After a successful 2021 season, Youth Sport Camps are back for a full 2022 season, encouraging counselors and kids alike to get outside, get active, and have fun. An outreach program for kids in the Colorado State University Department of Health and Exercise Science, Youth Sport Camps is excited to celebrate its 52nd season on campus, bringing kids together to learn the importance of activity and wellness in a healthy lifestyle. 

While the Colorado State Pandemic Preparedness Team continues to monitor COVID-19, trends of infection and vaccination in the local Fort Collins community point to a promising summer of fun.  The camps team is creating flexible schedules and plan to be open the entire summer. The team will announce any public health measures as the season draws closer.

“We’re excited to get back into the full swing after COVID, and we’ve re-designed the curricula of all of our camps,” said Brian Butki, director of the Youth Sport Camps and senior teaching associate professor.  “We’re on pace for an all-time high in registrations, and we’re looking forward to a full summer of fun and friendship.”

Fun in the sun

Youth Sport Camps is an all-day, summer camp program for kids aged 5-13, with Counselor-In-Training and Counselor positions available for 14-year-olds all the way to college students. This year’s season will begin on May 31 and will run through August 12. Camps run all day, with most camps running from 8:30 a.m. drop off to 4:30 p.m. pickup, Monday through Friday.

There is an activity for everyone, with sports such as basketball, volleyball, field sports, and more. For campers who want to move but don’t have a particular sport in mind, there is the FunLIFE camp, which helps campers learn about and develop lasting healthy lifestyles, as well as the Music and Movement camp, which incorporates martial arts, aerobics, rhythm, and more! For our future scientists, there is even a Sports Science camp, where kids can learn about the body and how fitness starts in your muscles. For those looking for an action-packed adventure, check out the Super Sport Camp.

For children over the age of 9, there is the Outdoor Adventure camps, which offer a fun variety of outdoor activities. Some of the adventures included for these campers are biking, hiking, geo-caching, and exploring the outdoors. For children 10 and over, there is the Extreme Outdoor Adventure camps, which take adventure to a whole new level with rock-climbing, white-water rafting, paddle boarding, and an overnight field trip to the CSU Mountain Campus.

Camps are led by students, many from the health and exercise science department and surrounding community, who are aided by the Counselors-In-Training, students 14 and up, many of whom are former campers themselves. With a close eye on the public health conditions, Butki is optimistic this year will be the best year yet.

“This is just a great way to move back into a healthy, happy lifestyle for the campers who have been largely cooped up for the better part of two years,” said Butki. “Get ready for another amazing, fun-filled summer!”

The camps offer discounts for early registration before May 6, as well as for multiple registrations. CSU employees receive a 15% discount through the Commitment to Campus program. Camp and fee details and online and in-person registration info are on the Youth Sport Camps website.

The Department of Health and Exercise Science is a part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.