NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) – A summer camp in New Haven is helping kids build skills on the basketball court and in the classroom.
Hot-Shot Basketball camp is for boys and girls ages 4 through 16. For these kids, spending the summer at camp is a slam dunk. They work on improving their game, doing passing drills, and dribbling. Coach Aaron Johnson, the camp’s director, says it gets bigger each year.
“Just seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces, knowing that they have a safe environment when they come here and this could pretty much be their safe haven while they’re here, that’s the greatest thing for me,” he said.
Campers learn basketball skills and are taught how to address conflict resolution appropriately. This is the first time many campers have participated in organized basketball. This is the camp’s 24th year.
This year the camp is giving nearly 350 kids something to do over the summer. Many of the counselors, like Tyreese Sheats, were literally in the campers shoes – they went to this camp when they were kids.
“It gets me excited to see them excited, to be teaching them and them being engaged with what I am saying,” said Sheats.
“The best part is seeing them excited, seeing them do things they didn’t know they could do,” said Marquel Lloyd, a counselor who used to be a camper.
This camp isn’t just about sports. It brings basketball and books together and aims to help kids in the classroom.
“I’ve been getting better grades because this camp helped me stay on track a lot,” said James Bell, who will be starting ninth grade next month.
The camp’s motto – “no books, no ball” – means campers need to bring a book to camp and spend time reading before they pick up a ball. They spend time talking about the books they read. They build skills not just for the court, but for the classroom.
“It teaches you how to work as a team and it kind of helps you kind of work harder,” said Micah Pullen, who is entering the fourth grade.
The kids will be going to Lake Compounce on Thursday and will be competing in the camp’s championship games on Friday.
Friday is the last day of camp.
