Christina's Reflection
Now that summer camp is coming to a close, explain 3 key takeaways from the experience? How will you apply it in the future?
This summer camp experience has been truly unique and taught me many new things. My first key takeaway is to always have patience, especially when working with kids. Every child is unique, and understanding their needs requires time and calmness. My second takeaway is that staying organized and on top of things is crucial in ensuring smooth operations. As Stonebridge had the most sign-ups – hosting around 160 campers – there were numerous activities and classes to overlook. Having effective planning strategies helped make everything run efficiently and coherently. Lastly, I have realized how rewarding it is to work with kids. Seeing their growth and excitement, as well as building lasting and pure relationships, is incredibly fulfilling. Moving forward, I will apply these key takeaways by embracing patience in challenging situations, maintaining diligent organization, and continuing to form meaningful bonds in my workplace.
Describe one of the biggest challenges you faced, how you overcame it, and what you learned from it.
One of the biggest challenges I faced was that the kind lady helping us with snack and lunch distribution only spoke Chinese and did not understand any of our English-speaking counsellors. To overcome this, I would often step in to translate (when possible) but my Chinese-speaking skills are limited, so I would accompany it with hand gestures. I also assigned a Chinese-speaking volunteer to assist her, bridging the language gap. On top of that, I instructed the counsellors to use hand gestures in order to communicate what they needed. From this experience, I learned that a language barrier does not prevent someone from working efficiently, as communication does not solely rely on spoken language.
To close off the term on a high note, what were 3 highlights from your time at U+?
Reflecting on my time at U+, there have been many moments that make this work term unforgettable. My first highlight takes place at Carnival Day during summer camp. In particular, the water station was the most fun. We all got dunked, but it was a blast and the kids loved it! My second highlight involves becoming well-known throughout the Stonebridge camp location. All the counsellors, volunteers, and campers knew my name – and I built close bonds with them all. It was the many hugs and smiles that greeted me that made me love coming to camp everyday! Seeing the campers’ excitement and joy whenever I visited their class truly made the experience special. My third highlight was witnessing my hard work pay off. It was incredibly rewarding as I received positive feedback from supervisors and parents regarding our summer camp. Additionally, my LEGO Robotics workshops were well-received by schools and students and my flyer distribution initiative led to positive results!
What is some advice/tip that you would offer to future staff?
The biggest tip that I would offer to future staff is to be open to new opportunities and to be able to adapt.
Please nominate someone who deserves the employee of the month award and explain why briefly. You can nominate more than one person.
I would like to nominate everyone from my Stonebridge team – Dorothy, Daphne, Mayeli, Saniya, Kavin, Macy, Fiona, Ciara, Grace, Jayce, Tobin, Joanna, Zoe, Rishia, Vicky, Gary, Kenny, Jenny, Abilash, Shievon, Emily, Zhen, Catherine, Eric, Neeha, and Carson. 🙂 Summer camp was an amazing experience and a great success, made possible by these wonderful individuals. I am so grateful to have met each and every one of them, forming unique memories and creating our Stonebridge family.
