Summer Sports Camps Provide A Variety Of Ways For Children To Learn And Have Fun

By Andy Hutchison

Whether their athletic activity of choice is basketball, football, lacrosse, or track and field events, up- and-coming youth athletes have had a variety of private and town Parks and Recreation Department-sponsored sports camps in which to participate here in Newtown during the past few weeks.

At Newtown Youth Academy, the Murphy Basketball Camp, run by brothers Mike and Matt Murphy, provided an opportunity for ball dribbling and shooting enthusiasts to hone their skills and, of course, have some fun.

“One of the things we always try to have is fun with is the fundamentals,” said Mike Murphy, adding that the basic skills these players, ranging in age from 7 to 14, are reinforced in the drills.

“We want them to learn the game of basketball and, most importantly, have fun doing it ‘cause if they enjoy it, they continue to play and continue to grow and continue to improve,” Matt Murphy added.

Just across the street, at Reed Intermediate School, youth basketball players, also ranging in age from 7 to 14, practiced their lay-ups and other basketball skills in the Parks and Recreation Department’s Slamma Jamma Basketball Camps. The camps also held sessions at a variety of other gymnasiums around town and will be offered in two early August sessions.

“We really want to make sure they learn basic fundamentals and they’re having fun,” said camp director Dean Accetura, adding that the camp started with basic drills, including ball handling, and got progressively more challenging for the boys and girls.

Outside the gym on the field adjacent to Reed School were dozens of boys — and some girls too — running around playing flag football at the recreation department’s Flag Football Camp. Run by Jeff Tolson, the July camp sessions focused on fun without too much emphasis on football-playing skills. Of course, the youth pigskin players came away with more than just a few hours of fun in the sun.

“We’re trying to teach them how to play the game, the value of teamwork and bonding — the whole family idea — and try to let them have fun,” said Jake Tolson, one of the camp counselors and son of Jeff Tolson.

Fellow high school counselor Brian Grimes first came to this camp as a 10-year-old and six years later helps run the events. “Mr Tolson is so enthusiastic about it. It’s a lot of fun,” Grimes said.

“I just love seeing the kids have fun — that’s what it’s all about,” another counselor, Dan Lynch, added.

“I love being friends with them, getting to know them — having fun with them,” counselor Alex Miller said of working with the youth campers.

At Treadwell Park, the Jaime Vavrek Lacrosse Camp unfolded with a pair of weeklong sessions for children in grades three through eight. The players, many of whom are completely new to the game of lacrosse, learned the basics of the game under the direction of camp director and Newtown High School lacrosse player Vavrek and several of his NHS teammates. Passing, fielding, cradling, and other stick work, along with how to protect the ball from an opponent, were among the skills players practiced.

“I try to give them a good idea of what lacrosse is so they can tell if they want to play in the future or not,” Vavrek said.

Colby Summerlin, one of the counselors, said these young lacrosse enthusiasts are the next generation of lacrosse players and that he enjoys helping them learn the game.

Newtown High School’s track has been a busy place for hurdlers, sprinters, distance runners, throwers, and jumpers. The Outdoor Summer Day Camp, a track and field camp sponsored by Parks & Rec, and directed by Track Coach Eileen Fish, provided an outlet for track enthusiasts of all levels to improve their skills and learn about their track and field options.

Fish said the camp introduces new track participants to the many options they have — from distance and sprinting events to hurdle competitions to field events.

“It’s also to take some of the kids who have already been involved with track and spend more specific time with them. During the season you can’t spend an hour with a kid on the high jump, or long jump or hurdles. But with this, it’s much easier to spend some time with kids just developing a specific event with them,” Fish said.

Counselors, including current and former NHS runners, helped the young athletes, ranging in age from 7 to 15, practice their favorite events during a pair of two-week sessions in July.