Exciting Addition to YMCA Camp Ingersoll

Exciting Addition to YMCA Camp Ingersoll

YMCA Camp Ingersoll welcomes its' new Assistant Director, Taylor Savage. She's excited to make her imprint on camp one smile at a time!

YMCA Camp Ingersoll is known as one of the premier day camps in New England. We’re located on beautiful Jobs Pond in Portland, we have the facilities to run swimming, boating, archery, nature, arts & crafts, and ropes programs. We have more than 25 specialty camps as well as our traditional camps to capture the interests of all campers. A day at camp Ingersoll is non-stop fun, but it doesn’t start with the activities, it starts with our staff. Every day they greet campers off the bus with high fives and smiles. They are young professionals who are trained to help campers share interests and make friends, resolve conflicts, manage their emotions, and, of course, have fun.

Our latest addition to our staff team leadership is our new Assistant Camp Director, Taylor Savage. We can’t wait for Taylor to bring her experiences and background to camp in her new role. Read below to learn more about Taylor and the positive impact she will bring to camp this summer.

My name is Taylor Savage and I have recently accepted the position with the Middlesex YMCA as Assistant Youth and Camp Ingersoll Director. This is an exciting opportunity for me and I am looking forward to joining the Camp Family and making a positive impact in the communities we serve. Together, we will continue to provide programs that support the mission of the YMCA and foster youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

Growing up in Jacksonville, Florida, I was never certain what I wanted to do. As a collegiate athlete, I understood that it would have to involve being active and on my feet, working with children, and helping others better themselves. In the summer of 2013, my parents had made the decision to relocate to Connecticut and I was given the choice to stay or make the adventure with them. Choosing to join them has become one of the best decisions I have made.

Shortly after moving, I took a job babysitting 3 young girls. Little did I know the impact they would have on my life. As I greeted them off the bus, helped them with their homework, and played outside until it was dark, I quickly fell in love with the idea of helping these girls grow. A conversation with the 3 year old is what lead me to realize that I wanted to help more children just like them. As she told me about everything she did in school, she started talking about doing Yoga in PE. I asked her what she learned and she proceeded to not only show me, but teach me. It’s safe to say that I wanted to be a part of whatever her teacher was doing at school; not only teaching kids how to move and be healthy, but how to interact with others, make connections and share what we know. Shortly after that day, I entered Eastern Connecticut State University, quickly found my niche, and pursued a degree in Health and Physical Education.

Every child I interact with reaffirms my love for youth development. Whether its watching them learn how to dribble a basketball, joining them in a victory dance when they reach their goals, or something as simple as receiving a big wave in passing. It is in these moments that I realize my calling is in the field of youth development and recreation.

What brought me to YMCA Camp Ingersoll? I had attended various day camps throughout my childhood and knew working at a camp in Connecticut would be a great opportunity to improve my leadership skills, meet new people, and stand as a positive role model in campers’ lives. I hadn't expected that my camp journey would truly begin my first summer working as a counselor at Ingersoll. During that time my campers and I canoed down the CT River, stayed overnight at camp, took the leap of faith at ropes, and hiked up to Castle Craig. All of these experiences challenged both my campers and me to reach well beyond our comfort zones, learn new skills, and connect with new people.

Through these experiences and my education, I have realized the importance of teaching the whole child. In my time working with the Y, I can honestly say that Camp Ingersoll does that and so much more. I assure you that, while here, I will fulfill the duties of Assistant Camp Director confidently; supporting the ideals and mission of the Y. I am excited to use my experiences and education to develop creative and new ways to establish a positive camp culture in which we can foster confidence in our children, assist them to overcome challenges and help them make new friendships that can last a lifetime; but most of all, have fun in the process.

We hope you can join Taylor and the rest of the Ingersoll staff team this summer. You can register now at CampIngersoll.org. Many specialty camps are filling up fast. Please visit our site to check on program availability.

Benjamin Silliman, Camp Director

BSilliman@midyca.org, 860-343-6239