Page 69 - Reading Success B8

Summer camps are organized programs conducted during summer that enable
participants to engage in a variety of activities. In the United States, more than 11
million children and adults attend summer camps each year. Derived from the
tradition of holding these programs at campsites, summer camp has evolved from
traditional activities, typically associated with camping such as hiking, canoeing, and
campfires, to a variety of specialized activities. Nowadays, there are summer camps
that offer intensive instruction in almost any sport while others provide quality
instruction and competition in a wide range of sports.

Camps are basically divided into day camps and overnight camps. Overnight
sports camps fall into two groups. The traditional program, oftentimes referred to as
multi-sport camps, offers boys and girls the chance to learn and play many sports.
Sessions typically last from 3 to 8 weeks. These camps cater to the needs of strong
athletes and of less proficient athletes by having all campers compete on teams
selected by ability, giving everyone a chance to contribute to their team’s success in
their daily competitions. This program aims to utilize the medium of team sports to
develop the whole child - not just how they are as an athlete, but also how they are as
a person, a teammate, and a friend. Many of these camps also include a variety of
non-sports programs for a more diverse experience.
Many sports camps fall under the second type, called single-sport camps, which,
as the name implies, concentrates on one particular sport. This program helps
participants acquire skills in that specific sport, which in turn builds their confidence
and improves their chances of making it to their school’s varsity team. Some campers
even become nationally competitive through this intensive summer training. These
camps usually run for a week, but there are others which offer longer sessions.

As evidenced by the large number of yearly campers, summer camping has
certainly become an anticipated and an exciting venue for people to experience and
learn new skills. Regardless of the varying kinds of programs out there, in essence,
the best sports camps successfully challenge aspiring athletes both mentally and
physically. However, they not only help participants learn skills in sports but more
importantly, they help them learn sportsmanship, build camaraderie, and gain
confidence.

Main Idea

What is the main idea of this story?

a. the advantages of single-sport camps
b. the disadvantages of day camps

c. different ways to spend a summer
d. the different summer camp programs that are available

72_Reading Success B 8