3 Things Your Child Is Learning at Kuyper Sports Camp
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So, your child comes home from Kuyper Sports Camp sweaty, smiling, possibly wearing mismatched socks, and telling you their team name is “The Flaming Pickles” or “The Diaper Dandies.” They talk about playing dodgeball, making new friends, and laughing a lot.
And you might be wondering:
“This sounds fun… but what are they really learning?”
Legitimate question!
Because while it may look like non-stop games and snacks (which, to be fair, it is), there’s also something much deeper happening—something you might not see right away.
Here are a few things we implement that your child is learning at Kuyper Sports Camp that go way beyond the scoreboard—and a little insight into how we help it all sink in by the end of the week.
1. How to Try Without Needing to Be the Best
There’s something so beautiful about watching a child do something for the first time—and keep trying, even when it’s awkward, slow, or hard.
We’ve had kids come to camp who have never picked up a football, never played dodgeball, and have no idea which end of the baseball bat to hold (for real).
But you know what? They try.
Because they’re encouraged.
Because we make it a priority that the kids around them cheer them on.
Because they realize it’s safe to be new here.
And something shifts—once they feel safe to try, they start to want to try. They discover how fun it is when they finally connect with the ball, tag someone out, or play a game they never thought they’d like.
That’s the kind of thing we celebrate here–being brave.
Because bravery is what keeps kids coming back—not just to camp, but to challenges in life.
2. How to Compete Without Crushing Others
Yes, we play hard at our camps because we love to compete.
But we also believe in competing with character.
There’s one camper we’ve had for a few summers now—one of the older kids. He’s naturally athletic and honestly good at just about every game we play. But here’s what makes him stand out: you’d never know he was “the best.”
He doesn’t puff himself up when he wins.
He doesn’t dominate at the expense of others.
He helps, listens, encourages, and plays with quiet confidence.
This is what we want to multiply.
Our camp culture is designed so that winning isn’t about putting others down—it’s about lifting your team up. It’s about respect for coaches, kindness to opponents, and being someone others want to play with.
Winning here isn’t about being the loudest kid or the one who makes the most noise. It’s often for the one who cheered for someone who missed a shot, who noticed a teammate alone, who led without a spotlight.
That’s the kind of leadership we believe in.
3. How to Lose Without Falling Apart (And Win Without Being Mean)
Let’s be real—kids are still learning how to handle their big emotions.
So yes, sometimes things get heated and hard.
Sometimes someone makes a comment that crosses the line.
Sometimes losing leads to tears, and winning leads to… let’s just say, not-so-gracious victory dances.
But at Kuyper Sports Camp, we don’t let that slide. And we don’t shame it either.
We give space for kids to cool down. To regroup. To repair.
Because part of building resilience is giving kids the emotional tools to handle disappointment and conflict and keep going.
We help them see that losing is a moment, not a label.
And winning is a chance to grow in humility, not superiority.
And when a camper shows up the next day, ready to try again after a hard moment? That’s when we pull them aside and celebrate that small but profound choice.
Because what matters isn’t that they lost.
It’s that they kept showing up.
And on Fridays… We Celebrate the Bigger Wins
Every week we end with an awards ceremony—but not the kind you might expect.
Sure, we celebrate team points.
But the real trophies? They’re for the kids who were brave, kind, and resilient.
Because in a youth sports culture that’s often bent on winning at all costs, we’re building something different:
A space where kids learn that you can play hard, compete well, and still…
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Treat others with dignity
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Make space for others to grow
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Lead with kindness and humility
That’s what it means to be a healthy competitor—and that’s what your child is learning at our summer camps, whether they come home and tell you or not.
Want to see it in action and be a part of what we're building here?
Join us for the fun—and the growth.
Check available camp weeks + register here →
And if your child is already in camp--You're giving them more than a fun week. You're giving them space to become the kind of person we all want on the team.
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