The YMCA of Columbia presented Lexi Peake with the Junior Achiever Award for his hard work and dedication to the Y and youth summer camps at the Y’s annual Breakfast of Champions on August 4, 2016.
Lexi spent eight years at the Lexington Family YMCA as a summer camper prior to joining the “C.I.T”, or Counselor-in-Training, program. She is a freshman at Lexington High School, member of St. David Lutheran Church, plays the bass in the honors orchestra and jazz band and speaks four languages.
“She has a true heart for summer camp,” said Savanah Standifer, Youth Development Director at the Lexington Family YMCA. “Working at the Y has raised her awareness of the positive impact that she can have on youth. Just by being with them and caring about them, she knows she’s making their lives better. This summer she has done a tremendous job in developing, planning and implementing activities that are helping camp kids stay engaged, have fun, and be active.”
The Y’s C.I.T. program teaches leadership skills that can be used at school, home and in the community, not just at summer camp. C.I.T.s learn specific skills for working with kids and co-workers and experience planning and leading activities. The program gives kids age-appropriate challenges that build their skills, confidence and capacity for working with people of all ages. The camp environment provides a unique opportunity for youth to build leadership skills, particularly in assisting counselors with younger campers.
