All of the best things start with the search for a need to be met. “Necessity is the mother of invention,” as they say. And so it began for Matt Hall more than 10 years ago as he sought a summer full of activities for his daughter Marley and came up short of possibilities. Not wanting a day camp full of babysitting, movies, field trips and other sedentary choices, he and his wife, Laneia, now Principal of Parkside Elementary School, put together Sport Star Sports Camp.
It opened to tremendous success, filling an obvious void for other families in the same predicament. “I admit that we started this out of selfishness…I needed something I couldn’t find anywhere else,” Matt confesses. “But obviously, I wasn’t the only parent trying to keep their children more active instead of sitting around all summer.” As the camp grew, options at Sport Star grew and are still part of Super Stars’ fun curriculum today. Broken down by ages from those entering Kindergarten through middle school students, kids are kept in age groups to keep the sports and other activities more fair and fun. Activities include Swimming, Basketball, Soccer, Kickball, Flag Football, Water Slides, Color Wars, Camp Challenges, Rock Climbing Wall, Capture the flag and more. “Our objective is to get your kids moving, have fun and promote a healthy lifestyle,” Matt says.
Now celebrating its 11th year, Matt is extremely excited that Super Stars Summer Camp and their newest Teen Camp will be opening their 2015 season at the beautiful Boca Prep International School whose campus originated as the famous Mission Bay Swim Club. The facility was the Olympic Training ground for greats like Greg Louganis and other notable sports figures who competed and trained there prior to and after the 1988 Olympics. “Its such a beautiful campus, with fields, a gym, lots of room indoor and a gorgeous pool,” Matt says excitedly. “We are offering transportation every day for families that are interested.”
Super Stars Teen Camp for middle school campers provides fun, engaging activities outside of campus and travel to local destinations that promote wellness, fun, health and education. Camp instructors oversee safe daily trips that include tubing/knee boarding, Extreme Go-carting, Planet Air, Rapids Water Park, beach days and much more. Matt says, “Every trip is geared to promote an active, fit & fun lifestyle!”
Having a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership and with years of experience teaching physical education, Matt knows instinctively what kids need. His experience as a father of five active kids combined with being a camp administrator helps him to also know what parents expect. “We have an amazing staff of trained educators and hand-chosen counselors who have been with us through every year of growth. We don’t “hire” anyone that we haven’t had experience working side by side with already. I’m not looking for new staff every year. I trust all of the people we’ve been working with because I’ve seen their positive influence on our campers summer after summer.”
Matt also wants parents to rest assured that even with the heat Florida is famous for June through August, their children will never be out of doors for longer than 30 minutes at a time unless it’s on the water slides or in the swimming pool. “We’re very strict about not having them outside for too long,” he says. “Our curriculum is designed to keep them inside, but very active. They can get all kinds of fun and athletic excitement in the gym. When we go out on the field, it’s for a specific, slotted time and then we go in to have refreshments immediately afterward.”
A favorite of Super Stars families is the fact that there are no “contracts” to be adhered to throughout the summer. A child be can enrolled for just a week, or for the entire break. Active kids are healthier kids…get yours off the couch and into a summer full of new friends, team activities and fun all day. They won’t be looking forward to weekends this summer!!
For More Info. see www.SuperStarsCamp.com or call 954-444-8548
