This was our sixth year to offer basketball camp and our second year to include volleyball camp. We were blessed with 160 kids participating in Basketball Camp and 61 kids participating in Volleyball Camp. Each morning kids arrived at UBC and were bussed to Space Center Intermediate.
Coach Shaun Jones, from Los Fresnos, Texas, led Basketball Camp and was assisted by Coach Denise Taylor (who attends UBC) and approximately 30 high school students. In addition, Coach Taylor, who is the former head coach for the WNBA-Utah Starz, we had former NBA star, Antoine Carr (who played for the San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz) make an appearance both Wednesday and Thursday. Antoine spent time leading some drills with the kids and talking to them about the importance of staying in school. He also allowed the kids time for autographs and photos.
Our own Jennifer Pyle led Volleyball Camp and assisting her were Angie Reeves and Kendra Nowell and several UBC high school volleyball players.
In both Basketball and Volleyball Camp, kids had a great time learning new skills, running drills and scrimmaging and making new friends.
The selection of the spiritual component for camp drew some world-wide attention this year! Each day, we showed one of CBN’s Superbook series DVDs. When Gordon Robertson, Chief Executive Officer of CBN found out that we used the Superbook series he requested a feature story be done on UBC and our use of Superbook.
After a long and tiring morning of athletic workouts, the use of Superbook was an entertaining way to teach spiritual truths to the kids and they LOVED it! For example, in one of the series, kids had the opportunity to meet Daniel, a servant of the living God. They witnessed true courage in action when Daniel had to choose between following God or fearing man. And they saw how faith in God gives us the ability to do what’s right, even when it’s hard. Best of all, they learned that our heavenly Father has the power to rescue us from all danger when we trust in Him. Even a den of lions is no match for His protection over us. Each day concluded with an awards ceremony and video recap of the day.
Sports Camp is much more than just playing ball, it is using a basketball and volleyball as tools to have the opportunity to share our Faith in God with kids in our community.
