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Legacy Sports Camp Keeps Buckner Kids Active

By Ryan Brown
Buckner International


(FRISCO, Texas) – Brittany Woodson, 13, looks forward to her summer at Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth every year. But when she thinks of the many activities she does, there is one camp that always comes to mind – Legacy Sports Camp.

Brittany and others from Broadway and the Wynnewood Community Service Center in the South Oak Cliff attended sports camp at Legacy Christian Academy in Frisco for the second time. It’s something few of them could normally afford to do.

[caption id="attachment_1293" align="alignright" width="250" caption="Coach Kirksey assists a student on the basketball goal during Legacy Sports Camp in Frisco, Texas. Activities included basketball, football, cheerleading and more."][/caption]

“This year it felt more personal because there were only two groups here, but it was so much fun,” Woodson said. “The staff is always so nice, as they introduce themselves to us and just make us feel welcome.”

Located on the high school campus, the sports camp teaches children proper techniques of a variety of activities like football and basketball.

“Whether it’s tug-of-war activities or cheer and dance routines for the girls, we offer a variety of field events for everyone to enjoy,” said Andrew Embry, athletic director for Legacy Christian Academy.

Embry, along with his coaching staff, not only let the children have fun but taught them technique and skills too, which will benefit them in the long run.

“Some of these children want to try out for football or cheerleading,” said Cheryl Williams, director of the Wynnewood Community Center. “So these coaches are going to pour into them the skills that they need prior to even trying out, which gives them the confidence boost they need to succeed.”

Williams said the camp benefits the children because it lets them see places beyond the walls of their communities. But it also adds to their summer of fun, while learning in the process.

“When they leave they are going to learn things such as teamwork, unity, and what it means to be on a team,” she said. “Sometimes we become so individualized in winning that we forget that it takes a team to win a game.”

[caption id="attachment_1294" align="alignright" width="250" caption="Cheerleaders and the coaching staff at Legacy teach a routine to the girls, which they later performed in front of an audience."][/caption]

The Wynnewood Community Services Center and after-school programs at Broadway Baptist Church, both ministries of Buckner International, serve inner-city, low-income children and families in the Dallas-Fort Worth areas through summer programs.

Thirty Legacy students worked the camp this year, many of whom learned their own lessons as well.

“This one-day sports camp is a kind of ministry service project to these student workers,” said Jenny Allison, Buckner supporter and liaison between Legacy and Buckner. “Not only are these students from Legacy able to serve, but at a young age they are seeing how truly blessed they are.”

For the staff at these community centers, who see these children on a day-to-day basis, this camp means even more.

“A lot of our kids are low-income so they don’t have the money to pay to go to different sports camps,” said Ashley Waller, life skills specialist at Broadway Baptist Church. “So this is just a blessing for them. They see that they may not have the money, but people still care enough to make events like these happen for them.”

[caption id="attachment_1295" align="alignright" width="250" caption="Lucas Allison, along with Legacy coaches, helps lead a game of “tug-of-war” with the children at the sports camp."][/caption]

Embry and the students at Legacy Christian Academy said they want the students to feel special.

“The main purpose of this camp is to build lasting relationships with these children,” Embry said. “We don’t know who comes back to the camp each year, so we want them to always know that we are here for them.”

To help support activities for children through Buckner after-school and summer programs, call Buckner Foundation at (214) 758-8050.

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