Youth from all around Saskatchewan traveled to North Battleford to hone their curling skills at the community’s first Summer Curling Camp, hosted by CURLSASK. (Facebook/CURLSASK)

By Martin Martinson

On the button

CURLSASK youth curling camp a full house in the Battlefords

Aug 14, 2019 | 3:41 PM

Over 130 youth from around the province, ages 12 to 18, gathered at the Northland Power Curling Centre this week to take part in a Summer Curling Camp hosted by CURLSASK.

CURLSASK has been hosting eight-day summer camps around the province for the last 33 years. Each week consists of two camps, each four days long.

Within each camp are different group levels. The blue and red level is for those, generally aged 12 to 14, who may be trying the sport for the first time or at a beginner level. The green and purple are more intermediate groups for ages 14 to 16; while the high performance groups (black and gold) are for the older/more highly experienced curlers, generally in the 16 to 18-year age range.

This was the first year the event has been hosted in the Battlefords, with back-to-back camps Aug. 7 to 10 and Aug. 11 to 14.

Skill development in action at the CURLSASK Summer Camp. (Facebook/CURLSASK)

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Camp coordinator and competitive curler Sara England is a summer student with CURLSASK. She said the week could not have gone better.

“The kids are just amazing to work with,” she said. “They are all eager to learn and they soak up everything they are given. We have even had a couple kids in this camp that have curled once, and their improvement throughout our camp has been unbelievable. It is really exciting to see that.

“I came to this camp when I was probably about 16, and I have been curling ever since,” she said. “It has been a great opportunity for me, and I just want to make sure the kids in Saskatchewan get the same opportunities I was given. [The sport] has taken me everywhere and it has been an amazing journey. This camp is definitely what got me started for sure.”

While the goal of the camp is to help those who attend develop and take their curling game to the next level, England said that skill development goes hand-in-hand with other factors that make the camp a memorable experience.

“I think the big thing [with these camps] is making friendships and sharing a passion for something while growing connections with other people across the province,” she said. “Not just learning to curl and getting the skills, but also growing the knowledge, and the passion and the love for the sport.”

New skills were learned, and friendships made at the Summer Curling Camp. (Facebook/CURLSASK)

CURLSASK will be back to host the event in early-to-mid August the next four years in the Battlefords’ community. Next year’s date is already set for August 5 to 12.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1