THE BREWSTER TRUST second annual Football Holiday Camp at Queen’s College is in full swing.
The camp started on July 2 and will end on August 31.
After a very successful first year with nearly 400 campers, organizers decided to split the camp into sections according to age, with sessions for campers between the ages of five and 18.
The first week involved a coaching course for coaches.
The second session, which ends today, is for children between the ages of five and nine.
The next session will begin on Monday and will cater to children between the ages of ten and 14.
Starting at 9 a.m. and finishing at 3:30 p.m. every weekday, the camp is open to boys and girls, including children with disabilities. This year there are two children with autism and one child with Down’s syndrome.
Campers received several benefits, including coaching from Arsenal FC’s Gap Year alumni, insurance coverage, Puma football gear, classroom sessions, and healthy lunches, snacks and drinks.
The classroom sessions involve workbooks from Arsenal FC, which cover a variety of topics from geography to history.
“We integrate football with their lessons,” said Russell Hopper, administrative director of the Brewster Trust.
“We might ask the children where [Thierry] Henry comes from, and they would be able to tell us,” he said.
“Then we say, ‘Now find it on the map’. And before they know it, they had a geography lesson but they think they’re talking about football.”
Regarding the reason for the camp’s success, Axel Bernhardt, chief executive officer of the charity, stated: “It’s the love for the sport. There are not too many opportunities to play football every day.”
He also credited the support of parents. (AT)
