2003 Camp - Local News Story
First-year camp gives kids a low-pressure introduction to sport
Herbert Atienza
The Idaho Statesman
CALDWELL — Jump-rope aficionados from as far away as Alaska and North
Carolina skipped into Caldwell recently to hone their skills.
Camp participants swore by the fun they had and the friendships they made at
the Rocky Mountain Jump Rope Camp. It was hosted by the Boise-based Summerwind
Skippers and wrapped up last week at the gym of Albertson College of Idaho.
For Allison Waters, 14, who will be a freshman at Centennial High School in Boise, the camp offered a chance to check out what skippers from other parts of the country are up to.
“We got the chance to learn new tricks,” said Waters, who has been trying to perfect a trick called T.J., which requires putting one´s arms under one leg and spinning the rope three times around.
“I think I learned to develop more discipline,” she said.
“It´s really a chance for the kids to come together and learn from each other,” said Karen Hay, physical education teacher at Summerwind Elementary.
It´s the camp´s first year. With about 130 participants ranging in age from 7 to 21, the camp is off to a good start, she said.
“The neat part about it is that they´re not competing,” Hay said.
In competition, the tense atmosphere sometimes can be overwhelming for the jumpers, she said. At the camp, she said, there was no tension and everyone simply had fun.
“This camp has been wonderful because I learned more and I was able to extend my knowledge,” said Jessica Starr, 14, who will enter ninth grade at Gunn High School in her hometown of Palo Alto, Calif.
Starr, who has been a jumper since she was in second grade, said she likes the relaxed nature of the camp. She´s a frequent Idaho visitor because her family vacations here, and Starr said she enjoys being in the Treasure Valley.
“It´s very pretty and the weather is very nice,” she said.
The weather was a bit warm in Caldwell last week for Bryan Diebels, 17, a senior at Juneau-Douglas High School in Juneau, Alaska, but he said he had the time of his life.
“I got to meet a lot of people who are good at what they do,” said Diebels, who started jumping rope about nine months ago.
He said he´s glad to have tried jumping. “It´s a good workout,” he said.
To offer story ideas or comments, contact Herbert Atienza
hatienza@idahostatesman.com or 377-6413
Edition Date: 08-06-2003
