The Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre hosts many children each year participating in various sports throughout the summer at the Durham College summer sports camps.

August 16, 2010

This summer marks 23 years of Durham College summer sports camp programs being held at the college’s Oshawa campus. Originally created in 1987 with two weeks of basketball camps, the program has evolved to include week-long sessions throughout July and August offering a variety of different sports to children ages seven to 17.

Sports offered include soccer, baseball, volleyball, basketball and a multi-sport program for children interested in playing more than one sport. There are also two elite camps offering volleyball and basketball for the older campers that play with a club or their high school teams.

Each sport is held inside the main gym of the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre or outside on Vaso’s Field and the Campus Tennis Centre, all located at the Oshawa campus.

Every camper receives a T-shirt and certificate of completion upon the final day of the program. Varsity athletes, graduates and current students of the Sports Management program have the opportunity to participate as counsellors, making sure that campers reach their full potential and learn new skills.

Athletic officer and program co-ordinator Michael Duggan has been the camp director for the last six years and is hoping to continue working with the camp for the remainder of his career at Durham College. As a former college athlete, Duggan believes that it’s important for children to keep active and be involved at any age.

“It’s gratifying to see the look on kid’s faces after their day here,” he said. “That tells us we have the right coaches and instructors.”

Duggan is also in charge of the March break multi-sport camp, and the basketball skills program that runs from March to May but may be extended into the fall this year.

Fuel is a necessity for these mini-athletes so campers have the option of daily or weekly meal plans to suit their needs. Some of the delicious foods provided are hamburgers, chicken burgers, pizza, chicken nuggets, quesadillas and more.

The camp motto is similar to that of the varsity athletes’ School is Cool program run throughout each academic year.

“We instill respect for fellow campers, hard work and dedication to all athletes,” said Duggan.

The Durham College summer sports camps have received positive feedback from parents and campers and the program is a three-time winner of the Durham Parent Reader’s Choice award for sports camps in Durham Region.

For more information, please visit www.campusrecreationcentre.com.