'Extreme' summer camp pushes kids' limits

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No easy sell
Even so, the camp wasn’t an easy sell.

The president of the camp’s insurer paid the camp a personal visit, and the board of directors held an emergency executive committee meeting where they fretted over whether skateboarding and mountain biking, and the inevitable accompanying tattoos and piercings, could meet the mission of the YMCA.

Their doubts echoed those voiced almost a century ago when basketball first made its way around this country through the YMCA. And like those ancient doubts, these too soon were alleviated when it became clear this indeed was how to serve kids and the community.

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Four years ago, in its first year, just 30 kids showed up for Freedom Sports Week. Word spread, and enrollment increased to 90 campers, then 180. This year more than 200 showed up to play.

“I had no idea what to expect, but everyone here is really with it,” said hip hop dancer Brittni Legendre, 16, who had never had the opportunity to go to camp before. “It’s been great to get away, to just have fun.”

The focus is on the adventure rather than the score. The BMX track is a continuous loop, contests aren’t allowed at the skateboard park and mountain bikers challenge themselves on new terrain rather than race. There are no courts, no tennis or golf. There are no scores. No losing teams.

Some of the campers arrive already committed to their sport — kids such as 13-year-old Jordan Campbell, who sold his XBox computer game a few years ago to buy a bike. He now races with a team, many of whom joined him at camp this summer.

Newbies welcome
Others, such as 15-year-old Leigh Gronfein, are new to their sport. Rubbing a smear of dust from her brow, Gronfein grinned and hummed as she walked the quarter-mile trail to lunch from the archery range.

“I’m feeling great today. I’ve hit like seven bull’s-eyes so far,” she said on her third day of camp.

Gronfein, and most of the campers, come to work on their sport and end up enjoying the nature, the camping and the boisterous company as well.

“It’s beautiful here, gorgeous and huge,” she said. “There’s so much space for all of us.”

Even the skateboard punks — who would never have signed up for a week of weenie roasts and campfire skits — end up having a try at sailing, horseback riding and sleeping under the stars.

It’s clear, however, that most have a passion for their sport.

On a cool morning toward the end of their session, eight kids on mountain bikes zip down a trail called “Psycho.” They’re panting and hooting as they maneuver 4 miles of steep, winding track through a dense forest.

“This is so cool! Can we do this again? This is great!” shouts 14-year-old John Place, his exuberant cries fading as he blazes on.

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