MSYEP Teen Counselors
By Lily Gordon, Program Coordinator
This year, we ran teen staffing for the summer a bit differently. Normally, we recruit and hire our own set of teens. This summer, we deepened our partnership with the Cambridge Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program (MSYEP), a program that provides summer job placement for teens at nonprofit and public sector jobs. The MSYEP program matched us with four teens who were then trained and supported by Nature Linc staff.
From the first day of training week, we could tell that we’d gotten a fantastic group of teens. Though it was the first job experience for most of them, they all showed such a positive attitude and willingness to learn right away. Training week was full of new information, hands on practice of new counselor skills, and lots of team bonding. We went from strangers to a cohesive team that trusted each other in just a matter of days. To end our training week, we taped a sheet of construction paper to each person’s back and all wrote a compliment on it; everyone had so much to say about each other already!
One of the most amazing parts of working with MSYEP teens was seeing the mentorship relationships they built with the three Senior Counselors. The Senior Counselors could remember being new to Nature Linc, so they related to the new counselors. Yet each also held years of experience and wisdom to share with the younger teens. We saw all of the Senior Counselors really shine in a new way in this role. They all took on a greater sense of responsibility and set a great example for the team. We even saw multiple instances of Senior Counselors giving gentle reminders of professionalism expectations, holding their younger peers accountable in the ways FNL staff had always done with them.
All of our MSYEP teens were animal lovers- Nina and Nia could be found petting the goats, while Keyla could often be spotted watching bumblebees. One connection really stands out, though. Mei could always be found doting on Tostada the bunny after she’d finished her chores. We saw her deep connection with the bunny from day one, and wondered how she’d ever be able to say goodbye at the end of the summer. When we told her that we were actually fostering Tostada from the Lowell Humane Society and that he was looking for an adoptive home, her eyes immediately lit up. We were skeptical, though, that her parents would jump as eagerly at the idea of a new pet- we didn’t hold our breath. However, Mei must have made a good case for Tostada, because during the last week of the summer programs, her family signed the adoption papers! Our beloved friend will now be cherished and continue to light up Mei’s eyes every morning.
We ended the year with a celebration day- no chores, no field trip groups on site- just a day of fun and reflection for all of the teen and adult staff who worked over the summer. We visited Unity Farm in Sherborn, and the MSYEP teens were enthralled by the horses, cows, and alpaca. We finished off the day with a picnic lunch and hike at Mass Audubon’s Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, incorporating some time to reflect on all the amazing work we accomplished and give appreciation for each other.
We will miss the MSYEP teens this school year, and hope to reconnect with them next summer. They all spoke of having a wonderful experience with Nature Linc. Below are some direct quotes they shared with us about their summers:
Keyla: “Working with Nature Linc was such a wonderful experience. The work environment and community were extremely kind and supportive not to mention very welcoming on my first day. I really hope to return soon!”
Mei: “Nature Linc was a great opportunity for me to build teamwork skills, interpersonal skills and communication skills! From working with great youth to amazing higher-ups, I loved the entire experience and felt very supported and motivated with the work we did. I loved working with the animals and the garden, I gained a lot of useful knowledge and life skills. :)”
Nia: “My top two highlights from the summer were the animals and the fort-building. I particularly enjoyed watching the children interact with the goats. The fort-building was another highlight; the children were very engaged and took it very seriously, especially when “making a pretend fireplace.” Overall, my experience at Nature Linc was very good. It was a full circle experience for me, as I was always the camper and now I was a counselor. I would love to come back next year.”
Nina: “I worked at Nature Linc for the first time this summer! This was my first job and I really enjoyed my time on the beautiful property! I loved meeting different kids and seeing their reactions to seeing goats for the first time! Here at Nature Linc we would take turns leading different activities with the kids! A highlight for me was leading the groups on a hike and meeting our huge albino bunny named Tostada. I adored my time at Nature Linc and I hope to come back next year!”
