Summer camp is a time for making memories, from inside jokes with new friends, to that hard fall you fearlessly got up from, and the buzzer-beater point you scored to secure your team the win. While the goal of camp is for campers to have the most rewarding experience possible, the experience is just as rewarding for the camp’s counselors. 

Thomas, a counselor at J Sports Academy for the past two summers, knew he wanted to be active and social when he was job hunting for summer 2024. As an athlete himself—playing varsity basketball and golf at Dobbs Ferry High School—he was hoping to somehow get involved with sports. When he saw an advertisement for J Sports Academy during one of his frequent visits to the Shames JCC, he knew it was something he wanted to be involved in. 

While his love of sports is what originally made him want to become a counselor at J Sports Academy, it is the camp community that brought Thomas back for a second summer. “I’m getting paid to teach kids how to play basketball; of course you can’t beat that,” he said. “But seeing how much Tammy and Jason care about everyone at J Sports Academy makes us counselors care about our roles even more, and makes it even more of a rewarding experience.” 

Each day starts out with a large game of Gaga ball in the quad while waiting for the rest of the campers to arrive, which Thomas said sets a positive tone for the day. He then brings his group to their first session of the week, which is soccer. “Soccer is my favorite sport here because we do a lot of scrimmages, which helps me to learn,” said Jasper, returning J Sports Academy camper. 

After training with Coach Dan and other soccer coaches, Thomas brings his group to the pool, where his campers get an instructional swim lesson, followed by time for recreational swim. “Campers definitely appreciate this because it allows them to cool off after their soccer lesson on the hot turf,” said Thomas. His campers build up an appetite in the pool just in time for the daily lunch in The Masters School cafeteria. 

After lunch, Thomas brings his campers to their counselor-run electives, or “overtime sports.” He especially enjoys this time because it allows him to be creative in thinking of games and activities. It also allows him to get to know his campers better. “I enjoy the opportunity to jump into a coaching role to teach my campers some skills and lessons that I have been taught over the years,” Thomas said. Once the elective period is over, campers head to their second sport of the day, then have one last elective period before heading home. 

“J Sports Academy is unique compared to other sports camps in the area, not only because campers can map out their own day by choosing the electives that they love, but because all the age groups get to interact,” said Thomas.

Thomas is entering his senior year at Dobbs Ferry High School, and while he is not sure what college he plans to attend next fall, he definitely hopes that he returns as a counselor to J Sports Academy next summer.