Our typical day begins with waking up, making beds, tidying up and then off to breakfast. Today after enjoying french toast sticks and sausage links, the gang headed over to the steps of the Dick Gym for the first morning meeting of the 2013 camp.
Coach Alexander laid out the plans for the day. The teams were assigned by conference to practice a sport during the 9 am session. They worked on either basketball, football, lacrosse or softball. Before we knew it 10:15 had rolled around and we were all in the Barbee for canteen. The campers can choose water or Gatorade and a snack.
Two individual instruction sessions followed canteen. This is where the campers break off by age group. They are assigned to a different sport during each session. They are either instructed in tennis, football, lacrosse, golf, soccer, speed training, basketball, baseball, wrestling, swimming, volleyball or a session of "Insanity". Our version of Insanity is based on the popular dvd work out. Many of the individual instruction session are led by coaches here at Woodberry that specialize in that particular sport. For instance, Coach Chris Holmes is Woodberry's assistant Varsity baseball coach and he runs the baseball instruction as well as the baseball clinics. He also oversees the sports camp referee crew.
Noon came awfully fast today. The camp showered and made the walk up the hill to the dining hall for a 12:15 lunch period. By 1pm many of the teams were already heading to dorm for a much needed rest period.
Around 2:45 rest period was over. The Eastern Conference was the lucky conference this afternoon. They were assigned to hang out at the outdoor pool for an hour. Everyone else attended a sports clinic. Each morning the campers are asked to sign up for a clinic which they will attend during the afternoon period. The campers are asked to choose a clinic based on a sport they would like to learn a little more about or sharpen their skills. The choices are basketball, football, lacrosse, baseball, tennis, golf, soccer and wrestling.
Canteen was offered again after the clinics and then the teams could choose to practice a sport in preparation for the evening games. After two 45 minute practice periods, it was time to shower up and proceed to dinner. Post dinner the camp met for a meeting on the steps again. There was so much anticipation for the first of the games. Coach Alexander went over what they should expect during the first games... he told them they would have to deal with some adversity and to remember to play as a team. He also reminded them to practice good sportsmanship.
The games went really well tonight. We are so proud of the way these teams have come together in such a short time period.
After the games Texas and Michigan showered and then loaded up on the mini buses for the first night out at the campsite. At the campsite, they will enjoy roasting hot dogs and making smores. Wow, were they excited! The rest of the teams will visit the Fir Tree for an evening snack and hold the first of their "values" meetings. Tonight's topic: Accountable/Accountability.
Phew, it was an amazing and exhausting first day. Don't forget to check out the game scores located to the right of this blog entry.
Enjoy the slide show and I apologize for the number of photos, but it was such a full day of activities, we just couldn't resist catching it all. Normally we'll put up about half the number of tonight's photos - hoping to capture each child at least one time per day. We'll do our best!
