Author: Annie Yamamoto

Though summer may feel far away, we are deep into the hiring process for the Summer of 2024!  

Every year looks different when it comes to staff. For this coming summer, we are so happy to welcome back a large group of second-year returners.  

As someone who works for Ballibay full-time, I spend the majority of my year talking with camp families and hearing all about their camper’s excitement of returning in the summer.  

Now, on the other end of the gamut, I’ve had the opportunity to speak with staff who share that same excitement. I was fortunate enough to be able to reconnect with five of our second-year returners, Sophia, Sonny, Harley, Connor, and Millie about what draws them back to Ballibay and their hopes for this upcoming summer. 

Sophia  

Last summer, Sophia was a cabin counselor and filled our social media pages with wonderful pictures of our campers. She not only served as a primary contact for campers in the office, but was also a familiar presence across all program areas, capturing moments as she went about taking photos! This summer, Sophia will be heading into the role as Up-the-Hill Division Head, previously known as Girls’ Dean, and will continue being our social media counselor. When talking to Sophia about her returning to camp in this new position, she replies “I’m excited to see all the returning campers, as well as meeting all the new campers who are coming in. I think with this bigger role, I can develop new and different relationships with both new and returning campers as Division Head. I’m also just super excited to document the whole summer through social media as well because I loved that last summer too.” What makes you want to return to Ballibay? “Honestly, it’s an atmosphere unlike any other. The thing I love (about Ballibay) is that it stays so consistent. When I was a camper, it was a magical experience for me and a place where I felt really safe, welcomed, and love. Now as a counselor and growing into my new position, I still feel that exact same way. It’s (Ballibay) just a place that will always be filled with love.” Do you have any advice for first-year staff? “Put the kids first- always. I think sometimes everyone can get caught up in their own heads. But when you come to camp, the kids are the focal point and it’s their experience you are helping along. Be as loving and caring to them as you would hope someone would be to you.” 

Connor 

Connor directed “Finding Nemo” last season and it was such a hit among our campers! This summer, we are excited for him to join our Division Head team as well as continuing being a theater director. I think we can all agree that Ballibay is such a unique place unlike any other, and Connor can definitely confirm this. “Honestly, I’m excited to just get back to camp and having the best summer. This previous summer was one of the best summers I’ve had in years. When I left camp last summer, I already started counting down the days when I would return- I still am! So, just being at camp is what I’m looking forward to the most,” Connor laughs. What makes you want to return to Ballibay? “I think there is something so special about being able to create art without the pressure of it needing to be perfect. I think as artists, we are our worst critics and we always want to do be good for everyone except for ourselves. At Ballibay, we can really let down those walls and make art just because we can.” What is something you wish you knew as a fist-year staff member? “One of the biggest lessons I learned from last summer was to stop stressing about things that really didn’t matter. At camp, there are little things that will stress you out. But you need to remind yourself that you are making art to simply make art. It’s just so nice to be in an environment where we can be our most authentic selves and really enjoy the community we have built at Ballibay.”  

Harley 

Harley’s costume shop was a sanctuary of creativity, where campers made costumes and put together amazing looks for our performances. This summer, Harley will continue their work in the costume shop and we can’t wait to see what’s in store! What are you most looking forward to this summer? “I’m really excited to see the friends I made last summer. I made such a core group of friends there that I love so much. I’m also so excited to see all the kids again. Working with them is so great. I recently came out as non-binary and getting to work with a group of queer kids really helped me realize this about myself.” What makes you want to return to Ballibay? “This has been the most supportive space I have ever worked in. I’ve never been around such a large group of queer people, artists, neurodivergent people. It’s really comforting to me because I know that this is a place where I can show up in the world without having to apologize for how I’m showing up.” Do you have an advice for first-year staff? “Be the person to accept a kid on their own terms. Be able to understand that, while the campers may have different problems from adults, that doesn’t make their problems any less big or real to them. Remember that we make an impact on the kids so, even if you might not necessarily relate to the things they are struggling with, it’s still important to acknowledge those things and show up as a support system.” 

Sonny 

Sonny’s presence at camp was a highlight of last season! He was able to connect with so many kids across campus and led camper favorites, “Freaky Friday” and “A Gentle Giant”. We are so thrilled to welcome back Sonny as a Division Head and theater director once again! When talking to Sonny about his time at camp, he responses earnestly. “By the end of First Session last summer, I had such a strong connection with my cabin. I knew from that moment I wanted to come back to Ballibay to continue to make these connections. Some of my other friends who worked at different camps last summer didn't develop those bonds and didn’t have the true pleasure of working with kids that are as special, creative, and as fantastic as the kids we have at Ballibay. It’s propelled me to realize that working with kids is something I find most fulfilling in life.” What makes you want to return to Ballibay? “In my life, I’ve been to multiple stage schools and I’ve always been told that you create this ‘second family’ at these places but I’ve never really felt that. But going to Ballibay, especially towards the end of the summer, I really felt that family feeling. I created bonds with so many people throughout camp, whether that be counselors, admin, or campers, you really start to feel that family aspect. I’m just really excited to be reconnected with people that I consider to be my family and being able to just be present with those people.” Is there anything you wish you could go back and tell yourself before your first summer with us? “Give yourself time and allow yourself to enjoy camp as if you were a camper. It sounds a bit ridiculous but the longer I was at Ballibay, it stopped feeling like work. Instead, it felt more like an experience. I just got the opportunity to really experience camp and be in awe of the work you see and how hard everyone worked at camp. I really think that you just need to fully commit to camp and let yourself open up.” 

Millie 

Last summer, Millie led our campers in multiple fantastic shows including, Treasure Island, Toy Store, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and also headed our radio program! We are thrilled for Millie to return for another unforgettable summer. When talking to Millie about her camp experience, she opened up about her initial worries about working as a foreign staff member in a new environment. “It can be scary to just up and leave your home country for the summer and put your faith into a completely new workplace that you’ve never been in before. But Ballibay was so welcoming and I’m excited to go back to a place where I feel so at home and safe- even though it’s such a different environment for me,” Millie responds. What are you most excited for this upcoming season? “I’m excited to reunite with the kids and staff. It’ll also be really fun to meet the new campers as well. I’m also just really excited to direct more shows!” Any advice to incoming staff? “Go for it. Whatever thing is going on, like Staff Cabaret, go for it! I also feel like at the beginning of camp, I was isolating myself- especially with Sonny because we knew eachother in college before camp. I felt very reliant on them. But my advice is to just be friendly with everyone. It can feel overwhelming at first but just go for it!”  

These conversations have reminded me how life-changing Ballibay is. Our returning staff members share a common thread in their camp experiences- a deep sense of genuine community.  

Our returning staff are ready to inspire and be inspired, to challenge and be challenged, and most importantly, to create lasting memories and connections.  

If you or anyone you know is looking for summer employment and has brass, woodwind, strings, or photography experience, please feel free to reach out to me or Camp Director, Sarah Galante (sarah@ballibaycamps.com) with a resume or any questions!

"I get to cheer them on, they get to cheer me on, but we don’t always have to do everything together."

I owe my Ballibay experience to the person who, every year, made camp possible for me: my mom. For eight summers, she worked at camp so that I could attend. Without her, I never would’ve been a camper at Ballibay. I've only recently realized that camp was not just a place for me to sing, dance, and be with friends, but it was also a place for my mom and I to be together in a setting only unique to Ballibay. Now as a staff member, without my mom around, it’s made me more observant of the camper and camp parent dynamics around me and if they are similar to my own. It’s also made me so much more appreciative of them.

"They get to see me living my best life  and I get to see them living their best lives!"   I have the pleasure of working alongside several camp moms and recently had the chance to talk with Sara Galkin and Deidre Struck- both who currently have kids of their own attending camp. When talking to them about how their camp experience has been alongside their kids, they both answer earnestly. “I was nervous about how I would be sucked into their daily lives and that it would prohibit them from being campers and me from being an artist” Deidre replies. “But in fact, I found the opposite to be true. Being at camp with them really helped me creatively because I saw them trying new things, in such a child-like way, which inspired me to do new things as well.” Sara answers similarly. “I was definitely worried initially. I think they were a bit annoyed in the beginning but they all ended up including me and it was exciting for them that I was there. It’s been awesome because they get to see me living my best life, and I get to see them living their best life. I get to be a fly on the wall and see them putting themselves forward.” I realized very early on that at camp, we had the space to be our own people. I could go out and explore on my own and my mom could do the same. But we also had the support of the Ballibay community to collaborate and cheer each other on. One of my core memories with my mom at camp was singing “For Good” from Wicked with her in 2009. It was my first ever performance at camp and I was a nervous wreck. Now looking back on it, it makes me smile to think that I shared my first of many Ballibay performances with my mom. When talking to Sara and Deidre about growing and creating simultaneously alongside their campers, they felt similarly. “The first year I went to camp with the kids, I didn’t see them at all for the first few days. I really missed them. But then there’s this amazing feeling of knowing that we are in the same environment but doing our own thing. I get to cheer them on, they get to cheer me on, but we don’t always have to do everything together,” Deidre reflects. “It’s honestly incredible to make art alongside them and with them. Playing for them in camper cabarets is something that I always think about because I don't know how long they want me accompanying them! It's something that I'll always cherish." “They get to have their own space there,” Sara states. “I don’t think they ever really felt like I was intruding on their experience. I let them set the pace and watching them at camp has been great. It doesn’t seem like they’re holding back at all.” As my camper summers at Ballibay continued, I saw less and less of my mom. As you can probably imagine, pre-teen Annie wanted to be on her own and enjoy the same freedom her cabinmates had with no parental eyes on her. Now, it’s made me think of how I never had to be directly associated with her all the time and vice versa. Some space was a good thing- a beneficial thing! When talking to the camp moms about how camp has impacted their lives, separate from their kids, they respond contently. “It’s been a place where I feel safe and understood- and this security helps me when I return home. It’s a memory of how I can appreciate all the little things. It’s a constant reminder of that level of being present and this trickles down into so many different things. Realizing the space where I come alive has really contributed to understanding what doesn't serve me and making sure that I surround myself with people that lift me up and vice versa. I really get to do my own personal growing,” Sara replies. “Ballibay encourages people to try new things and do cross disciplinary art, and this has really carried over into my artistic life at home. Sometimes it can be very lonely being a composer. So, I ask myself ‘why do I love Ballibay so much?’ and ‘how can I bring it more into my daily life in New York?’ I came up with the acronym PEACH. P for purpose, E for the beautiful Ballibay environment, A for staying active- my calves get so strong!,” Deidre laughs. “C is for community- at Ballibay, I thrive in community, and H is for health. So that’s PEACH! I actually have some peach stickers to help remind me of how I feel at camp,” Deidre replies. I don’t think I realized how lucky I was to have my mom at camp with me. The shared memories and experiences we have of camp created a connection unlike any other. I can relate to so much of how Ballibay brings people together- especially family. Camp offers such a special bond that you can’t get anywhere else. “We start talking about Ballibay pretty much as soon as we get home from Ballibay,” Deidre laughs. “It has become a huge part of our lives.” “It's certainly added another level of connection for all of us,” Sara reflects. “It sets such a warm tone. I think it helps the kids understand me and it helps them see me in a different light- out of the regular day to day.” At times throughout camp when I was feeling down or a bit stressed, I found myself seeking comfort, support, and advice from our camp moms. I think that it’s partly due to missing my own mom, but also because camp moms are able to offer a different perspective and energy that our younger staff don’t have just yet. “Being a camp mom is the best. I think having moms at camp is really important because a lot of campers miss their moms and may not be able to articulate it. If I’m ever in a rehearsal and I notice that a kid may need a hug or a little extra something that day, I’ve invited kids to sit next to me at the piano. And I think that they enjoy having a mom-like presence around. I try to create space for mom-like community and love. It’s great because there are several of us and campers know that they can go to any one of us for something that’s more of a mom thing- I don’t even know what a mom thing is!,” Deidre chuckles. “It’s just a vibe!” “The benefit of being a camp mom is really understanding that the kids come first- period. I think there are times we can intervene a little bit with the younger counselors and help them understand the kids in a different way. I think it’s different coming from us,” Sara states. Finally, I took the time to talk to my own mom about her camp experience. We haven’t talked much about camp in a while, so I was interested to hear her thoughts after talking with the current camp moms. "I really appreciated that I had the privilege to see my child thrive as a young performer and artist. I liked seeing you being so cute and happy!" she laughs. Even if I wasn't always around you, I knew you were in good hands." "Ballibay gave us such a nostalgic place to always return to- it was our home away from home. I am always nostalgic for camp and it gives me such a warm and fuzzy feeling in my heart." "I met the most professional minded people, like Jay, Jesse, and Mel, to enrich my artistic growth and experience. I loved by being surrounded by all the nature at camp because it motivated me to produce more music- it was so much better than being stuck in my home studio." In wrapping up my conversation with Sara, Deidre, and my mom, Mihoko, I asked them to share any final words of camp mom wisdom. “Let your campers be campers. The best thing that I’ve done for my own children, because they’ve grown so much since they’ve started at camp, is to just let them be campers. And remember, no news is good news!” Deidre replies. “Have your own separate connection with the camp. And have a bond with the other camp moms. Like the same way the kids form a bond with their friends, we (camp moms) have a bond with each other and it’s a very open, honest, and trusting bond,” Sara reflects. "Let your child free even though you're there! You are two different individuals trying to experience something different so respect each other's space! Have fun in your own world," Mihoko shares. It has been so enlightening speaking with these camp moms about their camp experience. Our camp moms are a beloved part of the Ballibay community. Through their eyes, we see the impact of a community built on kindness, compassion, and love. These camp moms, with their unwavering dedication, don't just contribute to the camp's environment, but are also so important in shaping the lives and memories of our campers.

As the world emerges from the shadows of the pandemic, most have begun to regain their sense of normalcy, but for many young artists, the path back to their creative pursuits has been a challenging one. After years of empty studios, dark theaters, and quiet garages, kids are ready to be themselves once again. And sleepaway camps offer a unique sanctuary for these artists.  

Working Together Once Again: Collaboration can be incredibly important for young artists. It pushes kids to listen, communicate, and blend their talents to create beautiful art. To the fault of nothing but the pandemic, there has been a lack of opportunity for kids to navigate teamwork and what it means to create art collaboratively outside of the school system. Sleepaway camps provide campers of all different backgrounds a space to learn from different perspectives and skills and be inspired by ideas they may not have encountered on their own. 

Reigniting Artistic Independence: While some artists collaborate with others, some choose to create on their own. However, the isolating nature of the pandemic may have hindered the independence of many artists. The enforced isolation during the pandemic lockdown worsened feelings of loneliness. The lack of social interactions and art events meant that young artists missed out on so many opportunities to nurture their artistic growth. Sleepaway camps empower young artists to explore (or re-explore) their creative ideas and instincts independently, all while having the space and support of a community. When campers are away from their familiar confines of home and free from the pressures of school deadlines, they are challenged to develop their artistic identities on their own and gain the confidence to express themselves authentically.  

Time Away from Screens: Living in this post-pandemic world has shown that kids are wedged between the intersection of the ever-expanding digital realm and reality. For the last few years, phones were the only source for connections and entertainment. Many kids have grown up with the pervasiveness of smartphones and tablets being the norm. In findings revealed by the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table in 2022, it has been observed that non-online school based screen time for children experienced a noteworthy rise in with the onset of the pandemic, from 2.6 to 5.9 hours a day. Sleepaway camps offer a unique opportunity for kids to unplug from their devices and reconnect face-to-face. It's amazing what kids can do when they are given the time to just be kids again.

Lifelong Friendships: The connections formed at sleepaway camps are truly special. There is something about the shared experiences of summer camp that create lifelong bonds. Kids raised through the height of the pandemic missed out on so many chances to form these friendships and expand their social horizons. Sleepaway camps, once again, offer kids the chance to make friends organically and truly share a special connection. 

In the wake of the pandemic, where so many values have become lost, the need for children to be kids again is more important than ever. Sleepaway camps offer the perfect space for kids to rediscover who they are and once again enjoy the journey of making art.