Barrett Park a popular place to work

The Barrett Park Summer Camp has a staff of about 70 supervisors, counselors and junior counselors this summer. Supervisors help oversee the entire camp, while counselors are assigned to a specific group.

Children are placed into groups based on age. The older children are in groups of 20 to 25, with three counselors and one junior counselor. The younger children have the same number of leaders but groups are about half the size.

Counselors, who must be at least 16 years old, and supervisors are paid, but junior counselors are volunteers. The camp runs each weekday from 9 a.m. to noon.

Jordan Cohen
Age: 16
School: South High School, junior
Time at Barrett: Second year
Responsibilities: Counselor for the Scooby Doos group, boys and girls entering first grade. Supervises 7 to 10 children each day.
Cohen said a friend worked at Barrett and recommended the job to him. He enjoys watching the children have fun every day.

Nick Damiani
Age: 17
School: Central High School, senior
Time at Barrett: First year
Responsibilities: Counselor for a group of a dozen boys and girls entering first grade, the Blues Clues. 
Damiani said he applied for a job at the Valley Stream pool, but the village assigned him instead to the summer camp. He’s quite happy with that decision. “I like it here, it’s fun,” he said.

Ryan Hevia
Age: 19
School: Boston University, third year. Graduated South High School in 2008.
Time at Barrett: Fifth year
Responsibilities: Counselor for a group of boys and girls entering first grade. Supervises about 15 children with her co-counselors. Takes the kids to the different activities and lets them know about upcoming theme days. “I like working with children,” she said.

Danielle Infantino
Age: 16
School: South High School, senior
Time at Barrett: Second year
Responsibilities: Counselor for the Scooby Doos, a group of boys and girls entering first grade. 
Infantino said Barrett Park is a good summer job and allows her to earn some money as she starts to save for college. She also attended the summer camp as a child from grades 3-6.

Amanda Miller
Age: 18
School: Sacred Heart University, second year. Graduated from Hewlett High School.
Time at Barrett: Sixth year
Responsibilities: Counselor for a group of a dozen boys and girls entering first grade, the Blues Clues. Takes the children to their daily activities, makes sure they don’t get hurt and keeps them entertained. “You’re responsible for them,” she said.

Terrell Sargeant
Age: 19
School: John Jay College, second year. Graduated from Central High School.
Time at Barrett: Second year
Responsibilities: Counselor for a group of boys entering second and third grade, the Buzz Lightyears. Got involved with the summer camp because a friend who worked there recommended it. “I like dealing with the kids,” he said. “It’s fun playing with them and getting to know them.”
Also works as a valet on weekends.

Stacey Skepner
Age: 18
School: Nassau Community College, second year. Graduated South High School in 2009.
Time at Barrett: Fifth year
Responsibilities: Counselor for a group of boys entering second and third grade, the Karate Kids. “We have to supervise the kids and make sure everyone’s having a safe and fun time,” Skepner said.
Also works as a lifeguard at the Valley Stream pool and at Marinara’s Pizzeria in Hewlett.

Samantha Staffa
Age: 17
School: North High School, senior
Time at Barrett: First year
Responsibilities: Counselor for a group of a dozen boys and girls entering first grade, the Blues Clues. 
Staffa said she started working at the pool this summer, but was transferred to Barrett when the summer camp began. “It’s just a great environment for the kids — fun, safe and well-supervised,” she said. 

Alex Valenti
Age: 16
School: Chaminade High School, junior
Time at Barrett: First year as a counselor, was a junior volunteer counselor last year.
Responsibilities: Counselor for a group of boys entering second and third grade, the Karate Kids. Valenti said he enjoys being with the kids, and that the funny things they say and do make his job worthwhile.

This is the first part of a series that will appear each week on summer jobs, featuring Valley Stream high school and college students.
If you would like to be featured, email ahackmack@liherald.com