Thunderbird Youth Camps offer Training for Nearly Every Sport
Published: May 24, 2013 | Read Time: 6 minutes
Thunderbird Athletics will give kids of all ages a chance to play college ball this summer through an extensive lineup of youth camps, helping athletes aged three to 18 hone athletics skills, discover the impressive sceneries of southern Utah and get to know other campers from across the nation.
For boys between the third and eighth grade, the boys basketball camp will be the first camp to open its doors this season, hosting campers from June 3–5, where Head Coach Nick Robinson and his players will teach campers the fundamentals of basketball in SUU’s top-of-the-line facilities.
“This is a chance for young boys to get their hands on a basketball and learn from some of the best players in the state," said Robinson with obvious pride as he looked ahead to the team's plans for this year's camp, adding, "Along with learning the main skills and fundamentals, we're going to have lots of fun."
Registration for the boys b-ball camp will close Sunday, May 26, and costs $175 per camper.
Southern Utah High Altitude Cross Country Camp
The program and coaches who developed two-time NCAA champion and 2012 Olympian Cam Levins will host cross country runners from across the nation August 5–9. And while the location is officially listed as Southern Utah University, campers will be running trails across the area and as high as 10,000 feet above sea level, near the Brian Head Ski Resort, offering the very best in coaching at extreme conditions that will prepare up-and-coming runners like nothing else can.
Open to girls and boys ages 13-19, the camp also offers chances for runners from all over to connect through extracurricular activities that will include waters games, the Utah Shakespeare Festival and movies. Standard camp registration, which includes meals and housing, is $375, though runners closer to home may also be interested in reduced fee options: $310 for all activities and meals (no housing) or just $245 for activities (no meals, no housing).
Open to girls ages six to 13 and 17-18, the University's girls basketball camp will cover both the basic fundamentals of the game as well as targeted technical skills activities. The camp for older girls will also cover advanced techniques and focus on giving players a true feel for college ball.
Registration for both camps is June 1. The Little Birds Camp, which will run June 6–8, is offered as either a half-or full-day camp at $125 for all-day campers and $75 for half-day campers. And the team's Elite Camp is $100 for commuter campers and $130 for overnight campers. Registration for both camps is June 1.
Flippin' Birds Gymnastics Camp
For the last five years the SUU Gymnastics Camp has been a highly popular event, offering young gymnasts a chance to learn from WAC coaches in collegiate facilities. In fact, high demand for the camp in previous years prompted the team to extend its activities to younger and less experience gymnasts; and high demand for that new camp as well as the team's traditional camp have already necessitated the addition of a second week-long camp to the summer schedule at both levels.
The original early July camp is full at both levels; however, spots are still available in the July 15–18 camps.
The younger youth camp, for girls and boys ages three to 12, is $150 and will teach gymnastics basics. More experienced gymnasts will then benefit from exposure to college level gymnastics training in SUU Gymnastics' original summer overnight camp for female athletes, ages six to 18, who are currently performing at levels four through 10 and are interested in excelling in the sport of gymnastics.
According to Assistant Coach Kari Louthan, the team uses this camp to identify and recruit future Thunderbird gymnasts. Said Louthan, "Since we started the camp five years ago, we have recruited five current SUU gymnasts, three of whom are on full-ride scholarships.”
Registration for the higher-level overnight camp ranges from $315 to $445, depending upon whether campers need housing and food. Registration for both camps will remain open through June 15, though the roster is filling up quickly.
The SUU Football staff is excited to host their annual full-contact team and individual camps again this summer, providing high school football players the chance to work with the University's coaching staff to learn both basic and advanced techniques. The camp is also a great way to gain a comprehensive skills evaluation at the college level and meet and perform for SUU coaching staff as well as guest coaches from several universities throughout the U.S.
The Teams Camps will run June 23–27 and July 7–11; cost varies on team size. The individual camp will run June 23-27 and costs $285. Registration fees include all activities, a t-shirt, meals and lodging.
As a new addition this year, SUU Football has also added a one-day northern Utah camp, at Bingham High School in South Jordan, bringing the elite SUU coaching staff to players who may not be able to travel during the summer months. This one-day individual camp slated for July 28 is just $65, and includes lunch and a t-shirt on top of a college football experience that will be second to none.
Giving soccer players of all ages a chance to receive U.S. Soccer Federation-level instruction, SUU Soccer is offering four separate camps this summer that will run the gamut of both age and experience.
The first camp, the High School Team and Individual Camp will run June 17–21 and is for high school soccer players who wish to be tested at the college level and learn from Division 1 Big Sky coaches, as well as play against the best players and teams in the state. Overnight camp registration is $265; commuter camp registration for those who live nearby is $175. Players may register individually or come as a team.
A local favorite, the Junior T-Bird Camp is designed for boys and girls ages four to 10, and focuses on teaching basic technical skills, with a $75 registration fee. A more competitive camp will also be conducted for eight to 11 year olds that will challenge campers and fine-tune technical skills, for $85; and the Teen T-Bird Camp, for 12-15 year olds, will cover all four areas of soccer and is a good preparatory experience for players who wish to continue on in competitive play through high school. This camp is $105 per player.
Offering three different camps for various playing levels and ages, SUU Volleyball Camps are to be a hit for boys and girls. The camp will include one-on-one training by SUU volleyball coaching staff and current SUU volleyball athletes, as well as a focus on small group sizes to ensure each camper receives a lot of playing time and feedback.
"You really can't beat the one-on-one attention we are aiming to give our campers this year," said Head Coach Deborah Baker. "We want to help these players get out of their comfort zone, make new friends and refine their skills."
The five-to 11-year-old Kids Volleyball Camp will run July 8-10 at a low cost of just $20. That same week, a Beginner/Intermediate Camp for children 12-15 years of age will also be in session, with a registration of $100. And training for older youth is available through the team's Advanced Camp, which will run July 15-18 for 14-18 year-olds. Registration for the Advanced Camp is $180 for commuters and $280 for overnight campers.
All SUU Athletic Camps offer a $10 discount to families who register multiple players. The volleyball and soccer camps also offer a $10 discount for children of SUU faculty and staff.
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