by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Spring Break for many kids might mean a lazy day in front of the television, playing video games, taking a trip to the mall or sleeping in. But for the 160 girls attending the week-long “Let Us Play” camp at the University of North Florida, they only had one thing on their agenda.
“Let us play!” the girls chanted in unison for several minutes following a series of track and field events at the campus’ track facility.
In its 13th year, the camp uses sports to motivate socially and economically challenged girls ages 12–15 to maintain good health, form a consistent work ethic and learn numerous “life skills.” The girls are from different United Way agencies, with almost 75 percent coming from the Communities in Schools program. The program is part of the nation’s largest dropout prevention program that develops relationships and provides mentoring with troubled youth.
The camp is the work of former Jaguars punter Bryan Barker and his wife, Leah, who wanted to see a sports outlet for young females. The program has expanded in other NFL cities like Charlotte, N.C., Dallas, Denver, Oakland, Calif. and Pittsburgh, Pa.
“You look around and you see all these sports programs for males,” said Leah Barker. “We said ‘Why not the girls?’ Sports have been a positive thing in our lives and we know it can be in these girls’ lives.”
Over the years, girls attending the camps have been sports- and life-coached by national and local special guests as well as students and coaches from UNF.
Television sports reporter and former Florida A&M University track star Pam Oliver was in attendance Wednesday to give the girls pointers on how to use track and field starting blocks.
“Doing the camp is great,” said Oliver, who is in her second year with the Let Us Play! camp and first in Jacksonville. “I really love spending time with the girls and teaching them what I can. Sports helped change my life and I know it can for them, too.”
“Coach Pam” wasn’t recognized by the girls during the sports activities, but Oliver will reveal her identity and talk to the girls about her career, staying in school, college and making correct life choices today during a presentation.
Each day presents the girls with a different sport to learn and participate in. Monday was volleyball with guidance from UNF and Florida Community College at Jacksonville students and coaches, Tuesday brought basketball with coaching from both the UNF men and women’s basketball teams, Wednesday was track and field day with Oliver and St. Johns Country Day School Coach and longtime runner Jay Birmingham and Thursday is flag football coached by NFL alumni and their wives. Friday is reserved for closing ceremonies and awards.
“I like the camp a lot,” said 13-year-old and first time camp attendee Cyntealia Brown of John E. Ford Elementary School near Downtown. “I’m not used to doing sports, but I like it. The coaches really hype us up about it.”
Let Us Play! offers a four-year UNF scholarship each year and has recently been able to offer two Take Stock in Children scholarships. Brown, through good grades and attitude, has earned a Take Stock scholarship that will allow her to attend a community college for two years followed by two years at a Florida state university.
Having the camp on a college campus is conducive to teaching and motivating the girls, said Communities in Schools Program Development Director Jodie Leach, because it puts the girls in an environment that many of them have never experienced before.
The past couple years, said Leach, UNF has been on Spring Break the same time camp was in session, but this year many college students could be seen around campus.
“Many of the girls don’t realize that college students are a lot like them,” said Leach. “Getting them out here to see how things are and teaching them about things like financial aid and playing sports helps tremendously.”
The week long camp is made possible through private donations, sponsorships, coaches and volunteers, said Barker. Given the positive results from the campers over the years, she is looking for an opportunity to expand the program further, possibly on weekends.
“It will take time and a lot of community effort,” said Barker, “but we see results and know the program is working to make a difference in these girls’ lives. From an economy standpoint, every is one that saved saves millions of dollars in the end.”
For more information on the Let Us Play! program, go to www.letusplay.org.