Meet YMCA Counselor: Rory A.

Rory Anderson is used to staying busy. A music education major at the University of Montana, she balanced her time attending school, teaching music lessons to middle schoolers, and coaching youth on the Missoula Y Swim Team (MYST).

However, Rory’s schedule changed drastically when COVID-19 caused both the schools and the Y to close.

“I missed helping and interacting with kids,” said Rory. “When the Y open its emergency childcare program, I thought it was an awesome chance to keep working with kids.”

Rory became a counselor at the Y’s emergency childcare site where she currently cares for children of first responders and medical workers.

“The children in our program range from kindergarteners to eighth graders, and I anticipated the age differences to be a challenge,” she said. “This hasn’t been the case, though. The middle school students are incredible role models for the younger kids.”

The older children take pride in assisting the counselors and helping younger students with their homework. One teenager has enjoyed his experience so much that he now plans to be a YMCA Junior Counselor this summer.

The Y’s emergency childcare program has also allowed counselors to share their individual skillsets with the children. During swim time, Rory relies on her coaching experience to help the kids become stronger swimmers.

“Our kindergartener was very timid when he first went into the water,” she shared. “Over the last few weeks, he’s practiced hard and become good at kicking and putting his face in the water.”

“It’s been a rewarding experience to work with children and serve our community, especially during this time,” she adds.

This story was originally published in April 2020.