FROM THE TOP
WEEK ONE-CHILD WATCH
During the first week of my internship I was assigned to child watch. I was able to help out with kids in the morning and the afternoon. While in child watch I played with the kids and also cleaned up after them too. Around noon we would stop and feed the kids their lunches. Once the kids were done with their food they could resume playing or engage in other activities.
WEEK TWO-SPORTS CAMP
I was switched into the sports camp at the beginning of the second weekend. The supervisor moved me because I was more beneficial to the sports camp seeing that I am involved in a college sport.
I happened to get moved to the sports camp during baseball week. On my first day with the sports camp I walked with the counselors and the kids to near bye park so they could play baseball. The first duty I was assigned was the line leader. It may not seem like a huge role, but for a large group of kids walking near a busy street it was very important. However, once we arrived at the park I was then in charge of taking pictures as the kids played a game.
When we returned to the Y it was the sports camp swim time. During their swim time I was in charge of giving the kids who past the deep end test green wristbands. I was also they eye for the kids who did not swim and had to sit out, so I had to keep an eye on them at all times.
I happened to get moved to the sports camp during baseball week. On my first day with the sports camp I walked with the counselors and the kids to near bye park so they could play baseball. The first duty I was assigned was the line leader. It may not seem like a huge role, but for a large group of kids walking near a busy street it was very important. However, once we arrived at the park I was then in charge of taking pictures as the kids played a game.
When we returned to the Y it was the sports camp swim time. During their swim time I was in charge of giving the kids who past the deep end test green wristbands. I was also they eye for the kids who did not swim and had to sit out, so I had to keep an eye on them at all times.
WEEK THREE
In the start of my second week in the sports camp I taught the kids new stretches and them in a group stretch and warm up. I was told to take charge of the stretching and warm up since I am an track athlete and that is a main part of my workout at all times. After stretching and warming up I then lead the kids a in a mile around the 200 meter track upstairs in the facility. This allowed me to show the kids what I learned and what the proper steps were for beginning a workout.
During this week I also had the chance to get familiar with where the food was kept and how lunch was ran. I had to help the supervisor of the camp get box lunches and milk for the kids when it was time for them to eat lunch. Once we got all the food together we served the kids their lunches and I had to mark off a number every time a lunch was handed out so they would know the exact number. While marking off the lunches I learned that every time a number was marked it had to look exactly the same or it couldn't be counted by the state.
During this week I also had the chance to get familiar with where the food was kept and how lunch was ran. I had to help the supervisor of the camp get box lunches and milk for the kids when it was time for them to eat lunch. Once we got all the food together we served the kids their lunches and I had to mark off a number every time a lunch was handed out so they would know the exact number. While marking off the lunches I learned that every time a number was marked it had to look exactly the same or it couldn't be counted by the state.
WEEK FOUR
One of the new activities for this week was putting on a car wash with and for the kids. I was in charge of helping the boys in the camp make a poster advertising the the car wash. We had to write the time of the car wash, who it was for, and how much it cost. It was only an one dollar car wash so it seems like it would've been difficult to raise a lot of money. However, the kids end up making over a hundred dollars including tips by the end of the car wash. All of the money that was made went towards a pizza/ice cream party for the kids as a result of the great job they did.
After the pizza party was over it was time for closing ceremony, which takes place every Friday to end the week. During the closing ceremony the kids are allowed to use "y bucks" they earn for good behavior throughout the week. The Y Bucks enables them to buy different toys and also pie counselors in front of the whole camp. Seeing that I was now known by majority of the kids I was pied by some of the kids.
After the pizza party was over it was time for closing ceremony, which takes place every Friday to end the week. During the closing ceremony the kids are allowed to use "y bucks" they earn for good behavior throughout the week. The Y Bucks enables them to buy different toys and also pie counselors in front of the whole camp. Seeing that I was now known by majority of the kids I was pied by some of the kids.
Week five
One of the most interesting duties I had while doing my internship was helping with the Chrysler Sign-out. Chrysler sign-out was for the kids who were taken to the Chrysler grounds toward the ending of the day until their parents picked them up. It was only a few kids who went to Chrysler sign- out each day. This was interesting because we took the kids to the Chrysler park by bus and played until their parents came. We played basketball or any other games that the kids wanted to play. I thought it was a nice thing for the kids who did go because they had access to the a Chrysler facility.
Week six
This week of camp was hockey week. Seeing that I don't participate in that sport I was not the main one in charge of showing the kids the ropes for that sport. However I did have specific duties to fulfill throughout the week.
My initial duty was to run the scoreboard for the kids and make sure everybody got equal time during each game they played. They started off with 15 minutes on the clock. After every 3 minutes they had to sub in the players off the bench so that they played the same amount of time as the starters. Another one of my duties when I was away from the scoreboard was being a referee. I had to make sure the game was being played fair and nobody was getting hurt. The most important aspect of refereeing was getting the kids to display a good level of sportsmanship no matter how the game was going for their team
My initial duty was to run the scoreboard for the kids and make sure everybody got equal time during each game they played. They started off with 15 minutes on the clock. After every 3 minutes they had to sub in the players off the bench so that they played the same amount of time as the starters. Another one of my duties when I was away from the scoreboard was being a referee. I had to make sure the game was being played fair and nobody was getting hurt. The most important aspect of refereeing was getting the kids to display a good level of sportsmanship no matter how the game was going for their team
week Six Cont...
The highlight of my internship experience so far may have come during hockey week. My duty of keeping the kids focused on sportsmanship while playing presented me with a great opportunity. I was chosen by the staff to solve a conflict by kids that were being unsportsmanlike and disrupting the game. It allowed me to show my mentor and leadership skills first hand. I talked to all the kids and made sure that they understood what it takes to be competitive without causing conflict when things don't go their way. I also made sure that they understood that they shouldn't act out in front of others and they should stay focused or talk to somebody about their problems
Week Seven
One of the most enjoyable times was the one field trip we took the kids on to Laser Tag. It was enjoyable because we got to watch the kids actually have fun and enjoy themselves without focusing on key rules and skills. During the field trip I learned how much the kids had grown to like me by this time. I learned so when it was time for us to pick teams to start the game of Laser Tag. When the kids were asked which counselors team they wanted to be on most of them yelled "Mr. Antonio." Outside of teaching the kids the importance of sportsmanship that may have been the next best thing.
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Week eight
Once we arrived back at the Y we watched a movie called The Emperors New Groove to let time pass and help the kids settle down. During the movie we ate lunch and snacks, while joking around with the kids until it was time for closing ceremony. When closing ceremony arrived the kids used their Y Dollars to buy things from the store or they slimed the counselors. In previous weeks the kids had the option to pie the counselors, but this week it changed to slim and it was definitely entertaining.
Entry ten
When camp returned Monday it was the starting of basketball week. This week allowed me to actually be in charge again at time because I have a background with basketball from high school. I walked the kids through the proper stretching and warm up drills to get them ready in proper fashion. The real challenge came after getting them ready to play.
I had organized drills for them to do that involved dribbling, shooting, and defending. It helped me learn what to focus on, while also teaching them the proper way to to do each skill. It was difficult at time because there were some kids who never really played basketball so they would get frustrated. However, I was able to teach them and be patient with them until they became more comfortable in areas they struggled in. In the end the kids finished better than they started, which means they benefited with my help. When they started playing team games they put on a good show that I and the other counselors were proud of.
I had organized drills for them to do that involved dribbling, shooting, and defending. It helped me learn what to focus on, while also teaching them the proper way to to do each skill. It was difficult at time because there were some kids who never really played basketball so they would get frustrated. However, I was able to teach them and be patient with them until they became more comfortable in areas they struggled in. In the end the kids finished better than they started, which means they benefited with my help. When they started playing team games they put on a good show that I and the other counselors were proud of.
Entry ELEVEN
One of the most interesting days of my internship experience came along when we had a problem with one of the parents of the kids in our camp. There had been a father who was giving the staff at they YMCA problems in terms of attitude and being on time for pick-up. The parent had been seen showing attitude toward his children also and it brought about concern. It lead to our staff saying he could not bring the kids back
However, he did so the next day anyway and it led to a lock down. The Y was worried about him causing trouble when he returned and making a scene that kids did not need to see. Therefore, we prepared a day of fun and activities in the gym instead of allowing them to go outside as usual. During the lock down we watched movies in the gym and played their favorite games throughout the day. We had a great day just like we would without the lockdown
However, he did so the next day anyway and it led to a lock down. The Y was worried about him causing trouble when he returned and making a scene that kids did not need to see. Therefore, we prepared a day of fun and activities in the gym instead of allowing them to go outside as usual. During the lock down we watched movies in the gym and played their favorite games throughout the day. We had a great day just like we would without the lockdown
Entry twelve
When school first started back I did have many chances to go home for my internship. I had the chance to go back for midterm break and Thanksgiving break. When I returned they welcomed me back with open arms and excitement. When I returned for midterm break I had the chance to help out with the Halloween event.I helped set up the haunted locker room and activities in the gym. I also helped clean up at the end of the night
The second time I had the chance to return for Thanksgiving break I experienced a early pay off and future opportunity because of my work during my internship so far. When I walked in one of my supervisors office she said "So, I here you're going to be working here next year?" I responded by saying "I would definitely like to." In other words, I have the opportunity to now work there due to the relationships I have built and the work I displayed.
The second time I had the chance to return for Thanksgiving break I experienced a early pay off and future opportunity because of my work during my internship so far. When I walked in one of my supervisors office she said "So, I here you're going to be working here next year?" I responded by saying "I would definitely like to." In other words, I have the opportunity to now work there due to the relationships I have built and the work I displayed.