A year ago, Chuck Denning was traveling the country as the VP of Operations for Old Time Pottery.
Last week he was walking the sidelines of an innovative basketball camp aimed at teaching under-resourced pre-teen boys about the importance of healthy habits and good choices. For decades The Connor Group has taken talented people from retail backgrounds and placed them in a new environment. This was more like a different planet.
As the VP of Operations for Kids & Community Partners, Chuck has been charged with rolling out Connor Kids Academy, a first-class sports camp experience to kids who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity — using sports as the hook to provide character education. The three-day pilot program took place at the University of Dayton in partnership with its men’s basketball program.
“The kids had a great time and I think they learned a lot,” Chuck said. “I know we learned a lot about what we need to do better going forward.”
The camp has been designed as a three-year experience – including field trips and an interactive app that will reinforce the lessons they’ve learned with testimonials from famous athletes and activities. Campers can earn points for their participation and redeem them for reward and recognition. Kids & Community plans to eventually spread the model to the majority of Connor Group markets.
The inaugural camp included basketball drills and competitions interspersed with lessons about eating habits, good choices, physical fitness routines, goal-setting activities and other educational sessions. Campers interacted with UD players, ESPN personalities, former and current college athletes and coaches. They also got visits from Bengals running back Joe Mixon and Knicks forward Obi Toppin, who surprised each camper with his own pair of Air Jordans.
Chuck and K&C coordinator Brandi Luttrell ran the camp in partnership with ProCamps.
“(Chuck) may not be making a difference, but he looks like a camp counselor,” joked Connor Group managing partner Larry Connor.
For decades, researchers and child-development experts have touted the benefits of summer camp and the kind of kids camp produces. Camp kids have unique interests. They’re more confident. They’re less likely to submit to peer pressure. They’re healthier. The list goes on and on.
“Unfortunately these kinds of camps are often only available to children who are elite athletes or from high-income families,” said K&C director Ryan Ernst. “We’re thinking long-term and will have measurable outcomes about whether or not we’re being successful, but based on the smiles on the kids faces I think we’re off to a great start.”