The University of Nebraska at Kearney will host the 13th Annual National Youth Sports Program (NYSP). NSYP is a free five-week summer camp for socio-disadvantaged children ages 10-16. The camp will be held June 4-July 5. UNK provides free transportation, lunch, health physicals, and scheduled sporting and educational activities that are age appropriate for all campers. “This is a good program supervised for kids during the month of June. We have lots of great activities planned including frisby golf, fishing, a visit to the planetarium, and much more. The program is both educational and exciting,” said Nita Unruh, community liaison for NYSP.
The camp serves youth from need-based families in Kearney, Gibbon, Shelton, Lexington, Cozad, Elm Creek, Pleasanton, Odessa and Holdrege. On an average, the program serves 200 kids daily and over 500 participant applications are received every year.
The goals of the program are: to help participants become better citizens; provide them with information on educational and career opportunities; strategies to prevent alcohol and drug abuse; and encourage a healthy life style.
The camp involves two hours of sport activities and one hour of education. The education includes personal health, disease prevention, nutrition, career opportunities, higher education and job responsibilities, math, science, and drug and alcohol prevention.
Funding is provided through grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services administered by the NCAA, the USDA, the Cozad and Lexington United Ways, and Buffalo County Health Partners (2000). Private donations are also made to aid the youth program.
For more information, contact Nita Unruh at (308) 865-8335.
