Some young participants from a previous camp. CONTRIBUTED
Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer
DISCOVERY BAY, St Ann:NORANDA BAUXITE'S annual summer camp for children to develop their sporting talent has been running for more than 30 years, and goes back to the 1970s when the company was known as Kaiser.
Today marks the beginning of yet another camp for children who live in the Noranda Bauxite mining areas. This year, 300 youngsters, aged nine to 14, have been registered to participate.
The camp, which ends August 1, will see them participating in cricket and netball, which will be augmented by character development sessions. The camp is being held at two locations - the Noranda Sports Club in Discovery Bay and the St D'Acre Community Centre - in order to cut down on travelling costs for the children.
Forty-five adult volunteers, drawn from Noranda Bauxite and the community, will lead the camp, acting as coaches, team managers, counsellors, and coordinators for the 12 cricket and 12 netball teams.
Games will be played Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
Personnel and industrial relations manager Nathan Thompson emphasised that the camp would not focus entirely on sports, but would also teach discipline, among other things.
"The programme is ruled by a code of conduct, which emphasises the values of discipline, sportsmanship, patriotism, and respect for each other," Thompson said.
Before starting a match, opposing teams shake hands, sing the national anthem, and repeat a pledge which promises to "respect the national flag, strive to win, but win or lose, ever to play the game fair".
throwback
Thompson said the code insists that the batting captain must be applauded as he makes his way to the wicket, a throwback to the days when cricket was always a gentleman's game.
Noranda's community relations supervisor, Kent Skyers, who had overall responsibility for the programme, said that the mini-league had provided a training ground for community, parish, and national team representatives over the years.
"Bend the tree while it is young," is the mantra behind the camp, Skyers explained.
Among those who have benefited from the camp and have gone on to represent Jamaica are cricketers Orville Pennant, Xavier Marshall, André Dyer, Glenroy Hall, Ragnhni Francis, Eamani Sewell, and Marlon Pinnock.
Female cricketer, Chinelle Henry, also represented Jamaica.
One of the coordinators of the camp, Charles Johnson, said the camp, referred to as the mini-league, had become an institution in St Ann.
"It has made a difference to the community with favourable comments on its character-development values received from parents, teachers, and community leaders," Johnson, himself a teacher, remarked.
When the camp ends on August 1, there will be a presentationceremony at the Noranda Sports Club.
rural@gleanerjm.com