By Ottawa Sports Pages, For Ben Franklin Superdome
It’s the kids’ camp that doubles as summer vacation for parents.
Lunches, snacks, pre- and post-camp care are all included with registration at the Ben Franklin Superdome, and here’s one more extra bonus: campers spend all day expending energy while playing a pile of sports.
“We’ve made it very accommodating for families,” notes camp director Abby McCorriston. “We know that parents don’t like packing lunches after dong it all year for school, so having food provided is really popular.
“But it also fits into our philosophy that we want to make sure every camper feels at home when they’re here.”
Most camp staff are studying to be teachers or childhood educators, which helps ensure a safe, secure and welcoming environment.
“I hate to brag, but I also love to brag about them – I have the best team,” McCorriston underlines. “They’re passionate, they’re energetic and they’re excited to be there. It makes a big difference when your team loves what they do.”
Now in their third year, Ben Franklin camps mirror long-running TMSI-managed camps at Amberwood and Thunderbird, which sell out early annually.
That’s where McCorriston went to summer camp herself, then became a volunteer, then a counsellor and now she’s in her fifth year as camps director.
“I’m very passionate about recreation,” signals the Carleton University communications/sociology grad who’s now working on a sports business management masters degree through the University of Liverpool.
“I believe sports are super important to our mental health, to our bodies and minds, and it’s very important to encourage that from a young age,” adds the former competitive equestrian show jumper. “The social side of it is huge too. You can make friends for a lifetime. Maybe they might not see each other all winter, but they always reunite at camp.”
On the camps schedule are soccer, basketball, road hockey, football, crafts, frisbee, water games and plenty more.
Campers will visit the splashpad, playground and fields surrounding the Superdome at Ben Franklin Park, though if it’s a day with a downpour, the sports sked doesn’t miss a beat thanks to the giant air-supported indoor dome.
“We have fun, rain or shine,” smiles McCorriston, noting that theme days – like beach day, PJs day or Disney day – are a very popular feature, along with the chance to try a wide variety of sports.
“Kids in the past have found out they love basketball, for example, and they didn’t know that before,” she highlights. “It’s really nice for us to see that we’ve started a passion for a camper.”
Find out more about the Ben Franklin Superdome Summer Multi-Sports Camp and register at: https://benfranklinpark.ca/sports-camp/
