There was an unexpected hush in the Winslow Community Room on a recent Friday morning. It was the last day of Fit Kids Vacation Camp at the Boothbay Region YMCA, and you might expect a room full of fifteen kindergarten through fifth graders to be buzzing. Instead, it was quiet time and, under the steady guidance of director Lindsey Senecal, the kids had settled into the kind of calm that only happens when everyone feels comfortable, included, and at home. 

One group was playing chess. Another tinkered with Legos. A third group of girls played “Chill Girls” on a “porch” they’d built from tables and chairs. They were eager to share how much they loved vacation camp. Eben Anderson, 8, said, “It’s so much fun. We can swim every day, make forts, and bake stuff in the kitchen.” Her friend Amelia Noyes, 7, added, “We made brownies yesterday, and they were so yummy.” 

Penny Navarrete, 8, wearing a bright green “Elf” polo shirt from the Y-Arts Junior Theater Festival where she performed in Atlanta two years ago, opened her red, heart-shaped purse and pulled out a small purple creature that Eben had helped create on a 3-D printer, clearly a favorite. “I bring this everywhere,” said Penny. “I have one too!” Eben chimed in. Leola Bailey-Campbell, 6, summed it up simply: “I love coming here because we’re all best friends and we have so much fun together. There are a lot of great games, and sometimes we can bring our toys from home to share.” 

When quiet time was over and the Winslow Room needed to transition for the Chair Yoga class, the kids cleaned up and headed into the Russell Gymnasium to run around and play basketball. Fit Kids Vacation Camp, along with the after-school program called Fit Kids, is normally held at Camp Knickerbocker. This year, it is temporarily located at the main Y facility during site work at Camp K in preparation for renovations to McEvoy Lodge next fall. While some of the kids miss being at Camp K, Eben shared that she prefers being at the Y. When asked why, she said, “It’s less exotic here. There are too many things going on at Camp!” Perhaps when the McEvoy Lodge renovations are complete, with fresh new spaces including a new all-weather wrap-around porch where she and her friends will still be able to play “chill girls,” she will feel differently. 

During a brief pause in the gym, the kids gathered around Lindsey and happily posed for a photo while shouting, “We love the Y!” It’s clear that they do, and that they hold a lot of affection for Lindsey, too. With smaller attendance on this Friday, she was the only staff member on hand, but typically four or five other adults support the program, depending on enrollment. During Vacation Camp, an average of 15 to 25 kids arrive starting at 7:30 a.m. and can leave with a caregiver anytime up to 5:00 p.m. All of these children also attend the regular Fit Kids after-school program, which supports 45 working families. 

Parent Krystal Blackman shared, “I love the Fit Kids program because my daughter is able to interact with other kids her age and it supports me being able to work. This is especially helpful during school vacations when I don’t have to take time off from work. It feels good knowing she is not on a screen all day, is engaged in age-appropriate activities, and is active. Most importantly, I know she is in good hands.” 

Lindsey is the steady hand behind both Vacation Camp and the Fit Kids programs. She creates crafts, games, and cooking lessons, and has applied for grants to bring STEAM learning opportunities to participants. An animal lover, Lindsey also has the kids help care for a resident therapy bunny named Olga (who is enjoying an extended vacation of her own at Lindsey’s house during the McEvoy Lodge renovations). At Camp K, she teaches kids how to grow flowers and vegetables during the season. 

Lindsey got her start as a youngster herself, helping her mother run Girl Scout camp jamborees. Her love of nature brought her to Unity College, where she earned a B.A. in biology. During the summers of 2011–2014, Lindsey worked as a lead staff member at Camp Pondicherry, teaching girls to swim and canoe. She has worked for Maine Audubon, Nature’s Classroom, and Okemo Ski Resort, sharing her love of the outdoors with children of all ages. Since 2017, Lindsey has served the YMCA in a number of different roles, working at Camp K in the summers and leading the Fit Kids program throughout the rest of the year. 

“I love the variety,” Lindsey said, “and working with these kids is a real joy. I see them grow and develop and forge friendships. Sometimes it’s hard when we have to help resolve conflicts, but that’s an important lesson for them to learn, too. We’ve been able to adapt to being here at the Y and are looking forward to getting back out at camp. The kids have been flexible and the staff has been incredibly patient as well. I’m really proud of the kids and the team.” 

That was the Friday morning takeaway: Fit Kids is fun, it supports working families, it is thoughtfully and warmly directed, and it helps build bonds that last.