A Memorable Day at the D'Andre Swift Camp: Inspiring Young Athletes
The Excitement Builds
When we first broke the news to Aiden and Jayce about their upcoming adventure at the D'Andre Swift Camp, their excitement was palpable. Despite Swift's recent trade from the Detroit Lions to the Philadelphia Eagles, he remained committed to hosting the camp in Royal Oak, Michigan. This event took place about a month ago, and even though Swift was technically an Eagle now, his dedication to his fans and the sport was a testament to his character, which only amplified the boys' anticipation.
First Impressions and Meeting D'Andre Swift
The day of the camp was a whirlwind as we made our way south to Bloomfield Hills High School. The moment Aiden and Jayce first laid eyes on the field and the setup, their faces lit up with pure joy. This was a dream come true for them - a chance to meet and learn from a professional football player they had watched play every Sunday!
Learning the Ropes: Drills and Skills
The camp was meticulously structured, featuring ten stations each focusing on different football drills. The boys moved from station to station, soaking up new skills and honing their existing ones. The emphasis on speed and agility was particularly beneficial, providing them with valuable techniques to carry forward in their football journey.
Deep into a football discussion!
A Game to Remember: Scrimmage with D'Andre Swift
Perhaps the highlight of the day was the quick scrimmage each age group played with D'Andre Swift himself. This was not just a game, but an unforgettable experience that allowed the kids to interact directly with a professional football player. The thrill of the scrimmage, the cheers of their peers, and the encouraging words from D'Andre made this a truly special moment for all the young athletes.
The Impact: A Growing Passion for Football
Despite the sweltering 90+ degree afternoon, the boys' enthusiasm for football only grew. Jayce, who is entering his final year of flag football, and Aiden, who is embarking on his tackle football career, left the camp with a renewed passion for the sport. The skills they learned and the experiences they had at the camp will undoubtedly fuel their aspirations in the years to come.
The Atmosphere: High Energy and Positive Vibes
The D'Andre Swift Camp was more than just a day of football drills - it was a celebration of the sport. With a DJ keeping the energy high and coaches ensuring the kids were always engaged, the camp was a vibrant, dynamic event. Aiden and Jayce particularly enjoyed interacting with their peers, comparing skills, and learning from each other.
Looking Back: A Day to Remember
The D'Andre Swift Camp was a day filled with excitement, learning, and memorable experiences. As Aiden and Jayce continue their football journey, they will always remember the day they spent learning from D'Andre Swift. It was a day that inspired them, challenged them, and most importantly, it was a day that brought them immense joy.
They worked up an appetite!!!
Was it worth it? The Verdict:
The camp was hosted by Flexworks Sports and overall they did a good job with the boys and girls that showed up for the camp. Due to the intense heat that day, they ensured that water was readily available for all participants while visiting the different stations. The boys did receive a t-shirt from the event as well (which made it impossible for me to keep track of them, LOL). We opted for the “basic” package and I felt they held up their end of the bargain. Would I pay for it again? Probably not! The boys enjoyed it, but wasn’t anything outside of what our local teams (Go Cardinals!) put on and I would rather keep the money we invest, inside of our community.
Did your kids attend any sports camps this summer? Let me know in the comments!
Watch D.O.G.S. - A day at Davison's Central Elementary
I may have waited until the last minute, but I kept my promise to my kiddos! For those of you that are not aware of what the Watch Dog program is, here is an excerpt from their site below:
WatchDOGS are fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other father figures who volunteer for at least one day each year at an official WATCH D.O.G.S. school.
WATCH D.O.G.S., a K-12 program, invites fathers, grandfathers, uncles, or other father figures to volunteer at least one day all day at their child’s/student’s school during the school year. Fathers and father figures sign up to volunteer through a ‘Launch Event’ such as a “Dads and Kids Pizza Night” or “Donuts with Dad” or by calling their child’s school any time throughout the school year. The program is overseen by a “Top Dogs” volunteer team who partners with the school administrator to coordinate scheduling and identify opportunities for WatchDOGS to assist at the school. WatchDOG dads and volunteers perform a variety of tasks during their volunteer day including monitoring the school entrance, assisting with unloading and loading of buses and cars, monitoring the lunch room, or helping in the classroom with a teacher’s guidance by working with small groups of students on homework, flashcards, or spelling.
To dive even further into the program (which I highly recommend), please click here to check out even more amazing details.
I was able to start my day out meeting with Mr. Jim to go over the Watch Dog rules and review my schedule for the day. While I’ve enjoyed my previous visits using this program, this year is especially exciting as I have all 4 of my kids at the same school.
From there I jumped in head first into a whirlwind of recess and lunch with the different classes. I played a bit of football, shot some hoops, stood in wonderment at the chaos in the Gaga Ball pit and even helped some kids get going on the swings! Lunch was another event in and of itself! Lots of help needed when it came to opening cheese sticks, yogurts, lunchables (didn’t realize they were still around) and even sour cream packets because of course… it was TACO TUESDAY!!!
From there, I was on a tight schedule of visiting friends in the library and then headed to my kiddos rooms to oversee some “educational” games with a few select friends.
Overall, it was an amazing day and I am so thankful for the opportunity to engage with our schools and students on their level. If you have school aged kids, I would highly recommend finding the time to take part in this program as it is far and away one of the most special days I get to spend with my kids. A big hats off to all of our educators and support staff for the amazing work that they do. 👏👏
Weekend Sports Camps… Worth it or nah?? 🤔🤷♂️
Every couple of days, my wife and I will get a few minutes to check out our schedules and lo and behold, it's another sports camp of some sort. Let me be clear… to my wife… who is reading this… I'm not complaining!!
We are very fortunate that we can send our kids to these different camps, but there are times when I wonder how much value - real or perceived - is actually there. I'm typing this out sitting on the floor of the Birch Run High School gym in the final week of our 3 hour baseball camp. Yesterday was another 3 hour camp at the UWM campus in Auburn Hills for football.
I don't have the answer and I know that I'd rather my kids enjoy the camp, learn and develop new skills rather than spending hours playing Fortnite or mindlessly watching television. Ultimately, my question is to those of you with grown kids that have gone through these types of camps… are we wasting our money??
Let's talk about it!!
