It’s not every day that you play soccer with a three-time state champion or let yourself be pushed over an obstacle course on a scooter. But through Play it Forward’s summer camp, 75 kids were able to do both and more: “It’s fun.” “Seeing them smile and happy and then everyone cheering after they win,” said Wyatt Archer, the Catholic senior of skutt “It’s just really fun to watch and I enjoy it.” Various activities and sports, a design to help kids explore new hobbies that they might enjoy. “We just thought from a young age that just trying different sports was great,” said Play it Forward CEO Pete Walls. We know that it can be difficult for young children to practice a sport for an hour. “Another important part of Play it Forward is Be Kind Time, which gives kids a break while focusing on important values related to sport. “I think that’s really important because you bring in ideas that kids need to learn,” Archer said. “Like how to be a good teammate, how to be a good friend, how to lose the right way, how to win the right way.” Play it Forward also educates kids about the importance of accepting people of all backgrounds and abilities. “We just want anyone who wants to be there and want to exercise to be part of the program. We can make it work,” Walls said. “When we have a young athlete who needs a buddy to be with them throughout their training session, we make one of our high school athletes their buddy, which is what we did this week, and it’s been so much fun, to see that.” Fun is the key at Play it Forward, but it’s not just the children who benefit from the experiences gained at each session. “All the memories come back. When I go, I’m going to remember those things and I hope they can remember that.” Well, yes,” said Millard South senior Amari Laing. “I remember all the times when I was younger having fun with older kids, which definitely got me where I am now.” September to October 14th. For more information about Play it Forward, to register your child for a session, or to volunteer, visit the website here.
OMAHA, Neb —
It’s not every day that you can play football with a three-time national champion or be pushed through an obstacle course on a scooter.
But through Play it Forward’s summer camp, 75 kids were able to do both and more.
“It’s fun to see them smiling and happy and then everyone cheering after they win,” said Catholic Skutt senior Wyatt Archer. “It’s just really fun to watch and I enjoy it.”
30 high school athletes from seven metro schools helped guide kids through different activities and sports, a design that helps introduce kids to new hobbies they might enjoy.
“We thought from a young age that just trying different sports was great,” said Play it Forward CEO Pete Walls. We know that it can be difficult for young children to practice a sport for an hour.”
Another important part of Play it Forward is Be Kind Time, which gives kids a break while focusing on important values related to sport.
“I think it’s really important because you’re conveying ideas that kids need to learn,” Archer said. “Like how to be a good teammate, how to be a good friend, how to lose the right way, how to win the right way.”
Play it Forward also educates children about the importance of accepting people of all backgrounds and abilities.
“We just want anyone who wants to be there and want to exercise to be part of the program. “We can make it work,” Walls said. “When we have a young athlete who needs a buddy to accompany them throughout their training session, we make one of our high school athletes their buddy, which we did this week.” and it was so much fun, to see it.”
Fun is the main focus at Play it Forward, but it’s not just the children who benefit from the experiences gained at each session.
“All the memories come back. When I go, I will remember those things and hope they can remember them too,” said Millard South senior Amari Laing. “I remember all the times when I was younger having fun with older kids, which definitely got me where I am now.”
The next Play it Forward sessions will be held this fall on Saturday mornings from September 23rd to October 14th.
For more information about Play it Forward, to register your child for a session, or to volunteer, visit the website here.
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