ESM Students Stay Active at Summer Sports Camp

For Eastport-South Manor students, summer vacation has included plenty of time to relax — but there has also been plenty of time to get moving.

Students throughout the district have been staying active and building their athletic skills through the Eastport-South Manor Athletics Youth Summer Camp program, giving young athletes an opportunity to learn, compete and have fun during the summer months.

The camp is open to students ages 6 through 13 and runs for eight weeks, providing participants with instruction in a variety of sports. The program is designed to help young athletes develop fundamental skills while also building confidence and learning the value of teamwork.

The camps are led by ESM coaches, with assistance from high school student-athletes who get the opportunity to serve as mentors for the younger participants.

That combination creates a unique environment for the campers. They get to learn from experienced coaches while also working alongside older students who have been in their shoes and understand what it means to be part of the ESM athletic community.

Throughout the summer, participants have the opportunity to work on the fundamentals of their respective sports, improve their skills and take part in friendly competition. But the program isn't simply about winning or losing.

For many of the students, it's about discovering a new sport, making friends and gaining confidence while being part of a team.

Summer camps like this can also play an important role in developing the next generation of ESM student-athletes. Young players get an early introduction to the expectations that come with competing for their school while learning skills that can serve them well both on and off the playing field.

The involvement of ESM's high school athletes adds another important piece to the program. By helping younger students, those athletes have the opportunity to develop leadership skills and give back to the community that has supported them throughout their own athletic careers.

With eight weeks of sports, instruction and plenty of friendly competition, the ESM Athletics Youth Summer Camp is providing local students with a productive and enjoyable way to spend their summer.

The next generation of ESM athletes may still have a few years before they step onto the high school playing fields, but they're already getting a head start.