Able Camacho is currently with the Garden of Dreams Foundation as a coordinator for the Madison Square Garden Company. Prior to working as a coordinator, Camacho had the opportunity to oversee and assist at various basketball summer camps and clinics throughout New York. Camacho has worked with ProCamps Worldwide, Five-Star Basketball, and with the New York Knicks Summer Basketball Camp as a Camp coach.
I asked Camacho what were his top five reasons why parents would want to consider signing their child up for summer camp sessions:
To Develop Social Skills
Most of today’s children aren’t utilizing parks, playgrounds, and their local gyms. Instead of playing video games or sitting in front of a computer screen, which could stump the growth of their social skills development, kids would have a chance to interact with other participants who may share the same interest. Camacho states, “Camp teaches kids to communicate, to work together as part of a team, and to be leaders.” Without exposure or the opportunity to lead, children grow up confused when put in pressure situations.
To face challenges and learn the value of hard work
There are many challenges children will face while at summer camp: playing defense, pacing yourself, teamwork, losing, and so much more. Children will work hard and understand how to value their hard work while overcoming tough challenges, Camacho continues, “children learn the importance of working hard to accomplish what they want and to never give up, all in a low-stress setting.”
To build character
When children attend summer camps they experience a wealth of knowledge about the game of basketball, but moreover they learn that these skills also translate into the real world. “On top of making new friends, campers also develop an appreciation for the qualities required to cultivate and strengthen these relationships. Camp provides children with the core values of a strong, moral individual by teaching them about ethics, honesty, caring, respect and responsibility.” States Camacho.
To develop a specific physical training plan
The children who attend camp every year are the children who have dedicated their whole summers to physical training. Each year kids increase their skills and also adopt new skills. Strength, vertical jump, lateral quickness, passing, shooting, court vision, and focus are on the skills that Camacho has seen kids develop through the years.
To develop a mental plan
“Working on confidence, personal faith, and mental toughness. This is a crucial separator between good and great athletes.” States Camacho.
Traits that children learn at summer camp become crucial for transferring those traits as they grow up and becoming adults and face a new challenge, the real world.