REACHING NEW HEIGHTS: CAMP TEACHES YOUNGSTERS SPORTS, LIFE SKILLS

Emannuel Harris triumphed over the wall, proving he has what it takes to reach the top.

Organizers of a summer camp under way hope Harris will carry this lesson on the rest of his life.

After repelling back to the bottom of the rock-climbing wall at Southeast Missouri State University's Recreation Center, Harris, 12, beamed a confident smile as he talked about the summer camp he and about 250 other youngsters are attending. The youngsters, ages 10 to 16, are from Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City.

"I like track and field and basketball, tennis and rock climbing," Harris said, pausing to watch another youngster attempt the wall.

"I really like how they treat you here," he said. "They don't yell at you. You gets lots of breaks and lots of chances.

"They're nice and encouraging," he said. "We learn about health and working together as a team and not talking about each other. They tell us to keep our head up high and to have high self-esteem."

Southeast Missouri State University received a $40,000 grant from the National Collegiate Athletic Association for the five-week summer sports program for disadvantaged youth. It ends July 10.

The National Youth Sports program of the NCAA is designed to help disadvantaged youth develop a positive image and self-esteem. The program also stresses nutrition and drug-free living.

"We hope to teach them a little about social skills as well as athletic skills," said Phyllis Redman, a graduate student who wrote the grant for this summer's program.

She said sports provide an ideal way to teach skills like responsibility and teamwork.

"If they don't work well as a team, the team crumbles. In sports you see that very graphically," Redman said.

"We hope they learn when they are not here, they are missed. They have a responsibility to the team," she said. "They need to take hold of that idea even though they are just 10 years old.

Tandi Selzer, 12, said, "I've enjoyed all of it.

"They teach us skills in the different areas; things I didn't know before, like basketball. I don't play basketball, but I have learned a little about it.

"I didn't know anybody when I got here, but now I've found some people I like."

LaDawn Hogan, 12, said, "Right now we're going to climb this wall, like the (American) Gladiators do. The best thing is tennis and swimming. This is the first time I've played tennis."

Hogan said, "We have worked as a team and we've worked pretty good. It makes things easier when we do."

Monaca Johnson, 10, has discovered a competitive sport that matches her skills.

"I like running track. I just like to run, and I'm good at it."

Johnson said she has also improved her skills in volleyball and softball.

Ross Conner, 10, still wet after a dip in Parker Pool, said, "I learned how to swim here. I didn't know how. But I really like it now. I also learned how to play tennis.

"I knew some of these people before." But Conner said he is slowly getting to know some new people.

Redman said: "We have all this thousands of dollars of equipment available to them. It opens up a whole new world to them.

"Some came with interests in sports. But we are trying to let them see a lot of new leisure time activities. We hope they will find that sports can be real fun."

Some children have had a hard time adjusting to this situation, Redman said.

"Some have never been involved in any type of structured setting," she said. "It's new for them. We are talking to these kids who are having problems one-on-one."

The program has a discipline policy; after three "strikes" a child is out of the program. But after any discipline referral, the child receives some counseling about what the problem is and how it can be resolved.

"We hope they can learn through their mistakes too," Redman said.

The counselors are volunteers. Most are college students who earn an hour of credit.

"It's been a hard learning experience for some of them too," Redman said. "The staff has learned a tremendous amount about cultural differences."

Counselor Sandy Todt, a Southeast senior majoring in commercial recreation, said: "I think they are getting responsibility out of this. We're having to get them there on time to get to the next activity.

Counselor Lisa Dean, a senior and therapeutic recreation major at the university, said, "They are learning to get along with each other.

"It's not so controlled as school; it's very unlike a school situation," Dean said.

Despite some expected complaints about hot weather, Todt said: "They're really having fun. They're getting to know each other."

On Fridays, the children get to compete. Dean said the children love competing and like to win.

The program includes information about drug and alcohol education, tied with nutrition and self-esteem.

"We use the summer food service sponsored by the USDA to ensure they get a good meal," Redman said.

The children have a breakfast snack and lunch. Before participating, they each received a physical examination. Buses and vans transport the children from pickup points to the university and back.

"It has been very trying, difficult at times, but I think we are really enjoying it and the kids are really enjoying it," said Redman. "At the end of the five weeks, I hope we will all be saying we've done something here."