Saturday, June 6th presented a perfect day for the 11th Annual Camp Leon held at Hoover High School where approximately sixty five children from a dozen different local middle schools joined Athletes for Education (AFE) athletes and volunteers for a day of physical activity, teamwork and fun. The kids were lead through their warm-ups by the athletes before they were divided into groups to rotate between action stations.
Lonny Mitchell ran the Wide Receiver station where he utilized his training as an NFL Wide Out to demonstrate, coach and correct the children. When asked about his association with Camp Leon for over a decade, Lonnie proudly stated, “It the kids – they put a lot of energy and excitement into today. I love to be part of that energy and experience!” He was stern yet encouraging with the kids as he applied his ten years of camp experience. Lonny beams when you ask him about teaching the students at Camp Leon “In anything you do in life, it requires a certain type of focus. This camp is about teaching life skills where what we share and teach the kids can be used to help them in life around their peers, friends and family in sports, school and life in general. I try to let them have fun, but understand that they have to work too.”
As the children make their way to the Capoiera Brazil Station, they learn about a new culture, music and exercise routine with Osei Vita and his Capoeira Brazil team. The kids faces radiated with ear-to-ear smiles as exercising is made entertaining and played out to rhythmic beats of the drum. Drums and clapping provide the beat as they learn dance-like steps, leg kicks, hand stands and gymnastic-like moves. The focus is high energy and fun! Many children continue to practice what they learned long after it’s their turn with Capoiera…undoubtedly, their experience has positively affected and had a lasting effect on how they view other cultures, music and exercise.
Baseball legend, Kevin Mitchell, leads the Baseball station where he shows the children baseball fundamentals of how to connect the bat to ball to produce hits. For many people, this may sound elementary, but for the many of the children attending Camp Leon, they have never played baseball before so this is a life-changing experience. He emphasizes teamwork, never leaves any child behind and always ends the exercise on a positive note. Kevin understands what its like to grow up in the inner city as he’s from Southeast San Diego. “The main thing I focus on is trying to teach the kids are mechanics – we focus on footwork and mechanics – because those things are the fundamental building blocks to building a solid athlete. It’s an honor for us to come out here and work with the kids.”
The final morning exercise station runs the kids through Football Drills with former NFL greats, Leon White and Karl Wilson. When asked about the long-running success of Camp Leon, Leon White proudly gives credit where he feels credit is due, “Our success is because of the kids and what they bring to the program as it’s a reward-based system for kids.” Karl Wilson chimes in “Camp Leon gives us the opportunity to give back to the community, to stay in touch with the middle school kids, encouraging them through athletics and to do better in life. Camp is a great reward for what they do in the classroom.”
As a bystander watching all the participants, one cannot help but be touched by the Special Needs children. One in particular pulls your heartstrings. Ruben is one of the smallest children in attendance, but his undeniable spirit touches your heart as he bounces around the field, barely able to contain his excitement about everything he’s experiencing at Camp Leon. Ten Special Needs children are in attendance this year, a first for the Camp and the children. When asked what this means to them, their coach, Mike Shirley, beams as he shares, “It means acceptance, achievement and success – and hope for the future. It gives these kids so much hope for the future. We were worried that other kids would be better athletes and our kids would not be able to keep up, but that’s not the case. They are doing really well and having so much fun!”
Thank you to our gracious sponsors for this year’s camp: Kings Fishouse Mission Valley, Vitamin Water, Hoover HS, Randy’s Screen Printing, San Diego Food Bank, San Diego City Schools (SDCS), Walter & Elizabeth Smoyer and Jeff Drucker, owner Subway Restaurant - Kerny Mesa: and to all our many fantastic AFE volunteers and SDCS teachers & administrators, that without their support, Camp Leon would not have been as successful as it was this year!!!
After an action-packed morning, the kids are treated to a healthy lunch before they start their afternoon fun which focuses on teamwork activities. At the end of the day, the children, athletes and volunteers are tired but all feel an incredible sense of accomplishment and excitement as they reflect on the day. A parent captures the sentiment best as she says, “This camp shows kids that exercise can be fun and rewards them in a huge way for being a good citizen. The world needs more programs like this! Thank you Camp Leon!”
Click on a photo below to open a larger version
| Leon White - 11th Annual Camp Leon - June 6th, 2009 |
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