This story takes place at this year's Erin Fall Fair.  The I in the story is that of the head coach of  the camp involve.

"I just had one of our Drawing, Sketching, Painting Campers run up to me & threw his arms around me. He'd come to tell me that he'd won First Place in the Erin Fair's Poster Contest! He said he wanted us to know  he'd learned how to draw depth & perspective from us at camp! (WOW! Imagine how good that feels!)"

In telling this story to another mom, imagine discovering her daughter, also have taken the Drawing, Sketching, Painting Camp, had won second prize at the Alton Fall Fair.  (WOW! More excitement and great feelings for us Coaches, Parents and Campers.  Oh yes, "How good it feels.")

 

An email to Erin Hoops

First I must say my son is absolutely loving your laser tag camp:) He stays to himself most of the time, and usually has trouble separating, however when my sister dropped him off at home last night, he was full of smiles and excitement, one of his first comments after telling me that he loved it was "mom you don't have to stay tomorrow, you can just leave me"!!! I'm sure you are not surprised to hear this, however I was, so thank you for putting together such a great community program that is affordable for all! 
 
Speaking of affordable, my son is registered in the digital photography camp week 4, and we have just purchased a new camera for him to have as his own. I bought one that was under $100 on sale, brought it home tested it out and was very disappointed with the photos it took, I returned it to the store for one that was just over $100 which is a lot of money for some...So I was thinking there are possibly children in your camp that would love to have joined the digital photography camp but maybe couldn't afford to have a camera? Canon Canada accepts applications for donations and sponsorships, I'm not sure if it would be of interest to Erin Hoops, but if you don't ask, you never know! Attached are the guidelines and application form, it might be too late for this years camps, but maybe it would be helpful for your camps next summer?
 
Sincerely,
 

One young camper was having so much fun and was so exited he plays right past having to go to the bathroom and looses it - embarrassment - some codling - new cloths and away we go again.

A Mother's Email to us...

Dear Erin Hoops,

There is something I need to share with you.

Today, as usual, I arrived to pick up my three kids. I noticed across the field that all three were walking towards a Coach Kevin but of course I didn’t know why. As I watched the four of them huddle and talk I realized that something was upsetting one of them. I stopped to watch from a distance so as not to be an interfering mother. What came of this situation is important enough that it needs to be shared.

As I understand it, my son was picked on by another camper while playing a game of soccer. It seems as though he was in goal and let a young camper of 6 years score on him. An older boy teased him saying he was “powned” (I think that means “loser”) for having a 6 year old score against him. Of course this devastated my son, as he only believed he was doing the right thing for the younger camper.

But the amazing thing of all was how the Coach handled the situation. The Coach got down on a knee at the kid's level and looked my son in the eyes and said “You did the right thing.” and ”You may have made a 6 year old boy’s day by letting him score.” Although, there was nothing to it my son came home wiping his own tears away (not mommy doing it for him) and he held his head a little higher. I didn’t even need to help him through it because Coach Kevin did a better job than I could ever (even his own mother could not have done a better job of lifting his spirits).

I drove away with tears knowing that I have made the right decision again this summer to enroll my kids into your camp. You recruited the finest coaches, all of them, and further more, I am even more please beyond belief, to know that my “coach in training son” has the best role models to teach him leadership skills. There was no question in the car while discussing this matter--- that all the Coaches are tops in the kids eyes. Kevin, Ashley, Taylor, Quinn, and of course you too Pat. Thank you all, for respecting the campers, and helping them to believe in themselves.

Thank you so much for not just the care you provide but the care in which you provide it.

Another satisfied customer!!

 P.S. I do hope that whatever the coaches choose to do in life or in their career that it includes kids and leadership, they all have what it takes to lead, teach, and coach the kids of our future, and what a better place this world would be!
 

A local adult lady visits us about donating a pool table and shuffle board to us.  The camps are in full swing.  You can hardly hear yourself think...

She sees what we are doing, and hears us discussing the question of affording rent for a local facility for one of our camps.  She immediately steps into the conversation offering her personal financial support to allow us to rent the facilities.  With her support we go to rent the facilities and surprise, surprise, we are given the facilities to use for the week.

ERIN, what a community.
 

Parent to Camp's Head Coach, "I need to see you about my two son in your camp..."

Coach's internal panic, "What's happened now?  What has gone wrong?  Oh dear!"

Parent continues, "...My boys had a fight this morning at breakfast, and we want you to help us in dealing with them."

WOW!  We've just been complemented.
 

Camper Friday afternoon to her camp coach,

"I don't want this camp to end."
 

A year and a half ago the grand parents moved from Erin To Georgetown.

Their move legacy is they still HAVE to bring their grandchildren to Erin Hoops Camp each summer as the kids consider our camps a summer must.

P.S. The kids home is in Brampton.
 

Mom to Erin Hoops Coach,

"I want you to know my kids are up early every camping morning.  They can't wait to get to camp.  They keep saying, 'Come on Mom. Come on Mom."

It's Friday, Aug. 12th. - 3 pm.  Erin Hoops Camp Show Time where parents have been invited to see their children A) put on a short drama piece done by the Drama-Skits Camp, B) do a dance recital by the Dance Camp, C) a gymnastics headstand and splits by an excited young camper who learned to do this in lunch hour, and D) a photographic set of slide shows of pictures taken in their Digital Photography Camp (some of these may be seen by clicking this blue link).  30 parents and guests showed.  The campers were awesome and the thanks from parents was overwhelming.  $25 was left in the donation jar which has never been mentioned in relation to our camps.  Awesome experience not to have been missed.

Our Photographing Campers went a trekking to the fire hall in Erin.  Another photographing adventure.  They got an unexpected opportunity.  The firemen saw the campers and brought out a Rescue Truck, turned on the flashing lights and the campers had a snapping adventure that they never dreamed of having inside and outside the vehicle.  Gosh our Town's People treat our youth well.

Thank you, you community oriented Firemen, you made the campers' day.

Yes, parents ask that all the time.

Here is yesterday's answer, "It is usually around noon, but yesterday one of the camps came in for lunch at 12:30.  The campers were having too much fun to quite till then for lunch."

Yes, our lunch hours are flexible.  We let the campers have fun till they feel it is lunch time.

A Truly Fantastic End

To Hoops Summer 2011

It’s 4 PM.

Summer Camp have just come to an end for this year.

Kids…

Both boys and girls alike,

Are at the front doors.

It’s sad…

The whole group is crying,

Hoops Summer Camps are over.