Meet Our Day Camp Team: Katie Trchka
Katie Trchka, Senior Regional Director of Youth Programs of the YMCA of Metro Chicago, is originally a Chicago suburbs native. She has a degree in Recreation, Sport, and Tourism Management. Growing up, she went to YMCA Camp Tecumseh in Indiana, where she caught the camping bug! Since being a camper, she has worked at multiple overnight Y camps, the Navy’s Child and Youth Programs, and now the Y, where she has worked for almost five years. Trchka oversees Day Camp, STEAM programming, and teen programs! She loves reading, crafting, reviewing movies, and being outside.
Q: What is your favorite part of working at the YMCA?
A: The people, by far. My co-workers and the families I’ve worked with have become lifelong friends and connections. I’m a better person because of the people I interact with at the Y.
Q: What do you like most about the work that the Y does?
A: I love that we bring camping to so many youth throughout the Midwest from Day Camps in the city to traditional Overnight Camp to Family Camp, adventure programming, retreats, and everything in between. Everyone is able to have a camp experience at the Y, regardless of who you are or where you come from.
Q: What is your favorite part about Day Camp at the Y?
A: All of the activities! Every day is full of different games like scatterball, tennis, baseball, and things like scavenger hunts and friendship bracelet making.
Q: What is your favorite memory from Day Camp at the Y?
A: [There are] too many to choose from, but [it’s] probably dressing up as a hot dog during one of the Elmhurst Y’s Friday cookouts and interacting with campers and parents for sign out.
Q: What are you most proud of in your career so far?
A: It’s been a rollercoaster of a journey. I’d say being asked not once, but twice to represent the YMCA of Metro Chicago in front of donors and guests during the annual recognition dinner as emcee in 2019 and an opening speaker in 2022.
Q: What’s one thing people don’t know about you that they would be surprised to find out?
A: I once sang a Christmas carol on Canadian radio!
Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be (and why)?
A: Teleportation. I love to travel but getting places takes so long, and I’m not good at sitting for long periods of time!
Q: What’s the last song you listened to?
A: “The Longest Time” [by Billy Joel] — absolute feel good jam!
Q: What’s one thing on your bucket list?
A: To be on Survivor (and maybe win a million dollars).
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!