Children from various communities in Dallas and Ellis Counties enjoyed a unique basketball camp at The Canterbury Episcopal School this week. Beginning at 9:00 a.m. on 7/13th, children ranging in age from 6 – 14 learned and perfected their basketball skills by personal instruction, games, scrimmages, and just plain fun. The afternoon sessions this week were geared specifically for students ranging in age from 14-18 years old to improve their basketball skills and give them the competitive edge needed for high school play.
Under the direction of Canterbury Athletics Director Scott Vaughan, the Canterbury Summer Sports Camps are very unique in the competitive seasonal industry of “enrichment camps.”
What makes Canterbury’s camps stand out from many others is that not only do the events offer the opportunity for students to learn and improve particular athletic skills, but they are infused with the values of fairness and good sportsmanship that are sometimes overlooked in competitive sports today.
Each morning of camp begins with words from Canterbury Coaches and a fun interactive game for all the campers. The session progresses with stations where campers learn and improve particular skills needed for the game, additional games and opportunities for competition and prizes, followed by scrimmages grouped by ages and skill level.
Following the final activity, campers receive tickets that they have earned for their efforts during the day that they will be able to trade in at the end of the week for prizes. Each session closes with inspirational words from Coach Vaughan or other Canterbury Coaches.
Coach Vaughan has seen many of the campers for several years and stated that he loves to see the growth and improvement in these young athletes. The CES high school counselors offer a fun and inspirational element for the event. Many of the counselors, such as Canterbury Junior Tyler Mathis and 2009 Canterbury graduate Derrik Neal, enjoy assisting with this event as much as the campers enjoy attending! Seeing the joy in Derrik’s face while he instructs some of the beginners, makes it obvious that his plans to become a coach will be successful. First time campers, Monroe Bailey of Ovilla and Jax Thaxton of Midlothian both said that they were having an “awesome time” and are already looking forward to next year!
Canterbury Volleyball Camp and Basketball Camp have concluded for this summer; however, for anyone wanting to take part in this unique summer camp experience while improving their baseball skills, there is still time to register. Boys’ Baseball Camp will be held on campus July 20th – 23rd. The morning camp session is for ages 10 – 13, and is from 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ($110.00), while the afternoon session is for ages 14 – 18, and is from 1:00 – 4:00 ($120.00). For more information or to register, visit the website or call 972-890-7280.
The Canterbury Episcopal School is a co-ed, college preparatory school for Kindergarten-12th grade located on Westmoreland Road in DeSoto, behind Thorntree Country Club. Canterbury not only boasts an award winning athletic program, but that 100% of their graduates enter colleges or universities. CES is also the alma mater of a Fulbright Scholar currently studying in Ghana and a National Merit Scholar attending Harvard in the fall!
Canterbury is currently accepting applications for enrollment for the 2009 – 2010 school year, and is open for tours each Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 – 10:30.
For more information visit the website at http://www.thecanterburyschool.org/ or call 972-572-7200.