A ‘Power Camp’ being held in Danville this week by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes is guiding kids in more ways than one. Daniel Chappell of Catlin serves as the camp director. ‘’Power Camp serves kids in what we call three dimensions – physically – mentally, emotionally and spiritually. So we have got all three components to the Power Camp. We have, I think, seven or eight sports,’’ said Chappell. ‘’Here on campus we have volleyball, basketball, track and field, and soccer across the street. At Winter Park we have baseball and softball,’’ added Chappell. ‘’And at North Fork Lodge – just between Bismarck and Danville – we’ve got archery and clay shooting.’’
The campers come from all over Vermilion County. Chappell says they get great athletic instruction from coaches who have either played college sports, or coached at the college or varsity high school level. ‘’They’ve got two-and-a-half hours a day of sports clinic time for three days. ….We open everyday up with Chapel, so we have our verse and our teaching for the day. And then each kid is part of a smaller group called a huddle that’s led by a local high school or college student. And the huddle leaders stay with the kids all day long, and lead them through small group discussions a couple times a day,’’ added Chappell.
In addition to the athletic training, Chappell says they want the kids to have fun. ‘’One of the problems with the sports culture is that we work kids way too hard. They’re going to work hard while they’re here, but we’re going to have fun. So in the afternoon at 2 o’clock we finish our main sport and we do open competition. We do mat ball, kickball, trash can football, dodge ball – we do these great games where the kids are having fun. And the third piece is we want kids to learn about Jesus. FCA is a Christian organization. We preach the good news of Jesus, and so they’re going to hear that at camp as well.’’
Students entering the 5th through 8th grades this fall were eligible to participate in the Power Camp. [In the photos, Corey Stocksdale of Danville teaches the youth some basketball skills. Stocksdale is a Youth Pastor at the Community Church of God in Danville.]
