Vancouver Whitecaps' defender Jake Nerwinski chases after a couple of kids during the 9th Hope and Health Community Camp at Beban field. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

fun and games

VIDEO: ‘This is a great outlet to introduce sport:’ Nanaimo soccer camp connects with youth on many levels

Aug 22, 2022 | 4:09 PM

NANAIMO — A day of soccer aimed to kickstart a life-long love of the sport and pass along some valuable lessons to eager participants.

Following a two-year pandemic pause, the ninth annual Hope and Health Community Camp returned to Beban Park Athletic Fields in Nanaimo on Monday, Aug. 22.

Mateo Kostering, head coach of the program, told NanaimoNewsNOW using sport to connect with kids is a powerful tool on multiple levels, including culturally.

“I grew up idolizing First Nations soccer…we’d go to annual tournaments every year. It was an outlet for our communities to combine culture and also fitness and well-being, it was an opportunity for something to look forward to every year growing up on a reservation.”

Around 200 kids were expected during Monday’s camp with a full day of activities on and off the pitch.

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Players and coaches from the VIU men’s and women’s program, along with the UBC women’s team were also on hand.

Founded in 2012, Hope and Health has experienced immense growth since the height of COVID-19 with expansion of their programs to a variety of different communities.

“Nanaimo and Snuneymuxw was the first and we’ve progressed to doing camps in local communities, we’ve even gone up to Campbell River, Alert Bay, Powell River this year,” Kostering added.

The program is tailored for kids of all ages and skill levels. Participants were given a jersey, while those without cleats, socks or shin pads selected from a wide array of donated gear to take home.

Kostering said some are there for the first time, while others use it as a primer for the season ahead.

“We have a lot of youth that come out who haven’t played soccer before, but they love the program, the inclusiveness…and then you move onto kids who are just getting more touches in. Some of them have been in programs but they want to play with their younger siblings so they come here to do it.”

Hundreds of kids attended Beban Park Athletic Fields on Monday, Aug. 22 for a special soccer camp, learning from some of the Island and Major League Soccer’s best. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Vancouver Whitecaps defender Jake Nerwinski was one of three players and a handful of staff attending as well.

It was Nerwinski’s fourth time in Nanaimo helping out and his sixth year being involved with Hope and Health.

“Sometimes I feel like I get more out of it than the kids do. I think it’s awesome just to come out, be able to let loose, be free, have fun with the kids and see the kids have a great time. This is a great outlet to introduce sport, especially soccer which is a sport I love.”

Nerwinski joined the program in 2016 when he moved to Vancouver to play for the Whitecaps.

He had become friends with co-founders Deana and Ed Georgica and “the rest is history”, according to Nerwinski, who said countless kids come through multiple years, grow and return as coaches.

“Being a part of it for six years and seeing how much its grown in that time is tremendous. Seeing this camp particularly grow and grow each year shows the importance of it, getting these kids out here and getting them all together.”

Despite in-person camps being suspended, Nerwinski was kept busy by the program during the pandemic. He held several skills and leadership sessions online to keep kids engaged.

“I was doing sessions in the apartment with my ball, showing skill work with the ball. It was just a great way to keep everybody engaged and together to not let it falter a little bit because sometimes if you take some time off, maybe you lose a little bit but it’s only grown since then.

More information on Hope and Health is available on their website.

Having fun and learning some new soccer skills was the focus for kids at a day camp in Nanaimo on Monday. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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