Boys have positive experience at camp

The inaugural Positive Boys Positive Men summer camp came to a close with a banquet at T.W. Josey High School on July 25.

The school's cafeteria was filled with parents, families and friends of the 58 boys, ages 6 to 12, who attended the eight-week sports and mentoring camp.

Camp Director Neely Lovett started the program in May. Campers learned a different sport each week, took weekly field trips and learned about discipline, respect, hygiene, brotherhood and other life lessons from the mentor-coaches.

Mr. Lovett, directing his first summer camp, said he didn't know what to expect, but he thought it went great. Next year he wants to open the camp to girls, he said.

"We had the opportunity to teach the kids about etiquette, sportsmanship, things like that," he said. "I had more kids than I thought I'd have. I just felt whatever kids God brought me, it'd just be a blessing to be able to help out with someone's kids."

At the banquet, the camp participants recited their mission statement about becoming positive men through using their talents, strength, resourcefulness, manhood and empowerment "to become successful and productive in our school and ... community."

Participants were given medals, with some campers also receiving certificates for leadership.

Guest speaker Ron Spry, Paine College's basketball coach, talked to the boys about their future, telling them what matters is not where they came from but where they're going. Life is about choices, he said.

The boys need to "stop, look and listen," he told them.

"Stop wasting time. Look where you're heading. Listen to the people trying to make a difference in your life. You be in control of your life; you determine what happens to you.."

Travis Gordon, 11, said he enjoyed playing basketball, football, kickball and other sports, and the Wednesday and Friday field trips to bowling and swimming. The best part, however, was meeting the other boys in the camp, said the sixth-grader at Morgan Road Middle School.

"It was really fun experiencing new friends from different places," he said.

"When I go to middle school and play sports and play teams from other schools, I'll probably see some of them."

Travis' stepfather, Trejon Thurman, called the camp a "good, productive project to keep the young boys out of trouble.

"They're catching them at the age where they're subject to all types of mischief and street things little boys get into. Hopefully, it will be able to continue; if not this particular camp, then some other of its kind."

Keven Myrick, 11, earned a leadership award, the first time he had ever received such recognition, he said.

"I don't want it to end," the C.T. Walker sixth-grader said about the program. "We got to learn stuff for life, play sports and hang out with friends."

Reach C. Samantha McKevie at (706) 823-3552 or samantha.mckevie@augustachronicle.com.