Chicopee camp helping keep kids engaged with academics, athletics

CHICOPEE, MA (WGGB/WSHM) – The COVID-19 pandemic kept a lot of people, especially kids, indoors for a while and forced them to not be fully engaged in physical sports and other hobbies, but one summer camp in Chicopee has spent the last few years working to change that.

With the weather being hot, humid, and beautiful, summer camp season is in full swing for kids of many ages, but what if we told you there was a camp where young people could be exposed to both athletics and high school level academics. That’s where Camp Elevate comes in. “There’s so much hands-on and such a variety of things,” said camp director Adam Tanguay. “…We’re introducing all of the Chicopee students to both high schools, so it depends where they’re going in the future. We’re hoping that they’ll be comfortable in that environment as well.”

Beginning in 2021, the mostly city-funded camp allows Chicopee middle schoolers to enjoy sports and other activities, which they were not able to do during the pandemic. At first, it was a half-day camp where those kids could put their devices down and be introduced to athletics and coaches. However, the demand for an all-day camp went up and it has introduced these students to so much more. “It’s not just sitting in the classroom and doing things. They’re doing actually science experiments, building model rockets and launching them,” Tanguay added.

This is now the second year of the full-day camp offered by Chicopee Public Schools. The registration fee is just $30. For the last two weeks, Camp Elevate has been at Chicopee High and, on Thursday, our crew saw dozens of kids do nothing but enjoy themselves. Campers we spoke with, like 12-year-old Kalil Taal, shared what they love the most about it. “My favorite activity is probably basketball because I just love basketball,” he said. “You do a bunch of fun activities and then a mix with academics, too.”

Tanguay told Western Mass News the campers have a lot to look forward to as the summer rolls on. “We’ve had the mayor come in and speak to some of our students, which was a great opportunity to ask some questions about civics. Chicopee resh is coming in next week to do a demonstration for our sixth and seventh graders and we’re going to take them roller skating,” he explained.

Camp Elevate continues at Chicopee Comprehensive High School for the next two weeks. They are at capacity and transportation, breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack are all provided.

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