Growing up, Ynit Cody never imagined she would build a career at a summer camp. What she did imagine was making a difference in young people’s lives.

As a teenager, Ynit participated in a mentoring program that connected her with adults who helped shape her future. The relationships she built with those mentors stayed with her long after graduation and ultimately inspired the path she follows today.

“Those teachers and mentors played such an important part in who I am,” she says. “I wanted to provide that for other kids, I just didn’t know how.”

After earning a degree in political science and a minor in psychology from Rutgers University, Ynit thought she might attend law school. Instead, a mentor intervened when she was working at McDonald’s after graduation, connecting her with an opportunity at Camp Watershed. It was there that Ynit realized she may have found her calling. At first, she helped build programming from the ground up. Soon, she found herself falling in love with camp life and the chance to combine mentorship, leadership, and recreation. “Seeing the joy on their faces as they did activities kind of pulled me in,” she says. “I absolutely loved it.”

After years at Camp Watershed, Ynit found herself ready for a new challenge. She wanted to keep learning, growing, and expanding her skills. When she discovered Camp Hope, she saw an opportunity to work with a population that was largely new to her. Although she had previously worked with some campers with autism, Camp Hope introduced her to a much broader range of needs and experiences.

The transition felt intimidating at first. “I thought, ‘Am I really ready for this?’” Her answer came on day one. A camper was refusing to leave the playground. While others had been unable to convince her to move on to the next activity, Ynit stepped in, using her years of camp experience to connect with the camper, successfully guiding her through the transition.

“It was a huge boost of confidence,” Ynit said. “It showed me that stepping out of your comfort zone into something unfamiliar can be worth it. Unless you try it, you won’t know what you’re capable of.”

Now entering her second summer as Senior Manager at Camp Hope, Ynit has embraced both the challenges and rewards of camp life. One of the biggest surprises, she says, has been the culture at The Arc of Essex County. Coming from an environment where programs often felt competitive with one another, she found something different at The Arc: genuine teamwork. “Everybody asks, ‘What do you need? How can I help?’” she says. “It was a breath of fresh air.”

She also loves the moments of pure Camp Hope magic. Whether campers are making slime, diving into shaving cream art projects, or getting the chance to throw paint at their counselors during Color War, Ynit loves seeing the joy on their faces. “They light up.”

The days can be long, hot, and exhausting. But before she knows it, the seven weeks are over, the days get quiet, and she misses the camp bustle. Even during the off-season, camp is never far from her mind. Planning, registrations, billing, and preparation for the next summer begin almost immediately. And when she helps at Parents’ Night Out or visits Arc Day Programs throughout the year, former campers are quick to recognize her from camp and tell her how much they can’t wait to return.

For Ynit, those moments are a reminder of why she chose this path. She found exactly what she was looking for: a place where she can mentor, encourage, and help young people discover their own strengths.

And as another Camp Hope summer begins, she’s ready. “I’m really excited for camp this year,” she says. “I can’t wait.”