WORCESTER, Mass. – On Monday, August 10 the Worcester State University women’s soccer team partnered up with the Elm Park Ministries Day Camp to provide a morning full of soccer-related activities for the youth in the local Worcester Community.
The women’s soccer team provided the campers with a great introduction to the game. While explaining the key fundamentals of soccer, they also taught the campers very basic skills of movement and coordination.
Eight-year old Elvin’s, favorite part of the day "was the relay races, and loved learning a lot about soccer."
In its sixth year, the Elm Park Ministries is a conglomerate of 10 different churches that fund a two-week summer program in the neighborhood near WPI. The staff, directors and counselors who are involved with the camp are trained professionals from Camp Calumet in New Hampshire. They work with around 60-70 campers for two weeks during the summer while also utilizing local volunteers as counselors in training.
"After the USA Women’s Soccer Team won the World Cup earlier this year, we had the idea to invite the WSU Women's Soccer Team to the Elm Park Ministries Day Camp,” said Assistant Camp Director, BJ Hill. “About a third of our kids come from cultures where they may not associate women with competitive activities. The Lancer Women's Soccer Team showed that women can enjoy sports, work as a team, and excel as athletes. "
Seniors Kiley Hardy and Alicia Macomber both volunteered, along with six other members of the 2015 soccer team. Hardy said her favorite part of the day was, "seeing the kids are actually excited about soccer. It gives hope for future programs around Worcester.” She said, “I loved giving back to the community and seeing them happy to learn soccer.”
"My favorite part of today was hanging out with the kids and seeing them experience the game of soccer,” said Macomber. "Our girls loved volunteering for the kids. Not only did we teach them but they taught us how to work together and we can bring that into the season and be as one."
"I am excited for the collaboration with this camp to see the relationship with the kids and players only to get stronger in the future years" said by Athletics Coordinator of Student-Athlete Support Services Kelly Downs.
This camp has been such a huge success, and the Worcester State Athletic Department looks to make this an annual event for their student-athletes to get involved in.
Group Photo. Click click!
Worcester State Women's Soccer Team Group Shot
Left to right: Jill Witkowski, Nicole Parenteau, Kiley Hardy, Angelina Sutherland, Alicia Macomber, Sam Riggins, Taylor-Victoria Boucher, Tsara LeBlanc
Senior Alisha Macomber and Taylor-Victoria Boucher direct the campers around the cones
Seniors Nicole Parenteau and Kiley Hardy teach the campers basic soccer techniques
Campers showing off thier dribbling skills!
Soccer is F-U-N FUN!
1... 2... 3... GO! Relay race time!
Looks like one of the campers has some speed!