This summer, the University of Maryland will partner with Ohio State University to launch LiFEsports, a nationally acclaimed summer camp for children ages 9 through 14 from low-income families. LiFEsports promises fun, fitness, and education, with life and leadership lessons embedded in the free program.
Led by School of Public Health (SPH) senior lecturer Dr. Jay Goldstein, the LiFEsports at UMD pilot initiative - the first LiFEsports in Maryland - aims to foster qualities including social responsibility, effort, teamwork, and self-control (S.E.T.S.) through play-based, “Chalk Talk” instruction during activities like basketball, dance, swimming, and flag football. Goldstein hopes 50 to 60 children will enroll in this summer’s pilot. Located on the university campus, the camp will operate from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. from June 17 to July 12. The four-week program is free and provides transportation, breakfast and lunch to all campers.
“We want to enhance our campers' learning opportunities through fun physical activity,” said Goldstein, who is in the SPH Department of Kinesiology, “While they play a wide variety of sports, the secret sauce is we’ll also be sharing social skills and hoping they take the bits of wisdom that can help advance and guide them to be leaders in their schools and communities.”
Research shows that skills learned at summer camps may transfer to the campers’ homes, classrooms and neighborhoods, and LiFEsports will put this to the test. Goldstein’s team will perform evaluations in life skills, physical literacy, mental health and well-being following the camp. And the students staffing the camp will also take away lessons, with opportunities to learn through campus-based internships, volunteering, paid employment, courses and research.
“Since our first meeting, we knew it was a perfect fit for the University of Maryland to join the LiFEsports family. In 2009, when we started the program, our goal was to expand throughout the Big Ten. Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Jay Goldstein and his vision, we are expanding our reach into Maryland, starting in Prince George's County," said Jerry Davis, LiFEsports executive director of service and outreach at Ohio State University. "LiFEsports aims to address the ever-changing needs of our communities and the field of sport-based positive youth development. This partnership will help future Terps grow through camp, and our research will discover better methods to support children through sport. This is just the beginning."
The new effort builds on SPH efforts to collaborate with Maryland communities and build national partnerships. “At the University of Maryland School of Public Health, advancing the public good – through our students, through our communities – is at the core of what we do,” said SPH Dean Boris Lushniak, MD, MPH. “Bringing this prestigious program to the College Park area is one way we’re working hand-in-hand with the larger community to create better outcomes for youth, and better education and health for everyone.”
The community outreach program is partnering with organizations including The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Prince George’s County and campus organizations including RecWell. Goldstein said the first year of the pilot program was generously funded by private donors and grants. He’s hoping that this summer's camp will attract sustainable support for future years.
“Sharing these life skills through sports can help young people learn and grow in so many positive ways,” Goldstein said. “We’re thrilled to bring LiFEsports to Maryland for the first time, and to open up a means for a vulnerable population to have access to high-quality activities this summer, having a great time while they learn how to be healthy and to lead.”
Interested families can learn more at the LiFEsports webpage or contact lifesports@umd.edu.
MEDIA CONTACT: sph-comm@umd.edu
