By 2015 Canadian Little League Championship
There may still be snow on the ground, but for East Nepean Eagles Club President Bruce Campbell and his group who have been preparing for the 2015 Canadian Little League Championships since 2010, August seems like it’s just around the corner.
“Wow. Time really goes by quickly. It is 2015 now,” smiles Campbell, whose organization will host the country’s seven best baseball teams of 11- and 12-year-olds for the Aug. 6-16 event at South Nepean Park. “Building up to it, you’re so busy with everything, and boom, it’s here.”
A major item on the organizing committee’s plate at the moment is recruiting somewhere in the neighborhood of 250 volunteers required throughout the 11-day tournament.
“There is so much to do and so many things to look after,” Campbell underlines. “Without the volunteers, it just wouldn’t take place. Simple as that.”
Help is needed in a wide range of areas, including park setup and takedown, field crew maintenance, keeping the park clean, parking oversight, souvenir and food sales, as well as general help. With games running all day for over a week, the number of bodies required to cover all shifts quickly multiplies.
The people involved in volunteering locally and with Little League Baseball – which runs almost exclusively on the backs of volunteers, with only two paid staff nationally for an organization with 40,000 participants – are a fantastic bunch collectively, Campbell signals.
For high school students seeking to fulfill their community involvement hours, the tournament is a perfect opportunity to experience what volunteerism is all about, adds the volunteer who’s served 25+ years as East Nepean President.
“They’ll have fun doing it,” Campbell highlights. “It’s prime summertime. The grass is green and it’s nice and warm. And you’ve got a great game going on.”
Host visiting Little Leaguers
The Championships organizing committee is also seeking 40+ billet homes to host a pair of players from the six visiting teams (the Eagles are guaranteed the seventh berth in tournament as hosts).
After completing a police volunteer check, host families will be asked to provide a place for the out-of-towners to sleep, serve breakfast and dinner, and drive the players around to their games and events.
Campbell’s family has hosted players in the past and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity.
“The kids get to interact and learn from each other,” he indicates. “We’ve had children here from Nova Scotia, Alberta, you get to learn about that region and what their families do there. Life is certainly different in Glace Bay, N.S. than it is here.
“It’s a great experience, from both ends.”
Visit 2015.littleleaguechampionships.ca for more information, or email enll@rogers.com to inquire about volunteering.