Life as a Counselor at JCC Chicago's 'Z' Frank Apachi Day Camp

Submitted to Patch by Elizabeth Abrams, JCC Chicago.

NORTHBROOK, IL - JCC Chicago camp counselors are a hybrid. A perfect mash-up. Teens and young adults that are both responsible and fun-loving, goofy, kids-at-heart.

At JCC Chicago’s “Z” Frank Apachi Day Camp and Apachi Village Day Camp in Northbrook, staff training week is a “minicamp” of sorts for counselors, designed to introduce and familiarize them with the wide range of emotions a camper might experience throughout the summer and the leadership, organization and relationship building skills necessary to be effective.

The first day begins with ice breaker-type games and activities where counselors are mixed-up and encouraged to meet new people. Each game taught is ultimately played with campers during the summer and the staff learns how to teach the games to the children. Once the counselors are relaxed, they break up into units. The staff then meets their supervisors and peer groups they will be working with so closely all summer. This is where counselors begin to find their group identity and friendships begin to form.

The staff spends time talking about how those first few minutes of the day felt. “Were people friendly?” “Did you feel welcomed?” “Did you meet new people?” “Were you scared?” It’s a way to illuminate how campers may feel on their first day.

Staff training week continues with all types of activities, games and programs with the purpose of teaching counselors how to introduce various activities to their campers and their rules. Camp staff learn a number of new skills, including how to create art projects, divide a group into teams and model conversations to resolve conflict. Staff role play and (hilarious) stage performances are a favorite part of the week and provide a great preview of the types of memories that will be made all summer long.

“One of the primary focuses for me at camp are the relationships we develop with our staff and the lasting friendships they build throughout the summer,” said Terri Blenner, Director of “Z” Frank Apachi Day Camp. “For many of the counselors, this job is the beginning of their adult life. We want their summer to be filled with new experiences, enhanced leadership skills, increased self-confidence and lifelong friendships.”