Registration is open for Youth Sports Camps in Burlington! 

Below, read an entertaining write-up from one of our Parks and Rec Staff Members, Julie. She reflects on her time spent in youth sports in a way that'll have you grinning at her experiences, and reliving your own memories from not so long ago... 

This “portrait of an athlete in their prime” (above) was taken during one of my first years playing local rec soccer. My team was called the Big Green Goal Scoring Machine. Honestly, I can’t remember if we scored a single goal or how many games we won or lost. I do remember oranges at half time, the smell of the grass and the sound my cleats made walking down the sidewalk to the field. Our coach would play Ricky Martin from a boom box before games to pump us up (It was the ‘90s, ok?).

Our goalie’s nickname was “The Bulldog” and she would growl at other players when they would try to score. Thanks to that team, I became best friends with that girl – yeah, the one who growled at people… I actually made a lot of friends that first year playing soccer, and would go on to play soccer with most of them for many years.

Being involved in youth sports growing up gave me a community. It was a place to challenge myself and to learn how to support others. We were taught perseverance, despite the score or the weather or the odds. I’m sure my parents were relieved to have finally found a socially appropriate place for their energetic kid to run around yelling and burn off some of that endless excitement.

As a youth and through adulthood (I only quit playing in 2019), the soccer field was a place where all outside concerns faded away and I could just be in the moment without trying to be in the moment at all. Most importantly, soccer was just really, really stinking fun." - Julie Goeman, Burlington Parks and Rec Staff

As summer schedules are being planned, consider the following youth sports camps happening right here in Burlington. Register for our Challenger Soccer Camps taking place two weeks this summer, July 18-22 and August 8-12; or try out a few of the Skyhawks Sports Camps, which offer many different sports options for a variety of ages. If your child would like to play Recreational Soccer for Fall 2022, registration is open now through June 30, 2022.

Cheers to orange slices, the smell of the grass and youth sports in Burlington! 
 

Community Spotlight articles feature parks, recreation programs, events, and community members in the City of Burlington. We're on a mission to promote and inspire a life that is happy, healthy and active. 

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City of Burlington
Parks and Recreation

360-755-9649 / Email