This past Sunday, April 23, the Bank Street Summer Camp co-hosted the annual American Camp Association’s LEADS conference at Bank Street College. Over 200 teenagers from over 20 camps, most of whom are transitioning from camper to counselor, spent the day participating in professional development, focused on leadership, communication, and professionalism, as it relates to camp, but also how it relates to the “real world.” Breakout sessions were headed by leaders in the camping industry from all over the tri-state area.
For Bank Street staff this is was an opportunity to broaden their experience in the camp industry. Sara Saltzman facilitated the 10 counselors in training from Bank Street Camp, all of whom have previously been campers, participants in the Leadership Development Program, or staff last year. Sara studied elementary education and psychology at Susquehanna University before getting her Graduate Degree from Bank Street College in Childhood Special Education. She is currently a second-grade special education teacher at Bronx Community Charter School. For the past three years, Sara has been a Head Counselor in the Lower Camp and, last summer she supervised the Leadership Internships. This summer, she will be the Supervisor of the Leadership Development Program.
The keynote speaker, Steve Maguire, is an incredibly well-known motivational speaker within the camp industry. Steve is a professional speaker, author, school teacher, and, most importantly, father of four. He has presented to over 750 summer camps and schools in the last 12 years, training tens of thousands of camp staff and teachers. Steve has his undergraduate degree from Plymouth State University and holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Fitchburg State College. Steve’s address was not only inspirational but infectious. Teens left his address eager to become the best camp counselors they can be in the summer of 2017.