SSS Summer Camp draws over 100 participants daily

Saipan Soccer School Summer Camp 2022 participants get ready for a small-sided game, while others wait for their turn and listen to instructions from coach Ian Lubao during one of their sessions last week at the TSL Sports Complex. (MICHAELA PANGANIBAN)

The Saipan Soccer School Summer Camp 2022 has recorded its largest daily average number of participants since the inception of the program more than five years ago.

Coordinator Christy Villaflor said the two morning sessions of the camp at the TSL Sports Complex combined for an average of around 130 participants daily. Soccer has the most participants with 85, while badminton, basketball, and volleyball each averaged between 25 to 32 participants daily.

“This year’s summer camp is very well received judging from the number of attendees we have and they’ve been coming in consistently from Monday through Friday, learning the basics of the four sports we are offering and having fun with their peers,” said Villaflor.

The summer camp, which SSS and the Tan Siu Lin Foundation are organizing through the assistance of the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs’ Childcare & Development Fund Program and the Public School System, is open to children in the 6 to 12 age group. While attendees signed up for only one sport, they also have the option to try the three other programs.

“The program is not just about sports, but we also have activities that allow participants to learn and practice sportsmanship and fair play, camaraderie, and teamwork. They are also guided on how to conduct themselves when doing activities or interacting with their fellow camp participants and the coaches,” said 2022 Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games bronze medalist Janelle Pangilinan, who leads the badminton sessions of the camp.

“In this summer camp, I like making new friends and learning and enjoying how to play with people I never met before,” said Evan Joseph Seguritan, who signed up for soccer.

Therese Castillo, on the other hand, is joining the badminton sessions and loves how they do drills that make her move a lot and have fun with other children.

Emilie Quemado, who has two sons enrolled in the program, acknowledged how camps like this are beneficial to children, especially in the summertime. She said she wants her children to remain active instead of staying at home and being glued to gadgets. Quemado added that through the camp, she hopes her children will find the sport that they will enjoy and continue to play.

“We are pleased with the turnout of this year’s summer camp. When we established this program, our goal was to cater to as many children as we can. We want to provide more opportunities for them to play sports, learn good values on and off the court, and of course engage in activities that would help them stay active and healthy. We thanked the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs’ Childcare & Development Fund Program and the Public School System for helping us do these,” Tan Siu Lin Foundation president Merlie Tolentino said.

Meanwhile, the two-month long summer camp will conclude on Aug. 20 with a host of activities, including the awarding of certificates to participants, matches for each of the four sports, and fun games. (PR)