Summer Camp Growth from Counselor-turned-Director Ashley - SHIM

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Summer Camp Growth from Counselor-turned-Director Ashley

AshleyAshley Abbey, SHIM Summer Camp Director

Like many SHIM employees, I started in a small, part-time role as a preschool summer camp counselor right after graduating from high school in 2008 and loved it so much that I decided to get more involved. Then, I joined the After School team as a kindergarten teacher. In 2016, I became the summer camp director and joined my colleague Becky to become co-director of SHIM’s After School program.

I’m a South Hills native and I found out about SHIM from my grade school teacher, who was SHIM’s youth director at the time. She recognized my desire to work with kids after I had worked as a counselor at a Boy Scout camp the year before.

Back then, SHIM’s preschool camp took place in an apartment in the Prospect Park complex where SHIM’s original South Hills Family Center was located. I worked with 3- and 4-year-olds in a tiny classroom in a rented apartment. SHIM also started a bigger camp for kids in grades 1-8 in a large park located behind the Prospect Park apartments.

When we started the larger camp, we saw 60-80 kids each day. Since it’s an outdoor camp, attendance always fluctuates due to weather and other factors. The program has continued to grow with attendance growing to 100 kids per day this past summer. This 2024 summer, more than 300 kids attended SHIM summer camp!

Our summer camp is a space where kids feel safe and welcome while school is not in session. We provide enriching programming thanks to partners like Venture Outdoors, Whitehall Public Library, Baldwin Borough Public Library, STEM Seeds, Whitehall Pool, Whitehall Fire Co. and Police Station, Open Fields, Allegheny County Department of Health, and Bookworm Global. Kids participate in swim lessons and field trips, and recently we’ve tailored the field trips to better meet each age group’s desires. Our younger kids really love going to the farm, while our older kids enjoy ice skating. We learn what our campers want and work to provide opportunities to which they may otherwise lack access.

A valuable addition to our Summer Camp is our partnership with Baldwin United Methodist Church, which provides well-balanced lunches for our kids from Monday to Thursday, accommodating various dietary restrictions, including vegetarian and peanut-free options. Their team checks in each morning to prepare meals tailored to every camper’s needs, and we wrap up the week with pizza Fridays!

One of the best things about our Summer Camp is getting to see our After School students all year round. It’s great to be able to reach them consistently, providing a welcoming place for them to express themselves and learn something. Many of our counselors are from the refugee and immigrant community, some of whom attended SHIM’s youth programs when they were kids! This helps campers feel connected and supported.

Smiling summer camp kidI love seeing campers support one another. Every year, we have at least one or two campers who don’t speak any English. Because our campers are from such diverse backgrounds, we have many kids who speak multiple languages. Without fail, our non-English speaking campers will find playmates who speak their native language and will learn English as they play. Some of these students have just moved to the US, and having the time and space to make friends before school starts is invaluable.

This year’s programming was enhanced by SHIM staff members sharing their talents. Our service coordinator Marcele gave a lesson on American Sign Language, our volunteer engagement coordinator Ann did sun printing and flower arranging, and our Children and Youth Director hosted an educational scavenger hunt. We connected with the Baldwin Health Center to deliver our arranged flowers, which was a meaningful experience for the students who participated.

I know how important our summer camp is for families in the 3-mile radius that we serve. These days, kids are tempted by technology, and without our program, they would likely be at home in front of a screen, isolated from their peers. Our camp gives them a place where they can connect to kids their own age, giving them socialization and outdoor activity. We know this helps kids stay out of trouble and combat learning losses while school is out of session.

Since our campers get dropped off and picked up by caregivers, we have a chance to build relationships with parents too. They share their hopes for their children and check in frequently. We even had a picnic where we invited parents who brought food to share.summer-camp4

Our team has grown as the camp expands, and our counselors continue to amaze me. Many are young, just out of high school or in their first few years of college, but they are completely dedicated to our campers. They hear their life stories, remember campers’ favorite colors and foods, and tirelessly nurture our kids with enthusiasm and compassion. I feel grateful to be the leader of such a dedicated team!

Now that I’ve been involved in SHIM’s youth programs for over fifteen years, I’ve seen the ways that our programs help kids thrive. Some of the preschool campers from my first year here have now graduated from high school and gone on to college. It’s humbling and rewarding to be part of these kids’ lives, and I look forward to many more years of supporting local kids.

Read more staff perspectives on our BLOG page!

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