For nearly two decades, the Greater Columbus Sports Commission has been committed to highlighting the impact of sports on our community. We’ve welcomed hundreds of premier events to the city, created our very own corporate challenge and celebrated each Columbus sports milestone along the way.
Now, we’re introducing a new initiative focused on showcasing the lifelong impact of sports to Columbus’ youngest residents. Introducing the Columbus Community Youth Camp!
The Community Youth Camp is a four-day camp that provides equitable sports opportunities for children ages 6-12. Community Youth Camp promotes confidence and personal wellness while teaching life lessons like teamwork, sportsmanship and overcoming adversity. Campers will learn up to 15 sports while developing skills that are not only used in sports but transferable to daily life.
Alongside our generous partners, we can’t wait to bring our community’s passion for sports to the next generation of Columbus athletes on June 7-10 at Lou Berliner Athletic Complex. Beyond the promise of four days full of sports, here are a few ways Community Youth Camp will impact Columbus kids.
Exposure to New Sports
From fencing to yoga, Community Youth Camp provides an opportunity to introduce children to a variety of new sports they might not otherwise get to experience. Although “classic” sports like basketball, baseball and volleyball will also be covered, Community Youth Camp will be a great opportunity for children to try something new without a large commitment from parents. Following Community Youth Camp, kids may decide to take a closer look at pursuing some of the 15 sports and programs they learned about at camp.
Youth Sports Help Kids Beyond the Game
Research from The Aspen Institute’s Project Play shows that getting kids involved in sports can provide lifelong benefits for their general wellness. Beyond the physical benefits of being active, youth sports also provide educational benefits. Organized sports activity is shown to help children develop and improve cognitive skills, leading to improved academic achievement and enhanced concentration. Project Play details a correlation between regular exercise and mental health, with increased happiness reported among students who exercise regularly.
Community Youth Camp aims to use sports, and their accompanying life lessons, to keep our community healthy, happy and engaged with the benefits of sports.
Equal Access to Sports
Even in year one, we’re committed to making sure camp benefits all areas of our community. Regardless of experience or background, Community Youth Camp will provide equal access to sports programming for kids across Columbus. With the support of our sponsors, camper spots will even be held for youth groups and community organizations of children who may not otherwise have access to sports programming. Learn more about the impact of event sponsorship.
Join us at camp! Registration is now open for campers age 6-12 at community.columbussports.org. If you know a high schooler who is too old to participate but still wants to be involved in Community Youth Camp, encourage them to apply to be a Camp Leader or Junior Camp Leader!