Beyond Camp: Travis, Younger Boys Unit Leader

At YMCA Camp Ingersoll we emphasize our Camp Family. A family that is inclusive and not limited to our campers. Our Camp Family extends to the siblings, the families, and the communities of not only our campers, but also our counselors. Future teachers, administrators, social workers, business people, and engineers start their careers at Ingersoll. They develop their passion for helping others and the camp imprint is also stamped on their hearts.

After more than 10 years at YMCA Camp Ingersoll, Travis, our Younger Boys Unit Leader will not be rejoining our team. He was a leader everyone at camp could look to for guidance, inspiration, and affirmation. He held himself and others to high expectations which earned the respect of his unit and camp. This is his story:

It’s tough to pick a time in my YMCA life to start, but I guess I’ll start with one of my most memorable moments as a camper. I rode the bus in the afternoons, most days with Josh from ropes as a bus monitor. A situation occurred where the bus driver thought that I was picking on another kid, but clearly wasn’t. Second grade me was very upset after being spoken to by the driver. What happened next really opened my eyes to what Camp Ingersoll was about. The bus monitor, Josh, immediately came to my side to help calm me down. He then sat with me the entire ride until I was dropped off to my parents, just to make sure I was all right. Even as a kid I was touched by this because someone who did not know me well went purely out of his way in support for me. Not much longer after, I knew being a counselor was something I aspired to be.

I couldn’t think of a better way to contact all of my YMCA family than a personal letter. The past six summers have been the most impactful experience of my life. While growing up I loved sports and rough housing with friends. I had a grandfather who got me interested in blue-collar focused work at a young age. Simply put, most people were a little shocked when I told them I was a camp counselor. What those people didn’t understand was that my title may have been “camp counselor”, but my job went way deeper than that.

This job requires more from an individual than most jobs out there. You need a big heart, a personality, a calm mind, focus, energy, etc. The list goes on and on. Even with such a long criteria, perhaps the most important and most difficult aspect was being a great role model. Being a great role model isn’t about choosing the right times to act appropriately in front of campers. It’s not about making sure they simply like and or listen to you. Being a great role model is about informing and guiding these campers to the best of your ability. Relationship building was a main focus of mine as a counselor. Every group you get is for two weeks, if you didn’t become friends with the children, then you’re doing it wrong. When you do camp right, it’s about leaving a positive impact on campers’ memories so they’ll always have someone to look up to.

Pride is a great word to use when I think about my duties at camp. Anyone who saw me trotting around camp could see the pride I took in my job. I always had a smile on my face, an upbeat pep in my step, and was always engaged in conversation with my campers. I went to camp every day with the goal of making that day better than the last. I went every day with a little more energy than the day before. How could I drive myself to go the extra mile day in and day out? The answer is the campers. Every day I came back with more energy, because the children had less. When they were running out of gas, I was there to fuel them up. The best part though, was the gassing up was mutual.

Obviously there is a purpose behind this letter even though it may be tough to write. I hate cliché phrases but this fits perfectly, “Some good things must come to an end”. Winning staff of the summer last year was my greatest accomplishment to date, not because of the award itself, but because I was elected by my fellow staff members. I would like to personally thank you all for everything you have done for me in the past and I hope I have left my mark on your lives as you have left one on mine. Camp Ingersoll provided me with countless summers of fun and those are years that I will never forget. I helped the campers of my past learn a lot about themselves as they have taught me even more about myself. Being the Youngers Boys unit leader was an unimaginable position I cherished every moment of, especially this past summer. Thank you for the footprint on my life you have made YMCA Camp Ingersoll, you will forever be the best!

Love, Yours Truly,

Travis

Camp has a tremendous positive impact on us all. We hope to see you this summer!

Register now at CampIngersoll.org

Benjamin Silliman, Camp Director

BSilliman@midyca.org, 860-343-6239