Meet Our Day Camp Team: Sarah Sidell

Sarah Sidell, Youth Development Director at the Foglia YMCA, was born and raised in Oklahoma before moving to Illinois when she was 15. She graduated from Indiana University with a degree in secondary education. Sidell enjoys cooking, scrapbooking, being active, traveling, and spending time with her husband, Elliott, and daughter, Aubrey. She has been working at the Y for 13 years and loves the relationships that she builds with families.

Q: What do you like most about the work that the Y does? 

A: I love that we provide a place for families to participate in programs, grow, learn new things, and just BE [who they are]. 

Q: What is your favorite part about Day Camp at the Y? 

A: The constant go, go, go, and how no day is the same. 

Q: What is your favorite memory from Day Camp at the Y?

A: We used to do counselor challenges where the counselors would compete in silly tasks or games. One time, they re-enacted the dance scene from “Dirty Dancing” with partners. 

Q: What are you most proud of in your career so far? 

A: Running childcare programs that our community so desperately needs.

Q: What’s one thing people don’t know about you that they would be surprised to find out? 

A: I student-taught and lived in Kenya for 3 months when I was a senior at Indiana University. 

Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be (and why)? 

A: Invisibility, so you can always know what's going on even when you aren’t around.

Q: What’s the last song you listened to? 

A: “Best Friend” by Saweetie and Doja Cat.

Q: What’s one thing on your bucket list? 

A: Visit every continent.

The YMCA of Metro Chicago believes in the power of play. We play for fun and for progress. Day Camp at the Y empowers Chicagoland youth to do mighty things — making friends, developing new skills, creating life-shaping experiences, and so much more! 

Our experienced and talented counselors and staff are committed to making sure your camper experiences a full day of play, exploration, learning, and personal growth. Here at the Y, we want to show off our Day Camp team’s amazing talents and contributions to our community — and find even more talented, community-oriented individuals who want to work at the YMCA!