In January-April, we’re the pacer car, an easy 35 mph. By May, we were hitting the home stretch, and we’re topping out at a steady 60 mph.

And once Memorial Day is through, we were speeding out of the gates and quickly up to 125 mph in the Active lane. It happens every year, but this year is a whole different race.

Make no doubt about it, COVID is still lurking around at at the track, but moving farther and farther away from the action. We powered through the last two pandemic summers, stayed strong and remained one of the most active and healthy camp programs you could find anywhere. This year, we are roughly twice the size of 2020 and the number of camps around us from YMCAs and Community Clubs and Sports Organizations are close to the same. We’re not perfect and working hard every day to make these kids have a great time. It’s a welcoming sight to see so many kids active and staying social. Here are the highlights from the AKA All Sports Camp and Speed of Play programs in the month of June.

• Early Heat Wave, tipped 100 degrees the Week of June 13. What a way to start the Summer!

• Water Bottles - Thank you Blaine Orthodontics!!

• Top 5 Field Trips : Minnesota Zoo, Valleyfair, Nickelodeon Universe and Crayola Experience, Urban Air Coon Rapids & Elm Creek Parkway

• Nutrition Week Smoothies and Apples & Sun Butter

• STEM Builders making catapults with the kids at Blaine.

• MindRite Training’s Travis Rogers came to speak with our NSC Blaine Speed of Play, mainly about Goal Setting Getting .

June was a blast (also a blur). We’re in the pole position for the month of July. Let’s try and slow the summer down and enjoy it all. Thank you to all of our partners, field trip vendors, Kottke’s Bus Company, and to all of you supportive families.

Keep healthy, strong and active everyone!

CS