Representing students of Arizona universities, community colleges and high schools, as well as other emerging Arizona artists since 1993. ARTWALK ON THURSDAYS GALLERY RECEPTIONS • LIVE MUSIC • ARTIST DEMOS 7PM OR SO • SCOTTSDALEGALLERIES.COM 480.946.5076 . artonegalleryinc.com . 4130 n marshall way . scottsdale art ne gallery birds of a feather flock together (1599) • john babbitt • mixed media on panel • 36 x 80 x 1.5 Page 58 July 2015 By Nicholas Smith The days of young athletes playing multiple sports seem to be coming to a close. Many parents and their children choose to put their focus on one sport, at the expense of having a multisport athlete. In that sense, Hubbard Sports Camp is a throwback. Kids who attend the summer camp play a wide variety of sports, including basketball, baseball, swimming, volleyball and archery. “Having kids exposed to multiple sports is important for us,” said Bob Hubbard, who founded the camp along with his wife Kathy. “We think a big thing is for kids to be challenged and that happens when they play sports they aren’t familiar with.” The camp is a structured way for kids from 4 1/2 to 13 years of age to learn about sports and make new friends. Kids are put into a group of 18-24 campers from their age group and spend a week with that group. The groups go with their two counselors to play a variety of different sports, each with a coach to help them learn how to play. Those staying for the afternoon get to play field sports, including capture the flag, tag and four square. “Honestly, in today’s world iPhones and iPads,” said Hubbard. “We really feel like sports camps can give children a chance to rest their brains, make friends and learn to work together to deal with adversity. The director of all Hubbard Sports Camps is Hubbard’s daughter, Ann Marie Sunderhaus. She began working at the sports camp when she was in high school. “As a parent myself now,” said Sunderhaus, “I see the importance of what the camp does for kids. The kids have fun, they build character and they always feel safe. The kids will fail sometimes but we want them to always know that’s OK and to learn how to become a good sport.” At first, many of the sports might be new for kids. Sunderhaus says some children play volleyball or basketball for the first time when they come to camp. The goal is for kids to become comfortable with all the sports they play. “I’ve seen kids who started, never playing a certain sport, who end up playing that sport in high school,” said Sunderhaus. “Our hope is that kids can take what they learn at camp and be able to play any sport when they go back to school and have recess or PE class.” Although the children are the central focus, another important part of the camp for Hubbard is helping the counselors grow as well. Many of them aren’t strangers when they begin working for the camp. Of the 90 staff members who are working for Hubbard this summer, a third of them were campers at one point. “I love watching young people grow and then come back to take on new responsibility,” said Hubbard. “We have many who start with us as juniors in high school and all of a sudden they’re graduating college. We talk a lot in training about representing not just the Hubbard name but what a parent wants to see in people taking care of their child. It’s a great thing to watch them mature and grow to become role models.” Summer Camp gives kids a break from technology At Hubbard kids try a variety of sports, such as archery.