All-Sports Camp to be Held at Bates College

Boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 15 can participate in a wide range of athletic activities in the Bates College Sports Camp, an overnight and day camp offered on the campus from June 30-July 12 (Session I) and July 14-26 (Session II).

Spots remain available for overnight and day campers for Session I and for overnight campers in Session II. Youngsters need not be exceptional athletes to attend camp, nor do they need to be beginners, as each year the camp enrolls many who hope to play on school teams. Only an enjoyment of physical activity and a willingness to try new things are required.

The camp day will provide six activity periods, including instructional swim. Qualified instructors will teach skills as well as rules for each sport. Groups are small – the average size is 15 – and organized by age and accompanied by a counselor and junior counselor throughout the day.

Activities change daily, ensuring variety and broad exposure. A regular free-choice period allows campers to concentrate on areas of special preference. Typical offerings include aerobics, basketball, field hockey, fitness, floor hockey, football, elementary games, kickball, lacrosse, martial arts, orienteering, Outward-Bound-style challenges, racquetball, rock climbing, soccer, softball, speedball, swimming, team handball, tennis, ultimate frisbee and volleyball.

Under the direction of Erik C. Bertelsen Jr., a member of the Bates class of 1972, director of college counseling and head basketball coach at the Belmont Hill School in Massachusetts, the Bates All-Sports Camp staff includes professional educators and selected college students. Guest lecturers will visit to introduce special sports.

Residential campers will reside in dormitories and eat through the college’s Dining Services. Camp staff organizes dorm life and arranges weekend activities for campers, including hikes for younger campers and a canoe trip for those 13 and over. Day campers are invited to participate in a number of evening and weekend activities.

Tuition for each two-week session  is $640 for overnight camp and $355 for day camp. If campers attend both two-week sessions of All-Sports Camp, they will a $20 discount on the second session.

Located midway between the coast and the mountains in south-central Maine, Bates is a 141-year-old undergraduate college of the liberal arts and sciences and is rated among the top 20 national liberal-arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report.