More than 200 Denton County students attended the summer 1999 National Youth Sports Program at UNT. Sponsored by the Applied Cultural
Anthropology Research Center and funded by a $58,000 grant from the National Collegiate Athletic
Association
(NCAA), the free program develops socialization skills of teens and preteens, building
self-esteem and self-concept through classes and group sports.
"We want to prepare these students to be willing to get out of their comfort zones
and
take on new challenges, including college," said Robin Hutchison, the program's
coordinator.
Open to boys and girls ages 10 to 16, the NYSP summer day camp was held June 7
through July 9. During the five weeks, students were divided into groups according to
their ages and gender, and chose names for their groups. Coaches from the Denton
Independent School District led the groups with the assistance of UNT student youth
advisors.
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Each day, the students arrived at the playing field outside the Physical Education building by 8 a.m. After calisthenics, they joined their groups and participated in an indoor sports activity, an outdoor sports activity and a class, and lunch. |
NYSP classes, tailored for each age group, focused on math and science, higher education and job responsibilities, substance abuse, nutrition, personal health, anger management and conflict resolution. The instructors included Denton ISD teachers, representatives from the Texas Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, Prairie Area Health Education Center, and the UNT Student Health and Wellness Center.
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Campers enjoyed their daily hot lunch in UNT's Bruce Hall cafeteria. Supervised by
NYSP staff, a nutritious meal was ensured.
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Sports activities included tennis, basketball, volleyball, soccer, flag football, softball, field hockey, kickball, karate, aerobics, dance, and self-defense. On Fridays, the groups participated in water safety lessons. |
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| Eleven-year-old Tempest Mata knew that smoking can lead to lung cancer, but she didn't know the harmful effects of drugs. She learned about them this summer at NYSP day camp, between learning how to serve a volleyball, kick a soccer ball and dribble a basketball. |
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Ten-year-old Alicia Gonzalez, a McNair Middle School student, said NYSP was better than her vacation last summer. "I've met a lot more friends, and I like the swimming," said Alicia, whose group was called The Angels. |
For additional information contact:
Tyson Gibbs, Ph.D.
Applied Cultural Anthropology Research Center
Department of Anthropology
P.O. Box 310409
Denton, Texas 76203-0409
940-565-4940
Fax: 940-369-7833
e-mail: tgibbs@pacs.unt.edu
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