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Photograph by Gretchen Knaup
Areil Hagar, 6 left, and Yarden Berkman, 9, tie in the relay race at the Sunnyvale summer camp Junior Olympics on July 26. The relay was just one event that campers aged 6-9 competed in.
Campers compete for gold
Groups join together for Junior Olympics
By Gretchen Knaup
All four Sunnyvale summer day camps joined together for some friendly competition in the Junior Olympics at Fremont High School. Divided by age group and gender, the campers competed in all kinds of athletic events from obstacle courses to relay races.
Children ranging in age from 6 to 12 years old from city of Sunnyvale camps came out in full spirit on July 26 to cheer on their fellow campers and try their best in this year's annual Junior Olympics.
Put on by the city's parks and recreation department community services, the day consisted of eight events. The participating children could choose two events in which to compete. They included four field events such as a soccer-slalom, a softball toss and a standing long jump. There were also track events, including a 50- and 100-yard dash and a four-man relay. Soccer games and obstacle courses were also offered.
Camper Jesse Lear from Ortega afternoon camp said he chose to compete in the obstacle course and the 50-yard dash. "I won both!" he exclaimed.
Lear, 6, explained what he had to do in the obstacle course: "I had to spin around with a bat three times, jump through hula-hoops, and then get in bags and jump to the finish line," he said.
The day began with a traditional opening ceremony.
"We play the Olympic theme song and the camps come in marching around the track cheering at each other while carrying their banners," said Kay Whitney, director of teen and youth services for the city of Sunnyvale. "It really got their adrenaline pumping."
Counselors said the all-day camps were big time rivals, while the afternoon camps had their own rivalry going. "It turned out really well this year," said event coordinator Jenny Wong. "The kids are really into it."
Some camps were there just to have a good time, while others, such as Adventure Camp, only had victory in mind.
"We are here to win," counselor Margaret Suito said. "Last year we were cheated!"
"They have a ceremony where they receive their medals, and some of them get pretty emotional about it," Whitney said. "I know last year some of the kids wore their medals the rest of the summer."
As the campers awaited their next event, they told their fellow camper friends about the new friends they made. "We have these special events with all the camps so the children can get to know each other," said Nichole DeWolfe of Parks and Recreation.
"My favorite part was assisting with the goals," Nicole Hjartoy, 9, said. Concerning her next individual event she said, "I'm not nervous; I'm just here to have a good time."
Whitney said the counselors really try to work on team spirit and team sport. All the counselors from the different events were very supportive and proud of their campers and acted as coaches in helping their campers get ready for the events. Counselors showed first-time campers the ropes, and every child received a participation ribbon for being in an event.
"The children are very proud of their accomplishments," Whitney said.
"The day went wonderful," Hayes said. "It was really neat to see the kids coming there with their faces painted and all enthusiastic."
The kids get to interact every two weeks according to the parks and recreation department. "It makes them aware of the other kids in other camps having the same experiences as they are," Whitney said.
Wong said she spent about a week preparing for the event, but it was definitely worth it.
"It's a day the campers can show what they can do and take part in their community," she said. "They also learn how to be team players."
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Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
