G.O.A.L.S. Camp Wins With Area Kids

G.O.A.L.S. campers train under the instruction of coach Matt Vollink.

Cape Girardeau--A school bus pulls into Dempster Hall with smiles beaming from the faces of the students aboard. After exploring the Missouri History Museum, viewing an IMAX movie at the Science Center, and enjoying a picnic in Forest Park, the campers make their way to the awaiting parents. They depart one by one, and with the final car exiting the lot, so concludes the grand finale of G.O.A.L.S. Camp--the local youth camp started by Cultural Exchange Network (CENET) in Cape Girardeau.

Although its inaugural year, G.O.A.L.S. Camp proved to be a hugely successful initiative for CENET. The July 11th-15th camp provided soccer training and international education to 34 area campers. The camp was open to kids entering grades 2-8 in the fall with mornings dedicated to soccer training, and afternoons focused on educational elements.

G.O.A.L.S. Camp took place at Southeast Missouri State University. Soccer training was held at the Intramural fields, and the afternoon sessions took place in Dempster Hall. Soccer training was led by a few of the area's top coaches, including: Matt Gordon, Matt Vollink, and Lindsay Pickering

In order to be so successful, CENET had to make G.O.A.L.S. Camp different from any other area camp. G.O.A.L.S. has elite local coaches, and experienced educators, as well as a field trip to St. Louis; however, its main attraction is the emphasis on global education. The morning soccer training and the afternoon education were in large part conducted by a diverse, international staff.

Campers made pizza with an Italian, juggled soccer balls with an African, created lanyards with a Bulgarian, learned rugby from an Australian, salsa danced with a Panamanian and Ecuadorian, rolled sushi with South Koreans, and heard from a total of 14 coaches and speakers representing various foreign countries. Through global activities, local kids were taken out of Cape Girardeau, and given a journey around the world.

Whether kids came for the half day option to learn soccer from local and international trainers, or for the entire day to also take part in activities led by global instructors, each facet of camp included an emphasis on cultural understanding.

Based on feedback from campers and parents, G.O.A.L.S. was a success and offered area kids a fresh take on summer camp. Even area businesses showed overwhelming support of G.O.A.L.S.

The following local businesses contributed to bags made for the campers: Ty's Summer Sno, West Park Lanes, Le Bounce, The Branding Iron, Burger King, Main Street Lanes, Dairy Queen, My Daddy's Cheesecake, Wehrenberg Cape West 14 Cine, Family Video, McDonald's, Howard's Athletic Goods, Papa John's, Dominos, Pizza Hut, Culver's and Hibbett Sports. Qdoba and Harrison College of Business, International Business Programs also contributed to the camp.

CENET can confirm that G.O.A.L.S. Camp will return in the summer of 2012, and enrollment spots will be increased.