Thousands invade UW-Whitewater for annual summer camps
Released: May 28, 2004
Did you know that the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater offers nearly 90 summer camp programs throughout a ten-week period each June?
The “camp season” begins on June 4 with continuous offerings through August 12. Last year more than 25,000 people participated in UW-Whitewater summer camps. What is unique about the season here is that all camps are operated under the auspices of the school’s Office of Continuing Education.
According to Continuing Education Services Director Lou Zahn, the summer camp program has been in existence for nearly four decades. Two camps, Willie Myers’ wrestling camp and Ron Wangerin’s tennis camp, started the tradition in the 1960s. It has developed into a program that has grown into 88 individual camps this summer.
Zahn says there are a couple primary focuses for hosting the numerous camps.
“Ultimately, we look at it as a recruiting tool,” Zahn said. “Even if you come here in seventh grade band, someday you might remember Whitewater as being a pretty neat place to be. It also gives kids a great chance to hone their skills in specific areas.”
Offerings range from baseball to band, from football to forensics, from journalism to jazz, and from tennis to track. There are pre-college camps and refresher camps. New camps being implemented this summer include baseball and soccer.
Specific camps being offered are: athletic training, “Authentic Voices,” band, baseball, boy’s and girl’s basketball, chess, choir and strings, cross country, flute, football, forensics, gymnastics, jazz, journalism, leadership, percussion, piano, soccer, theatre, track and field, volleyball, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair sports. The campus also hosts soccer, lacrosse, wrestling, cheers, pom pons, and dance camps.
Information on all camps may be obtained from the continuing education web site, www.uww.edu/conteduc/camps.htm, or by calling (262) 472-3165.
- Tom Pattison,pattisot@uww.edu
