“Advisor Advice Continued”
Kendra Fuentes
- Being a first year Advisor who has been to BRLS before.
- Be sure to have your focus on your teens – while BRLS is something you are familiar with and love, it is your job to pass that along to your teens. Your time on the mountain should be spilt 80/20 80% on your teens and 20% on learning and growing yourself
- First-time on the mountain, period.
- Give it time. It may not click at first, but have an open mind and heart to this new experience. Stay positive and open in every new experience and you will learn a great deal about yourself
- You’re an Advisor who was recruited that week because of staffing changes.
- Take time to get to know your Leaders and make them feel comfortable. Take at least 5-10 minutes before the week starts to sit down with them and explain the rundown of the week and be open to any questions they may have on what their role is
- Leading your Senior Leaders.
- Develop their skills when it comes to interaction with your Leaders. This is a week of growth for them too – so make sure they are enjoying themselves. Delegate tasks to them, it will make your time on the mountain so much more enjoyable
- Being on BRLS staff and also being an Advisor; the juggling of multiple responsibilities.
- My personal favorite!! Focus on your students during your teaching time and focus on your Leaders during free-time and out of class activities. Delegate responsibilities to your Senior Leaders and older Leaders within the club to check in on the new Leaders. Rest. Whenever. Possible. I can’t emphasize that enough!!
Whitney Kahn
It doesn’t matter if this is your first year as an Advisor on the mountain, your first year on the mountain at all, your first week on the job at the Y or your 15th; all of these can hold true and have helped me make the most of the week on the mountain.
- Practice what you preach
- We tell our teens to step out of their comfort zone, try new things, push themselves and meet new people. Advisors should do the same. For many Advisors, you are on staff at your local Y and therefore are working while you are on the mountain. So, stretch yourself, learn new things you can take back to your Y or your job outside the Y, meet people — Advisors, staff and Leaders from other Ys — and other associations. Don’t just hang out with your fellow Y friends from your Y, or former Leaders buddies but learn from all the wisdom on the mountain. Hold yourself to the same high standards as you do your teens. Be on time, dress to work out and participate in classes, eat every meal and have fun.
- Be present but not a helicopter Advisor
- It is really important to check in with your Leaders to see how they are doing but do it at appropriate times and don’t take them away from being able to still grow and be independent. My favorite times on the mountain sometimes is to just sit and watch the Leaders from my club or even Leaders from other clubs from afar and notice how they are progressing and growing on the mountain. However, don’t hesitate to share what you saw with these Leaders. It shows that you care about them and the growth you are seeing.
- Embrace all the mountain has to offer
- Over the years I have been a Senior Leader, Advisor and Staff member and I learn something new each year. The best thing has been the relationships I have been able to build with all the Leaders. It is important to be involved with all aspects of the mountain; from classes to walking up and down the mountain with a Leader for a great conversation to evening activities to cheer on one of your teens or to support a random Leader you have never met during all school achievement night. Don’t be afraid to let the emotion of the school get to you!
Logistical Suggestions
- Have a one page chart of all your Leaders, their class schedules, room numbers, allergies and medications and have all the Advisors with your club carry that around so you can check in on your Leaders at different times. Happy to give you a copy of the chart I have used in the past.
- Don’t keep your teens up after hours! They need their sleep and most things can wait until morning.
- Be sure that each of your teens has a bag to carry around their class materials, a water bottle and a pen. I usually suggest that you bring a few extra draw string bags, pens and even paper.
Ben Pruitt
- One practice that has been a bright spot in Chapel Hill has been our “Joint Exec Retreat.” Prior to BRLS, and just after our meetings end – we have a retreat for our incumbent executive team and our “executive elects,” or our new team. We get a chance to communicate all of the big ticket items early on so that the team can arrive at BRLS with a fresh perspective AND with an idea of information that may help them in their classes on the mountain. The new execs feel more empowered and eager to learn on the mountain, and the previous execs feel like their voices were valued in the height of transition.
In Spirit, Mind and Body,
Ryan Graham
ryan.graham@ymcacharlotte.org.