Youth Sport Camps are in full swing again on the Colorado State University campus. The 12-week program runs from June 1 to Aug. 21 and includes 13 different sports and activities for kids in kindergarten through eighth grade. There are also counselor-in-training opportunities for kids aged 14 to 17.
The camp provides plenty for youngsters to do with the option to sign up for as little as one week or as much as all 12 weeks. The camp offers one-week sessions in traditional sports such as baseball/softball, basketball, field sports, inline hockey, lacrosse, soccer and volleyball, but also features programs that teach aerobic dance, martial arts, and healthy eating and lifestyles.
One of the more popular camps for older kids, ages 10 and up, is the Colorado Adventure Camp. This camp lets kids experience all that Colorado has to offer: hiking, biking, rock climbing, slack lining and more.
Ultimately, the goal of the Youth Sport Camps is to promote a healthy lifestyle early in a child’s life with different sports and activities.
“We try to teach the kids that even if you don’t excel at a sport you can still play and have fun,” said Breanna Snyder, one of the camp counselors and recent graduate of the Department of Health and Exercise Science. “We just want them to enjoy being active.”
For kids who are less competitive, the camp offers FunLIFE and Music and Movement. FunLIFE is a program that combines sports and physical activity with healthy lessons and curriculum. Music and Movement teaches kids aerobic dance, rhythms, and martial arts.
Almost every camp includes swimming during the hottest part of the day.
“Swimming is my favorite part because the water is cold and the diving board is fun,” said camp participant Liza, 10.
The camp is designed to be progressive and independent, meaning campers of all skill levels can sign up for one or several sessions of the same activity. Each session may include kids that have never tried a sport before and kids that have been playing for years.
“The difference in levels is great because the experienced kids push the less-experienced kids to improve while still being able to work on their own skills,” said counselor Breanna Rubalcaba, health and exercise science major in the health promotion concentration.
A typical camp day runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with sport-specific lessons in the morning, swimming and a movie in the afternoon, and a scrimmage at the end of the day.
“Lacrosse games are awesome because you get to be free and feel the breeze in your hair,” said camp participant Gabbi, 11. “Oh, and you get to shoot goals. That’s pretty awesome!”
Despite being held in the heat of the summer, the kids love it.
“Once they start playing, they don’t care about the heat anymore. It’s just about having fun with the sport they’re playing,” said Rubalcaba.
To learn more and to register for Youth Sport Camps, go to the following website: http://hes.chhs.colostate.edu/outreach/ysc/.
