Every summer, Carleton University has played host to sports camps offering a range of indoor and outdoor sports.
But this summer marks a milestone for the school, as Carleton Sports Camp is underway in its historic 40th year.
“It has been a staple in the Ottawa community and has a very positive reputation as a result,” Jennifer Brenning, Carleton’s athletics director, said.
A feature to note with Carleton Sports Camp is the use of some Carleton student-athletes as camp counsellors.
One example is Carleton rower Devon Sutherland.
The fifth-year Ravens athlete said being a counsellor is not a requirement for student-athletes, but it is strongly encouraged.
“They like having athletes from the school at the camps because it shows a lot of community involvement with the sports teams here, and they really enjoy having varsity athletes working for them,” he said.
Brenning also explained how having Carleton students work for the camps is valuable to both the students and the counsellors.
“The students gain valuable experience in teaching, supervision, organization, time management, and team building,” she said.
As a counsellor, Sutherland said one of his favourite things about his camp job is bonding with the kids every week.
“They get really excited hearing you’re a varsity athlete,” he said.
Looking back on the growth of the camps over the past four decades, Brenning said she’s still in awe of reaching such a number.
“It is a significant milestone to have a program last 40 years, and continue to grow each and every year over those 40 years,” she said.
