be. The counselors are all good friends, and the kids are super sweet.”
The Fox Valley Park District appreciates the leadership of all of our summer camp counselors. Their dedication and responsibility resulted in a memory-filled summer of 2024! If you’re interested in becoming a camp counselor, stay tuned for more hiring announcements and opportunities in the spring.
