Category: Summer Camp

New Summer Camps, Lots More Fun

BY JANNA MURPHY

Swarthmore Recreation Association (SRA), launched two new, highly-anticipated camps at the start of August, one for budding basketball stars and the other for ultimate frisbee players.

More Moore Fun Basketball Camp, directed by Swarthmorean Durell Moore, focused primarily on building the campers’ skills and camaraderie. The campers spent most of their time on the basketball courts of Swarthmore Rutledge School under the direction of Mr. Moore.  “Camp is really good,” Mr. Moore said, still out of breath from running with the campers. Everett Miller, a camper on a water break, agreed completely.  “Camp’s pretty fun,” he said before rushing back onto the court. Campers Riley and Kabir were equally rushed in their responses, both affirming that camp was “good” before darting back to the action, all smiles and exhaustion.  The August camp was the second of two basketball camps run this summer by Mr. Moore in conjunction with SRA.  The camps, run by his coaches at More Moore FUNdamentals, were one more way that Mr. Moore, who is also an assistant varsity coach at Chester High School, has been working to improve the quality of basketball in Swarthmore and to improve Nether-Swarthmore Hoops, one of SRA’s marquee programs.  Mr. Moore also plans to host small group training sessions this fall for interested ball players.

On the other side of Swarthmore, on Rutgers Field, another new camp was underway, this one run by the Philadelphia Phoenix Ultimate team, a professional team based in Philadelphia and a member of the East Division of the American Ultimate Disc League (AUDL).  Phoenix players Morey Averill called the camp “a blast for all ages. Everyone has fun!”  The camp, the second of its kind this summer, consisted of skills training for players of all ability levels and plenty of chances to chat with friends and Phoenix players as well.   Camper Marco Flower said the camp “helped me become a better ultimate frisbee player.” Desmond Fuccillo, who is new to the sport, said “It’s amazing. I’ve learned lots of different kinds of throws and techniques.” Jacob Sacker said that the camp is “a fun way to learn,” and Nathan Sacker explained the camp’s main technique for teaching as “each game helps you with one thing.” Plus, there’s nothing quite like learning from a professional player.  At the end of the day, campers gathered around the Phoenix players to gather signatures on their camp shirts.  The Phoenix will be back in Swarthmore this fall for Advanced Ultimate Frisbee Clinics for middle and high school players.

Summer Camp for the win

BY HENRY REACHER

Swarthmore Recreation Summer Camp was a blast again this year. From preschoolers to rising 7th graders, everyone — including the counselors — had a great time. 

From 8:30 am to 1:45 PM, campers had countless toys and a variety of activities to choose from. They made necklaces using colorful beads on fine strings, built long chains of pipe cleaners, and played traditional card games such as “Blackjack” and “President.” 

The fun wasn’t reserved just for the classroom. Campers spent a large part of each day enjoying Swarthmore Rutledge School’s massive playground and its expansive green fields. They climbed around on the play sets, were pushed by counselors on the tire swing, and simply ran around after their buddies. Gaga ball, a variation on the classic dodgeball, was by far the most popular game on the playground. 

No two days were ever the same. Each day, campers participated in a unique activity, such as making fresh ice cream with their counselors, splashing around on inflatable waterslides, or watching a live puppet show. Campers made works of art on Sand Art Day, drew innumerable pictures, sculpted with Playdoh, and feasted on popcorn on Popcorn Day.  On the last day they were treated to water ice straight from the ice cream truck, which came by especially for them!

For the first time this year, SRA camp ran into the afternoon, a move that allowed both more campers and more counselors to participate in this Swarthmore tradition.  At the end of afternoon camp, a group of campers walked over to Swarthmore Swim Club for practice and more fun.

Michael Hansen, an enthusiastic gap-toothed 6-year-old, gives camp rave reviews.  “Camp is fun!” Michael says.  “I really enjoyed playing Blackjack with my friends and chasing around in the Gaga ball pit.” Campmate Nat Brody, a card game lover who had a lot of fun clambering all over the counselors’ backs, added that he “loved the waterslide because I got shoved down it by Noah!” 

The children were not the only ones having fun.  Counselors loves camp, too. Counselor Niko Christodouleas, who worked with the pre-K class, said he “really liked to see these kids develop,” adding that he is thrilled finally to be a counselor at the camp where he was a camper for many years. Jenna Beucler, a three-year veteran at SRA Camp and who headed the kindergarten class this year, got a kick out of the kids’ boundless energy for fun and creativity. 

Camp concluded this week, but it will be back again next year.  Registration will open in late January or early February.  In the meantime, Swarthmore Soccer Club, Intramural, Town, and Petite Soccer, and Nether-Swarthmore Field Hockey are all gearing up for the fall season which starts in a few short weeks.  Plus, join SRA at the Rotary Club Fun Fair on September 18th in Town Center, where campers and counselors can reconnect and relive their summer hijinks.