Youngsters went back to school this week at Connor Park. Only they used baseball bats and gloves, rather than pencils and notebooks.
An enthusiastic group of 12 kids between the ages of five and 11 took part in a four-day baseball camp put on by the B.C. Amateur Baseball Association.
Baseball B.C. offers these day camps throughout the province every summer. This year marked their first camp in Sechelt.
Instructors Chris Clapton and Jamie McKaig said they had a blast here this week and would definitely like to return next year.
"Every year we try to add another area on our list. Sechelt came on board, and it's been a great experience," Clapton said. "This is a good group of kids. They're eager and they want to learn."
Clapton has been an instructor with Baseball B.C. for four years, while McKaig is spending his seventh summer roving the province offering tips and skills to up-and-coming baseball stars.
Baseball B.C.'s goal for the camps is to provide a safe and fun-filled environment for children of various ages and skill levels to improve their game.
"We teach everything from pitching, catching and fielding to base running and hitting," Clapton said. "What we do everyday is teach them proper skills and then adapt those immediately into a game simulation. The players can see the results right away and we feel this keeps the kids interested in what you are trying to teach. We also try to teach the kids about the importance of staying in shape, keeping fit and warming up properly. Baseball, like any sport, can be dangerous. If you don't learn the fundamentals, especially at a young age, it's going to hurt you down the road. "Our goal is to make every player the best they can be, so they can, if they choose, have a successful career."
