Hi! I need to find the translation for "animation" in English (see below)?

Question

Hi!

I need to find a word for "animation" (French word) in English.

I don't know how to call a person who works with kids and teenagers in summer camps or in YMCAs or things like that. I found "youth coordinator", but I don't know if that's the right term, and don't know if they use different terms in British English or in American English.

Actually, I need the name of the activity. I found "youth coordination", but it doesn't really seem to apply to what I'm looking for.

Can you also say if you're Am. or Engl., as it may not be the same word.

Thank you.

Basically, their job consists in organizing games with the kids, and stuff like that.

I think I wasn't clear in my explanation. "Animation" in French means the activity of the person who takes care of kids. Actually, I made a mistake. The person can also be working with adults, as in holiday clubs (ex: Club Med', for those who know about it)

Answer 1

In America, they say:
"activities for children/young people" or "programs for children /young people".

I would translate "animations" to "activities".

For example: "des animations sportives et culturelles" = "sports and cultural activities".

Answer 2

I'll agree with the previous answer that an individual that works with youth in summer camp is generally referred to as a counselor. A youth coordinator to me has the connotation of someone working in an organization (such as a large church) that may take care of planning and organizing youth activities.

Animation is a perfectly good English word. Remember, English unashamedly adopts words from other languages. In American English, "animation" means art that moves as in a cartoon, or a series of computer graphics (that would be Computer Animation).

If you want a little more highbrow word for "animation" try "anthropomorphism". I think that's right. I guess I've never tried to spell it. Literally it means to apply human qualities to an inanimate object, or sometimes used to apply human emotions to animals. A dog looking for God would be an anthropomorphism since dogs probably don't have a God concept, although we often relate to them as if they're human.

Answer 3

I'm American. We say "camp counselor". I have never heard anyone working with kids at summer camps called a "youth coordinator" but I can see how it could be a technical title.

Answer 4

hi...
i think you can just used " youth worker", it mean : un educateur pour les enfants..(in english)
xxx