Category: Youth Development

More than a Job: Emma’s Story

Posted on Updated on by Kate Haslar

Emma has always loved working with kids, going back to babysitting when she was younger. During a YMCA tour the Youth Development Director, Keri Rush, asked her to join the summer day camp staff, but she was already committed to another job. The next summer, she returned home and realized she didn’t want to return to her previous job. Recalling Keri’s offer to join the summer day camp, she decided to apply and began her journey with the YMCA. Despite her background in Cinema and Television Arts, Emma discovered her true calling working in youth development.

In her role, Emma finds joy in inspiring and helping younger generations grow. It excites her to “see the kids I have worked with over the years grow and become confident in themselves”. She enjoys making an impact by building relationships with kids and parents, as well as creating enriching environments in her programs. Creating fun memories with the kids has kept families coming back to the program year after year.

At the YMCA, Emma found more than a job; she found a supportive community that helps each other grow personally and professionally. She loves that the Youth Development team feels like one big family. Pushing her out of her comfort zone, Emma has grown personally, gaining confidence and a voice. Professionally, she has been able to grow and move into other roles smoothly thanks to support and guidance from her team.

Working in Youth Development is a great experience and Emma highly recommends it for those who love to help, support, and grow curious little minds. “You will create not only memories that last a lifetime when you work with kids, but you will also grow in so many aspects of your life”.

“You will create not only memories that last a lifetime when you work with kids, but you will also grow in so many aspects of your life”.

If you’re passionate about making a difference, consider applying to join our Youth Development team today and start your own rewarding journey at the YMCA.

Apply Now

Learning and Growing in Youth Development: Alyssa’s Story

Posted on by Kate Haslar

At the YMCA, everyone calls Alyssa by her camp name, “Flower”. After graduating from Arrowhead High School, Alyssa went out of state for college, earning her B.A. in Psychology with minors in English and Leadership Studies. Thinking she needed an advanced degree to work with children, she took a corporate recruiting job that turned out to not be a good fit. So she quit the job, moved back to Wisconsin, and began applying for jobs where she could learn and grow with children.

When a former coworker posted that the YMCA was hiring, she applied and was hired as seasonal staff. She immediately fell in love with the work and by the end of the summer, she was hired as a full-time School Year Lead at a school. Now, just a year later, she is training and thriving as a summer camp supervisor.

Reflecting on the impact of her job, she often thinks of the phrase “raising a child takes a village.” She says “I love being a part of that village; It’s a team of people coming together to make someone’s life great.” Alyssa enjoys creating memorable learning experiences for the kids. One of her favorite memories was during a science experiment, where a baking soda volcano in a bottle with a balloon exploded, covering her in vinegar. She and the students laughed for hours afterward and at that moment Alyssa felt that she “showed them it’s okay to laugh at yourself and your failures”.

Her colleagues have pushed her to grow in unexpected ways. She’s learned to give more grace and see the value and impact of each individual. She feels grateful to be part of a diverse team that challenges her to think critically and values her contributions. “I studied servant leadership in school, and I love that my team practices it here,” she says.

Alyssa tells people that the YMCA is a great place to work where people from various backgrounds come together with a shared heart for service. She looks forward to continuing to learn and grow at the YMCA.

“I love being a part of that village; It’s a team of people coming together to make someone’s life great.”

If you’re passionate about making a difference and eager to be part of a supportive, service-driven community, consider joining the Youth Development Staff at the YMCA. Be a part of the village that helps shape the future, one child at a time.

We’d love to hear your Y story

Apply Now

Opportunities to Grow: The Dowd’s Story

Posted on Updated on by Kate Haslar

John and his wife Greta, both born and raised in Oconomowoc, are parents to three children: Alan (10), and twins Nolan and Clara (8).  John’s earliest childhood memories of the YMCA were playing sports and going swimming at the old facility on Silver Lake Street.  He says, “I have great memories of my time at the YMCA as a child.  Now as an adult and raising our children in Oconomowoc, it was only natural for us to join the YMCA and participate in the many wonderful programs they offer families!”

Over the last decade, John and Greta have been very involved in their kids’ activities at the Y.  The children began with swimming lessons at an early age, progressed to getting involved in many youth sports, and eventually ventured into rock climbing.  John and Greta share, “Participating in youth sports programs helps our children develop foundational, physical and social skills as well as learn teamwork.  They each have the opportunity to grow as individuals and explore their areas of interest in a caring environment.”  Thanks to the patience and encouragement of the rock climbing staff, they have seen their kids believe they can accomplish a difficult task over time.

The Y has also provided John with opportunities to volunteer as a coach.  Expressing his strong belief in serving others, John shares, “Coaching has been an ideal way to pay it forward to my hometown.”  At every practice and at every game, John strives to develop a strong team that supports one another, listens to each other, and has fun playing the game together.  He has enjoyed seeing the children develop as players and teammates over time.  John reflects on his youth sports days as “Positive experiences and some of my favorite childhood memories.  I hope the same for the children I’ve had the privilege to coach.”

John and Greta appreciate that through the Y, “All children are encouraged to keep trying, support one another, and know they belong in a caring, respectful community.”

“All children are encouraged to keep trying, support one another, and know they belong in a caring, respectful community.”

We’d love to hear your Y story!

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Five Ways to Celebrate Summer Learning with the Y!

Posted on Updated on by Katie Anderson

With the recent celebration of National Summer Learning Week, our YMCA is excited to share five ways you can keep your family learning all summer long! 

  1. Fostering Friendships
    The pandemic’s impact on youth has been startling, and the U.S. Surgeon General has raised a flag on young people’s mental health. The science of learning and development tells us that relationships are key for addressing trauma and helping kids thrive. Forging and fostering friendships over the summer can lead to limitless opportunities and cherished memories for young people.
  2. Love of Literacy & Learning
    Reading is fun! It’s also critical to a child’s success in school, and in life. Empower children to immerse themselves in a literary adventure. It can take place anywhere, under a tree, in a makeshift tent or in a child’s favorite nook. Let imaginations run wild with amazing stories this summer.
  3. Wonders of Wellness
    Healthy bodies and healthy minds go hand-in-hand when it comes to learning. Summer is the perfect time to get children on their feet, moving and eating healthy. Studies have found that elements of wellness, such as hope and gratitude, improve academic performance!
  4. Summer Skill-Building
    Ready, Set, Succeed! Support a student in charting their course for success during and beyond high school. A summer job, internship, mentorship or plan to pursue higher education, sets our future leaders on a path to change the world.
  5. Amazing Arts
    Research confirms that the arts prepare students for school, life, and the workplace. With the right plan, summer can be the perfect canvas for creativity and self-expression through music, literature, dance, theater, visual arts and more. Spark the imagination this summer to unlock the power of amazing arts.

Summer Water Safety Tips

Posted on Updated on by Katie Anderson

The water is a great place for family fun when everyone knows the rules to stay safe. The Y introduced the country to group swim lessons over 110 years ago in 1909. Now, as one of the largest community-based organizations in the country, we teach more than 2,000 children invaluable water safety and swimming skills each year.

Water Safety Tips for Parents and Guardians:

  • Make sure kids know to always ask permission before going into or near water.
  • Designate a responsible adult to be a Water Watcher and maintain constant visual contact with all children playing in or near the water.
  • Water Watchers: make sure you’re not distracted by your phone, a book or other tasks.
  • Don’t rely on water toys to protect weak swimmers. Coast Guard-approved life jackets are the only water safety devices certified to protect children.
  • Teach children to avoid drains in the pool: drains can cause them to get trapped under the water.
  • Don’t let kids play breath-holding games. They can easily lose consciousness.

In addition to learning lifesaving water safety skills, you and your children can increase your physical activity by swimming. It also motivates children to strive for self-improvement, teaches goal orientation and cultivates a positive mental attitude and high self-esteem. Swimming teaches everyone how to work well with teammates and coaches, and how to cope with winning and losing!

Ensuring All Kids Have Their Best Start

Posted on Updated on by Katie Anderson

YMCA’s Sunshine School

Together, the Oconomowoc Area School District and the Y’s Sunshine School have teamed up to ensure all children have their best start for kindergarten.

The Y has worked alongside the school district for many years, but in 2021, an exclusive formal contract was established that integrates the expertise of an Early Learning Strategist into the Y’s Sunshine School classroom. This program is available to young students who demonstrate delay during a preschool screening offered by the school district.

YMCA lead teacher, Carrie Hollmann, and the Oconomowoc District’s Early Learning Strategist, Alyssa Coutts, make an amazing pair as they collaborate on lesson plans that best meet the needs of all the children in the classroom.

Young learners who have been referred by the school district benefit from a variety of therapies such as speech, OT and PT, in accordance with their Individual Education Plan (IEP), which are rotated into the Y’s Sunshine School classroom schedule. These services are funded by state and local resources with no additional cost to the family.

In Sunshine School, one of the goals is to provide opportunities for all young students to participate in every activity, whatever their ability. The partnership with OASD solidifies these goals, meeting the students where they are at, ensuring that all can participate, and giving all students a strong start as they enter school.