South Valley churches have a long tradition of offering special
programs for children during the summer months when schools are not
in session.
South Valley churches have a long tradition of offering special programs for children during the summer months when schools are not in session.
Often this takes the form of Vacation Bible School, classes that combine crafts, games, music, food and stories from the Bible. Staffed by enthusiastic volunteers, these generally high quality programs are provided to everyone at minimal or no cost, regardless of religious affiliation.
Usually this column publicizes these offerings about this time of the year, but scheduling and vacation conflicts prevent me from doing that this summer. If you are interested in having your child participate in a VBS program, I suggest calling some churches in your neighborhood to see what is available.
Instead, this year the focus is on two churches offering sports camps, one in Gilroy and the other in Morgan Hill. All three events are open to any interested resident who is looking for a fun way to spend some summer days.
The Gilroy First Baptist Church, 8455 Wren Ave., will hold a Free Club Kids Sports Camp from 9 a.m. to noon Monday to Wednesday. It is intended for students who have completed kindergarten through sixth grade. It will be located at Antonio del Buono Elementary School, 9300 Wren Ave.
Children can participate in the following sports: basketball, baseball, volleyball, soccer, football and cheerleading. One sport will be mandatory; each participant can then choose two others to play. There is no cost to attend, and a registration form can be completed online at www.fbcgilroy.org. For more information call (408) 847-6000.
Gilroy First Baptist is very active in outreach to the community (including offering a traditional VBS program this summer), and they took an unusual step in order to provide these sports camps: they are partnering with a group of teens and adults from Mountain Brook Baptist Church, which is located in a suburb of Birmingham, Ala., to have enough staff and other resources to offer a quality program.
The visitors are in the Bay Area on a missions trip and will spend the afternoons in San Jose working with refugees from several war-torn countries.
Gilroy FBC is also holding a Free Kids Club Basketball Camp from July 19-21, also from 9 a.m. to noon. Students who have completed kindergarten through sixth grade are invited to participate at the Antonio del Buono Elementary School field and courts. They and their parents are also invited to enjoy a noon barbecue on Friday. Register at www.fbcgilroy.org. More information is available by calling (408) 847-6000.
The partner for this camp is a group from Lake Jackson First Baptist Church, located in a suburb of Houston, Texas.
This congregation is noted for summer missions travel. For the past few years they have traveled to assist local churches on projects in several cities. Last year they served residents of Seattle, Wash., and this summer they are spending the week prior to their arrival in Gilroy working with inner city residents of San Francisco.
Morgan Hill’s Community Christian Church will host a Youth Soccer Camp from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday to Friday for boys and girls ages 8 to 13. The camp will focus on “learning all about the game of soccer,” and is appropriate for both beginners and more experienced players.
The coaches are “top notch, collegiate and pro-level players who love to play and teach soccer.” It will be held at Galvan Park, 17666 Crest Ave.
The cost is $75 per student, which includes a T-shirt, culminating celebration barbecue and a ticket to a professional soccer game when the San Jose Earthquakes will be playing the Los Angeles Galaxy at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 25 at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara. For more information email Danny@cc-mh-com or call (408) 779-4914.
