As summer camp frenzy hits the Plant City area, it’s important for parents to know there’s plenty for their young athletes to do that can help them get better at their sport of choice.
There are offerings all around Plant City, but we’ve compiled a short list of some of the area’s most creative camps for 2019.
Durant High School will host the ninth annual Mike Gottman Youth Football Camp this June and registration is now open.
The annual summer skills camp is run by Gottman and the rest of Durant’s football coaching staff and teaches kids from third through (incoming) ninth grade the fundamentals of the high school game. Everything from specific positional drills to physical conditioning is covered and flag football games close out each day.
This year’s camp runs from June 3 through 6 at the Ron Frost Athletic Complex on campus, 4748 Cougar Path. Each day begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m. unless inclement weather hits the Durant area. The cost is $125 per camper plus a $5 online processing fee and all campers must be registered by 11:59 p.m. June 1.
To register, view the itinerary and get more information visit durantfootballcamps.com.
Plant City High School will host its annual basketball and cheerleading camps at its gymnasium in June and July.
The Raiders’ basketball camp will have two sessions: one from June 24 through 27 and the other from July 8 through 11. Campers age 6 through 14 can learn everything they need to know to succeed at the high school level from boys basketball coach Billy Teeden, the staff and players from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Registration costs $120 per camp.
The PCHS cheerleading team will host its annual camp on July 16 and 17 for campers age 4 to 13. All campers will be divided into three age groups and will learn from coach Karen Snapp and the team. All campers must bring their own lunch and water bottles, wear a t-shirt, shorts and sneakers, wear their hair away from their face and may not wear any kind of jewelry. Registration costs $75.
Registration forms for the camps can be printed from plantcitygov.com. For more information, contact Teeden at 813-967-7551 for basketball and Snapp at 813-757-9370 or karen.snapp@sdhc.k12.fl.us for cheerleading.
If your child is a student of martial arts, your options are pretty broad in Plant City.
Chris Welbon Karate Clubs has a long-running “Ultimate Summer Camps” series that brings different themes in different weeks and is active for a large chunk of the summer.
This year’s camps start with the Focused Karate Training Camp (June 10-14), which emphasizes training more than the others and also has belt testing on the final Friday of the camp.
Wild Water Games (July 8-12) brings squirt gun fights, water balloon launchers and an Adventure Island field trip to the table and might be the most fun way to cool down in the July heat.
Ninja Warrior Camp is the only one with two one-week sessions (July 22-26 and Aug. 5-9) and, much like the popular American Ninja Warrior TV show, has campers tackle an obstacle course ninja-style. It’s also got crafting and a field trip to the 2Infinity trampoline park.
Register online at chriswelbonkarate.com.
Local MMA and jiu-jitsu schools are also getting in on the summer fun. Carlson Gracie Plant City and Senshi Do Kai MMA are hosting their own camps from June through August.
Carlson Gracie’s camp runs from June 1 through Aug. 11 and kids age 5 through 13 can learn Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts techniques, stay fit and take field trips to the movies, parks and Adventure Island and they’ll also get to play with LEGO sets thanks to Brick City Bricks. Registration normally costs $150, but the school is offering registration at a special $50 rate this week. Call 813-704-1090 or visit plantcitybjj.com for more information.
Senshi Do Kai’s nine-week camp runs from June 3 through Aug. 9 in week-to-week sessions and features BJJ, May Thai, karate and MMA classes, anti-bullying programs, fitness programs, daily local outdoor trips and one “big” weekly trip to 2Infinity, Busch Gardens, Adventure Island and more (at additional cost). The cost to register is $90 per camper and the cost also covers a Lakeland Rec Center pool pass.
Call 813-754-4128 or visit senshidokaimma.com for more information.