BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – If you’re still looking to get your kids out of the house this summer, there’s a free option in Brevard County that will have your kids walking the green and learning life lessons.
“At first, I just did not want to go. But the first day I attended camp I was like ‘oh, this is actually fun’ and the food was a plus,” said 13-year-old Kaitlin Cooper. “I didn’t expect to start liking golf but I started liking it.”
Cooper will be returning to the P.J. Wilson and Henry Scott Youth Golf Camp this summer.
The two-week camp hosts about 100 students each year at Eastern Florida State College’s Fred Gay Golf Academy in Cocoa. This marks 30 years for the free program. The no-cost camp grabbed the attention of Jenny Clark.
“We were trying to find different activities around and it helped that this was free and close by. With four kids at home, we just needed to get Ousten actively involved in something,” said Jenny Clark.
“It’s free golf lessons for two weeks. The coaches here are amazing. The experiences you get out here are amazing because you learn how to putt and chip. You get to learn etiquette too,” said 18-year-old Rusten Clark.
Ousten Clark is a longtime camper, turned coach for the program. He’s been attending for ten years.
“It’s very nice to be able to share my experiences to help the younger kids,” said Rusten Clark.
Eastern Florida State College Golf Coach, Jamie Howell, runs the program.
“It’s not what you get out of it, it’s what goes into it. Between the instructors, volunteers and myself, we’re carrying on a tradition in it’s 30th year,” said Howell. “It’s more about life skills and we use golf as the medium.”
The free golf camp is driving positive change and encouraging students to go to college through scholarships offered by Eastern Florida State College to campers. Rusten Clark will be attending EFSC in the fall on a scholarship he received through the youth golf camp.
Coach Howell and Dr. Michael Cadore, Executive Director of Community Engagement for EFSC, have become mentors for students like Clark and Cooper.
“When you’re feeling down or getting frustrated, Dr. Cadore will pull you aside and he’ll try to cheer you up or give you a pep talk to reenergize your confidence. That’s what golf is about, being confident and having a positive mindset,” said Cooper. “I like how positive he is and how he would speak and tell us that we have a bright future ahead and how we can make it to college. That moved me a lot.”
“I feel great knowing that young students like Kaitlin are already talking about not only college, but what she wants to major in,” said Dr. Cadore. “Golf is an expensive sport. Those who can’t afford to play, this free camp allows them to do that. We partnered with Brevard County Parks and Recreation to accommodate students with disabilities who would like to participate in this camp. Whether it be through underserved or disability, this youth camp allows any individual to come out.”
The Youth Golf Camp is open to students ages 10 to 17. Even though the flyer said the registration period has passed, the organizers are allowing students to continue to register up until the first week of June. Golf equipment as well as lunch is provided for all campers.