The lazy days of summer make it tempting for kids to rely on TV and computer games for entertainment. Why not get them playing sports instead? It’s a great way to move them off the couch for outdoor fun.

Promoting physical activity in children and teens is so important because childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the U.S. The prevalence of obesity among children aged 6–11 has more than doubled in the past 20 years, and more than tripled among adolescents aged 12–19.

The American Heart Association recommends that children and adolescents participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. Regular physical activity helps with controlling weight, building and maintaining healthy bones and muscles, reducing blood pressure, reducing the risk of diabetes and some kinds of cancer, improved psychological well-being, gaining more self-confidence and higher self-esteem.

As participation in physical activity tends to decline as children get older, it is important that parents continue to encourage physical activity and lead by example—make fitness a family affair.

Get your kids off to a healthy start this summer by encouraging them to take up a new sport or practice an existing one. From individual sports like tennis, track and fencing, to group sports such as football, basketball and cheerleading, the following Memphis-area athletic camps are a great way to get kids moving, and keep them that way.

CITY PARK AND RECREATION CAMPS

Bartlett Recreation Center Sizzlin’ Summer Sports Camps • Ages: 7-14. Sports offered: Aquatic programs, baseball, basketball, dance, football, gymnastics, hiking, karate, racquetball, rugby, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field, ultimate Frisbee, weight training, and wrestling. Fee: $250-$300 per two-week session. Camps run two weeks. Payment in full by start of camp. Contact: Michael Goldberg, 385-6470, or cityofbartlett.org/brc.

Collierville Parks and Recreation • Programming offerings  unavailable at press time. • Contact: Brad Heacox, 853-3225,
or colliervilleparks.org for updated information.

Germantown Parks and Recreation • Ages: 3-16 years. Sports offered: Baseball, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, and tennis. Fee: $82-$194. Camps run four to five days. Payment due at registration. Contact: Kevin Weaver, 757-7379, or germantown-tn.gov.

Tennis Memphis • Generally offers summer camp programs. Information unavailable at press time.
Contact 398-8797, or tennismemphis.org.

PRIVATE SCHOOL CAMPS

Briarcrest Christian School Summer Day Camps • Ages: 4-12. Sports offered: Basketball, baton-twirling, cheerleading, soccer, T-ball, taekwondo, tennis. Fee: $35-$125. Camps run from four
to five days. Payment in full by May 15. • Contact: Jeannie Potts, 765-4617, or briarcrest.com.

Briarcrest Varsity Camps • Ages: 4-16. Sports offered: Baseball, basketball, football, speed & agility, soccer, summer sports spectacular, tennis, and volleyball. Fee: $100. Camps run from four to five days. Payment in full by start of camp.
Contact: Dr. Bryan Williams, 765-4616, or briarcrest.com.

Christian Brothers High School • Ages and fees vary. Sports offered: All sports camp, baseball, basketball, speed & strength, soccer, and track & fitness. Camps run from four to five days. • Contact: Ask athletic department for individual camp contacts, 261-4900, or visit cbhs.org/athletics.htm to learn more.

St. George’s Independent School • Ages: 4-17. Sports offered: All sports camp, basketball, cheerleading, football, gymnastics, speed training, soccer, swimming, tennis, volleyball, and wellness. Fee: $125-$210. Camps run from two to five days. Payment due at registration. • Contact: Kellie Hanlon, 261-2323, or sgis.org.

Hutchison School • Ages: 4-17. Sports offered: Basketball, cheerleading, fencing, lacrosse, running, soccer, tennis, and volleyball. Fee: $75-$200. Camps run from four to five days. Payment in full at registration. • Contact: Amanda Fisher, 507-2460, or hutchisonschool.org.

Lausanne Collegiate School • Ages: 4-14. Sports offered: All-star sports, ballet, basketball, cheerleading, dance, dodge ball, extreme sports, football, Kid-athlon, and lacrosse. Fee: $125-$200. Camps run five days. Payment in full by start of camp. • Contact: Catherine Hammons, 474-1013, or lausanneschool.com/summer.

Memphis University School • Ages: 9-14. Sports offered (boys only, with the exception of tennis): All sports camp, baseball, basketball, football, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, and wrestling. Fee: $115-$350. Camps run from three days to two weeks, majority are one week. Payment in full by May 15. • Contact: 260-1300, or musowls.org.

St. Benedict at Auburndale • Ages: 4-14. Sports offered: All sports camp, baseball, basketball, cheerleading, dance/pom, football, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, and volleyball. Fee: $72-$120. Camps run from four to five days. Payment due at start of camp. Contact: 260-2840, or sbaeagles.org.

St. Mary’s Episcopal School • Ages: 4-14. Sports offered (girls only): All sports camp, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, and volleyball. Fee: $75-$185. Camps run from four to five days. Payment in full by May 22. • Contact Sandra Pitts, 537-1425 or stmarysschool.org.

PROFESSIONAL SPORTS CAMPS

Memphis Grizzlies Summer Hoops Camps • Ages: 6-14. Sports offered: Basketball. Fee: $85-$250. Camps run five days. Payment in full by start of camp. • Contact: Justin Boddie, 205-1472, or grizzlies.com.

Memphis Redbirds • Ages: 8-16. Sports offered: Baseball, softball. Fee: $75-$100. Camp is two days. Payment in full by June 5.  Contact: 722-0267, or memphisredbirds.com.

UNIVERSITY CAMPS

Rhodes College Summer Athletic Camps • Ages and fees vary. Sports offered: Baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, and volleyball. • Contact: Athletic department for individual camp contacts, 843-3940, or rhodeslynx.com.

University of Memphis Coaches’ Summer Camps • Ages and fees vary. Sports offered: Baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball, and volleyball. • Contact: Athletic department for individual coach contacts, 678-2300, orgotigersgo.com.

Tommy West Football Camp • Ages: 8-17. Sports offered: Football. Fee: $50. Camp is four days. Payment in full by start of camp. Contact: John Flowers, 678-2341, or gotigersgo.com.

University of Memphis Baseball Camp • Ages: 7-14. Sports offered: Baseball. Fee: $150. Camp is four days. Payment in full by start of camp. • Contact: Kevin Weaver, 757-7379, or germantown-tn.gov.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 1st, 2009 at 12:00 pm and is filed under Activities, Features, Resources. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.