Young participants from last year's tennis camp receive instruction at the Durham College Tennis Centre. Close to 1,200 children have registered for this year's Summer Sports Camps at the college, with nearly half of the registrants participating in the tennis camps.
Durham College is known for its successful varsity sports program during the academic school year. That success continues in the summer when the athletics department opens its doors to almost 1,200 children for its annual Summer Sports Camps.
The weeklong camps, now in their 22nd year, are a three-time winner of the Durham Parent Readers' Choice Award for summer sports camps in Durham Region. This year's session kicked off on July 7 and continues through the rest of the summer, with the final camp wrapping up August 29.
"With our state-of-the-art facilities, top-rated coaches and a philosophy to provide the best learning experience possible, we continue to make the Summer Sports Camps the top choice in Durham Region," said Durham College Athletic Director Ken Babcock.
Summer camps are offered for children ranging in age from eight to 17, in baseball/softball, basketball, advanced basketball, golf, advanced golf, badminton, advanced badminton, soccer, volleyball, elite volleyball and tennis. For some children, it is too hard to pick just one sport, making the multi-sport camp a perfect choice.
Each session runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Thursday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays, with the exception of the tennis camps. Parents may choose to enrol their child in a half- or full-day tennis session.
Every camper receives a camp T-shirt and a certificate of completion following the final day. In addition, the groups close out their week of sports on Fridays with a free barbecue.
Children are instructed in their favourite sport by area high school and elementary school coaches, in addition to Durham College's varsity assistant coaches and athletes. The camps utilize the school's triple and double gymnasiums, indoor golf facility, soccer fields and tennis centre.
Durham College started its Summer Sports Camps program in 1987 with two weeks of basketball camps.
Space is still available in a number of the camps. To register, or for more information, please call 905.721.3040 or visit www.campusrecreationcentre.com.