The Sister Islands Sports Camps, held over the course of several weeks on Cayman Brac, offered youth a chance to remain active during the summer while honing their athletic skills and potentially discovering new passions.
The summer fun kicked off with a basketball camp from 8-11 July, followed by a football camp on 14-18 July.
The excitement continued with a swimming and a cricket camp before culminating in a junior lifeguard camp.
Diving into fun at the swimming camp
The swimming camp, held at the 15-metre community pool adjacent to the Layman E. Scott Sr. High School, unfolded from 21-25 July.
Claire Hampson, a swimming instructor at the Sister Islands Sports Unit, said the camp’s main goal was to provide the campers with a “sound foundation” in swimming, whether their future path is competitive or simply recreational.
The camp also aimed to foster a love for the water, which Hampson believes is the key to unlocking a multitude of opportunities.
On the first day of camp, 13 campers, ranging in age from 7 to 15 years old, were introduced to pool rules and assessed for their skill levels.
Hampson, who holds qualifications from the British Amateur Swimming Association and the American Swimming Coaches Association, focused the day on essential water safety skills, including life-saving techniques, floating and drowning prevention.
Over the next four days, participants dedicated each morning to a specific swimming stroke, working on drills and receiving personalised feedback.
Hampson said she often used analogies, like comparing a proper kick to an efficient underwater propeller, to help the kids visualise and correct their form.
After a break, the afternoons were filled with water skills assessments and games like Marco Polo and sharks and minnows.
The campers agreed that the competitions, including relays and ball games, were their favourite part of the camp.
The swimming programme on Cayman Brac is extensive, offering after-school classes for kids as young as 3, competitive programmes and adult lessons.
Cricket camp’s growing popularity
The cricket camp, led by David Bernard, senior development officer for Cayman Cricket, saw a slight increase in attendance this year.
“Last year we had 20 [campers and] this year, we had numbers up to 25, so it’s been really good, and we’re looking forward to future engagements,” Bernard said.
Bernard said the children showed great enthusiasm and willingness to learn throughout the week.
During the camp, Bernard was accompanied by fellow coach Delbert Griffith, who is a development officer for Cayman Cricket.
The coaching staff concentrated on the fundamentals of the game, such as catching, throwing, bowling and striking the ball, all while maintaining a fun and engaging atmosphere to build a passion for the sport.
One camper, Amara Balgobin, described her experience at the camp as “good”, highlighting the enjoyable courses and fun activities.
Another camper, Manveer Singh, shared that he had a lot of fun while learning valuable skills, including bowling strategies and new batting techniques.
Last splash with junior lifeguard camp
The final summer camp, held from 4-8 Aug., was for junior lifeguards.
During the camp, participants completed the rookie lifeguard course at the 15-metre community pool.
This camp provided participants with valuable, internationally recognised certifications from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in the United Kingdom.
These certifications give the campers a solid foundation for pursuing professional lifeguarding careers as soon as they are old enough.
