Leading with Laughter and Learning
Youth Programs Celebrates Student Counselor Rachel Petree ’25
Throughout Youth Programs’ recent endeavors, where camper laughter fills the air and soccer balls fly, one student employee stands out as a dedicated counselor weaving health education into every game and activity. A senior public health major at Texas A&M University, Rachel Petree ‘25 expertly combines her passion for child development with her commitment to wellness, creating an environment where fun meets learning for young Rec Sports campers.
“I really like hanging out with the kids,” she said. “All of them have their own personality, and they’re all so goofy, and it’s really fun seeing them be more open as camp goes by.”
Petree found the Youth Programs Counselor position on Jobs for Aggies, and it sounded like the perfect fit for her.
“I started off as an education major before switching to public health,” she said. “So, I have a lot of experience with kids, and I thought it would be fun to hang out with them and do games and stuff.”
Her ongoing experience working with children aligns with her post-graduation ambitions. Petree hopes to work at or start a business that teaches cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and Basic Life Support (BLS) for infants, children, and adults.
“I’ll be combining healthcare and education to teach people how to do life saving practices,” she said. “I plan to have a section where we go to schools and teach younger kids what to do in an emergency situation like that, so they’ll know the steps.”
Whether in her role at Rec Sports or in her future career, working in education requires a balancing act, especially when engaging with children.
“Education is a really big thing when you’re working with youth in an environment where they’re having fun but still need to be in a safe environment,” Petree said. “You have to learn how to talk with them as their friend, but also as somebody that they see as an authority figure.”
Petree quickly grasped those nuances during her first shift as a Youth Programs counselor, which included a memorable encounter with a lost tooth. She recalls the silly interaction with a camper, while still working to get him to emergency services and handling paperwork.
“He walked up to me and just held it up in front of my face,” Petree said. “I was like, ‘Cooper what is that?’ He said, ‘This is my tooth. I just pulled it out.’ And I said, ‘Why did you do that?’ And he said, ‘Well, it was wiggly.’ That was definitely an eye opening experience for my first shift as a counselor.”
Whether Youth Programs activities are running smoothly, or campers are losing wiggly teeth, the counselors have a system in place to support each other and the campers.
“The counselors always work together to make sure that the kids are safe, but also that they’re having fun,” Petree said. “The floaters are always there, if we need an extra ball from the back closet, or if we need them to take a kid to the first aid station, anything like that.”
Backing up the counselor team is Youth Programs director, Sarah Beth Heiar, who oversaw the first-ever Rec Sports Summer Camp.
“Anytime we need her, we just call and she’ll come talk with us,” Petree said. “She’s always walking around to come check on the kids. Most of them know her by name because she comes in and does the fun activities with us.”
Beyond the support from professional staff during camp, Petree also received reassurance of her good work after the sessions ended.
“Sarah Beth came back to us for our first staff meeting after the first couple weeks of camp,” Petree said. “She told us that we had multiple parents that signed up their kids for another week in camp because it was like the most fun they ever had.”
Although summer has ended, the positive feedback continues to roll in. From winning Counselor of the Year to being nominated for this spotlight, Heiar made it clear that Petree excels at her job.
“I love that I was able to make an impact on the program,” she said. “Especially since this was the first time we’ve ever had a summer camp at Rec Sports for Youth Programs, it was really fulfilling to know that I did a good job and it was recognized.”
Petree attributes her effectiveness as a camp counselor not only to her experience with children but also to her extroverted personality.
“I talk to anybody, and I start conversations,” she said. “I do that with kids too, and they have to deal with me playing [around] with them, and if they go and stand in the corner because they’re upset that I got onto them, then I come over and start kicking a soccer ball with them until they start running around again.”
Ensuring campers follow the rules and maintaining a safe environment are essential parts of the counselor’s role. Petree was pleasantly surprised to learn that she was effective in these areas, in addition to simply bonding with the kids and encouraging their participation.
“Working with the kids, I’ve been told that I have a mom face,” Petree said. “That was a fun skill that I got to use, and it made me feel good whenever they immediately started listening, and I could just go back and play with the other kids.”
Many Rec Sports employees acknowledge that seriousness is a daily part of their role—from facility maintenance to risk management. However, few find goofiness written into their job descriptions.
“Being goofy is definitely a big part of working with Rec kids,” Petree said. “You have to be willing to embarrass yourself to make them laugh. That’s one of the things we went over in training. We would have fun times where we were going through games, but then [we] also had really serious times where we went over protocol for Code Adam if a child was missing, or if we had an injury, or anything like that.”
With summer camps over, the team is preparing to host campers at The Hangout every two weeks, starting this Friday, Sept. 27.
“We’re starting off a new program where on Fridays, we’ll have a time that the kids will get to come and the parents are gonna have a chance to have a night out,” Petree said.
This year marks Petree’s last at Texas A&M, but she has one more summer to look forward to after The Hangouts.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing the kids that I had in the summer come back,” she said. “I really hope that they remember our handshake, because I’ve been practicing.”
The Hangout
Looking for a great way to give yourself a parents’ night out while your kids enjoy an evening of fun and excitement? Texas A&M Rec Sports Youth Programs has got you covered! Drop your kids off for an unforgettable night, which includes activities such as swimming in our outdoor pool, games, delicious food, beach volleyball, and so much more.
