Are your kids ready for some football this summer? If so the Cascade Youth Football Camp might be for them. The Oak Harbor Youth Football League is hosting the first ever Cascade Youth Football Camp at Fort Casey State Park on July 27 and 28. According to league president John Dumas, the camp will teach football basics and be fun as well.

“We’re trying to establish a two-day overnight camp that will teach fundamentals in a non-competitive atmosphere,” he said. “We want to have fun and challenging exercises that will build skill and teamwork.”

Both days will start with exercising and stretching as a group. On the first day the players will then go through “drill stations” that will be divided into various positions (wide receiver, offensive line, quarterback, running back) on the field. Players will spend approximately 45 minutes at each station receiving instruction from qualified coaches from around the area. On the second day the kids will spend time in smaller groups focussing on their targeted position.

The camp participants will also take part in events devised to promote teamwork and cooperation.

“We want to work on team-building skills — like ropes courses without the ropes,” Dumas said. They will be events that they will have to complete as a team.”

The camp is also scheduled to have two former professional football players as guest speakers, Seattle Seahawks running back Curt Warner and Minnesota Viking Carl Lee. According to Dumas, the two guests are going to speak to the campers about the importance of school and goal-setting.

“We want to let them talk to the kids about how important an education is,” he said. “The fact that you can do both, but that school comes first.”

The overnight camp is for ages 8-12 and children from all over the Puget Sound area will participate. Oak Harbor High School varsity players are going to be used as counselors. Dumas hopes that children from the Oak Harbor area interested in playing in the OHYFL in the fall will attend as the camp will be a great introduction to the sport.

“It’s filling up pretty quick, I think that you would have to register by July 1 at the latest,” he said. “It should be a good time.”

Registration is $85 per child and you can contact John Dumas at 320-1411 or cascadefootballcamp@hotmail.com for more information.