By Matt High

What a summer!  Moving into the new Pelican Community Park has given the city the opportunity to offer different, new, and improved sports camps.  The sport camps have made a big splash in the summer heat in Sunny Isles Beach.  The summer sport camps that the Cultural and Human Services Department; Athletics Division offered were basketball, volleyball, soccer, and baseball.  Volleyball and baseball were new camps that were added this year due to the opening of the new, beautiful Pelican Community Park.  Basketball camp for the first time had the opportunity to play inside the new 8,000 square foot gymnasium.

Each sports camp was broken up into age groups.  The campers learned new skills, drills, techniques, and also were able to make new friends.  Each camp went on a field trip to a water park.  The younger campers went to C.B. Smith Park-Paradise Cove in Pembroke Pines while the older campers went to Venetian Pool in Coral Gables.  For each field trip, the campers were provided lunch and a snack.  The campers had a wonderful time cooling off after a long week of sweating during their specific sport practice.  Also, each Friday the coaches had an award ceremony for that camp giving all participants a certificate of completion as well as a most valuable camper, most improved camper, and a good sportsmanship award.

The sports camp had a dedicated staff making sure each camper learned new skills and ensuring everyone had a fantastic time.  The basketball staff consisted of Latravis Bernard, Grant Grimsley, and Brandon Barnes.  The soccer staff consisted of Sergio Vuguin, Diego Echeverria, and Alex Bezhin.  The volleyball staff consisted of Lauren Grimsley, Claudia Castro, and Sara Napolitiano.  The baseball staff consisted of James McNair, Grant Grimsley, and Stephen Drake.

The sports camps sold out quickly as Sunny Isles Beach is becoming a sporting city.  We are looking forward to the fall season where the campers can use what they have learned in camp to play for the city.  I know all the campers had a fabulous time and can’t wait until next summer for more fun.

For more information on recreational sports that are being offered by the City of Sunny Isles Beach, please contact the Cultural and Human Services Department at 305.792.1706, watch SIB TV 77, or stop by the Pelican Community Park at 18115 North Bay Road.

Hope the fall will be great for everyone and we look forward to next summer.