Our Staff

“The director's enthusiasm and love of what they do pervade every area and every activity at Blue Sky. When the leadership loves their job, the staff loves theirs and it can only make for the perfect atmosphere to grow, learn and have a good time.”
Jennifer Grubb – Special Education Teacher


Our Para-Educator Staff  
“ As any good camp director will tell you, the key to a successful summer is the quality of the staff. Maintaining a beautiful facility and implementing a dynamic program is only meaningful if our staff supports the mission of providing a safe and caring environment for our campers. We consider the selection of our counselors to be our most important responsibility as directors. We select sensitive and enthusiastic individuals who are dedicated to working with children. Our staff is composed of a strong core leadership group of educators, many of whom are parents as well, who care greatly about children and who are deeply committed to the principles upon which we stand.

Safety is a priority at Blue Sky and the YMCA and our staff practices fire, aquatic and other emergency skills and drills on a routine basis. We have a separate health center with a Health Officer on staff 24 hours a day. All of our staff is certified in American Red Cross first aid and CPR. We have a doctor on call everyday.”
- Barry Feldman – Co-director

We seek a one to five ratio of staff to camper (depending on the need of individual campers).  The Camp Blue Sky para-educators will undergo hands-on training with YMCA Camp Ohiyesa staff and administration.  In addition, YMCA Camp Ohiyesa staff and administration will receive specialized training for working with students with disabilities.

Hiring criteria and considerations

• Enthusiasm and Attitude
• Multiple years of hands on experience
• Counselor’s field of expertise (A.S.D., C.I., P.O.H.I., etc.)
• C.P.R. trained and certified
• First aid trained and certified
• Love and Logic training
• C.P.I. (Crisis Prevention Intervention)
• L.S.C.I. (Life Space Crisis Intervention)
• Certified Para-educator
• Sensory Integration
• Blood-Bourne Pathogens training
• Child Safe training
• Criminal Background Check run each year on each staff member
• Perhaps in the future list the staff, brief bios and photos