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07/24/2024 08:30 AMThe memories of being a camper at the Valley Shore YMCA (VSY) are treasured ones for Ryan Warner. However, the camp is now taking on a whole new meaning to Ryan as he serves as the camp director for the VSY’s summer camp.
When Ryan was in middle school, his parents told him that he needed to keep busy for the summer, and so they had him sign him up for Camp Valley Shore at the VSY.
“I was so upset. I didn’t want to go to camp at all. And then I fell in love with it,” Ryan tells the Harbor News with a chuckle.
To say that Ryan enjoys camp would be an understatement.
“I just love everything camp brings. To this day, some of the best friends I’ve made in my life I made at this camp,” Ryan says.
After Ryan aged out of his camp years, he became a counselor-in-training for two years, was a counselor for six years, and is now in his second summer as camp director.
“I feel like this is a special place in my heart. I feel like I really grew up here,” Ryan says of spending so many of his formative years at the camp.
Ryan likes performing his day-to-day duties at the camp.
“I help all the staff and work to make sure the camp runs smoothly,” he says.
The camp runs from about a week after the school year ends in June until late August, just before the kids go back to school.
“Kids come here and have a fun day full of rock climbing, swimming, games, crafts, and all kinds of other fun, crazy activities,” Ryan describes.
Through his position, Ryan knows that, unfortunately, some of the kids at the camp come from homes with difficult financial or home-life situations. For them, camp can be a haven.
“It’s a great feeling to be there for the kids that need it,” says Ryan.
When asked about his favorite part of being camp director, Ryan doesn’t hesitate with his answer.
“Oh, it’s got to be the kids. Seeing them having the time of their lives and just having fun is the best,” Ryan explains.
When asked about the most difficult part of his job, once again, Ryan again doesn’t hesitate.
“Oh, it’s the kids again,” Ryan says, laughing. “Sometimes they make you want to pull your hair out. I know every parent knows that feeling.”
Even when camp is finished for the summer, Ryan keeps working to make sure that the kids have fun outside of school.
During the school year, Ryan works at Goodwin Elementary School in Old Saybrook and Joel Elementary School in Clinton, doing before-and-after care which is also run through the VSY.
“Before school kids get dropped off, before their parents go to work around 7:45 a.m., and for about an hour, we play games and do crafts. Then, after school, we have a little more time since we’re there until 6 p.m., and we can usually get outside then,” explains Ryan.
Ryan says the kids in that program have similar experiences to the ones he observes at summer camp. “The kids kind of know each other from seeing each other in the halls, and they build connections. Even if they’re not in the same grade, they get to know one another,” Ryan says.
Ryan didn’t necessarily think that he would wind up working with kids. However, he does recall that when he was a kid and being disruptive in the classroom, teachers would send him to other classes, where Ryan would assist with the younger kids.
“Everyone always said I worked well with kids, and I didn’t really see it at first. I kind of grew into this,” Ryan admits.
Ryan grew up in neighboring Clinton, where he still resides. He graduated from The Morgan School in 2021.
In his spare time, Ryan can be found fishing, looking at cars, spending time outside, or hanging out with his family and friends.
“My favorite thing about Clinton is the people I grew up with. It’s a small community around here, so we all know each other, which is fun, and there’s a good core of us still around where we can hang out or people come back to visit,” Ryan says.