With the school year ending, kids can enjoy their summer break and extra free time by participating in sports camps around the area, with a hidden goal to build friendships and teamwork.
According to athletic director Dennis Stanton, the numerous camps that are run by the high school help kids stay physically and mentally healthy.
“They build relationships with other kids, not only in our district, but outside of our district,” Stanton said, “and get better at sports that they like.”
The camps at the high school allow the children to build good relationships with many of the high school coaches at a much earlier age.
“There’s a great benefit for kids to connect with our coaches, if they don’t know who our coaches are,” Stanton said. “There’s [also] a benefit for our coaches to get to know the student athletes who are in our district.”
The camps also provide kids with an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors in the summer while making new friends.
According to Stanton, he sees camps as a way to “have fun while getting out the house in the summer.”
For coach Elijah White, he enjoys seeing the kids not only learn how to be good athletes, but good people as well.
“The kids like sports, that’s how they’re going to grow,” White said. “The lessons [they learn will] help teach the children how to be good athletes and good people.”
For White, he is excited for the second year of Coach White’s Sports Camp.
“We had 15-16 kids in week one last year. This year we’re already up to 31 kids for week one,” White said.
However, White is more excited to watch these kids grow together.
“I’m excited to watch this [camp] grow,“ White said. “I run this camp because if we can make our children better people when they replace us, the world will be a better place.”