How far have we gone at hockey camp?

Well we’ve now completed 2/3’s of the camp. Judging by the comments of the three boys themselves, it has been more than a success. They are learning several new skills each day and being reinforced in many others. Moreover they are finding the entire program well structured and an excellent preparation for the up-coming hockey season. In addition they are meeting new people — Indigenous from the prairies, multi-lingual Swiss, a Russian, many fellow-Americans, coaches who have played in the NHL, young leaders who are trying out for Tier I & II Junior Hockey. They seem more inspired because of this experience. AND, they are definitely more tired at the end of each day.

Yesterday, the smoke having been blown out by stronger winds, concluded with an hour or so at the beach followed by a pizza & wings supper. Shortly thereafter they were in bed. It gave me some time to contemplate the value of such schools — because they are not cheap!! People who send their kids to these hockey academies have to make some serious choices in their household budgets. At the same time the programs are not all on the ice. There are moments of dryland training and skills sessions away from the rink. There are talks on nutrition and healthy eating. And there are times just to visit and reflect on how much they want to play hockey at a competitive level. I knew this particular school back in the 70’s when it was a fairly young organization and had to employ many young professional hockey players to attract participants. My son even attended one year. Now the starpower rests in the quality of the program itself. There are some still notable names present (e.g. the goalies are to meet Andy Moog for a personal session today or tomorrow) but the real difference I see is the phenomenal attention to pedagogy and curriculum. These kids attend from approximately 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a short break for lunch (that’s 8 hours) and they are still fired up at the end of the day. How many public schools can do that at the end of six hours (including a lunch break)?

Maybe there is something to be said for more play (whether this is in sports, music, the performing or visual arts) in our school systems. Maybe we are not keeping our kids in schools long enough each day to allow for that. Maybe we have become too focused on teachers’ rights and privileges and not enough on the experience of the students. Maybe we have lost sight of the importance of discipline, responsibility and the love of learning. I’d sponsor my grandkids again for this hockey camp. They are the better for attending it. And it’s not about whether they ever play a moment of professional hockey — it’s about seeing them love to learn, to compete, to try to get better, to meet people outside their own comfort zone, to converse with strangers who after a week they might never see again, yes even to be tired at the end of their day. I almost wish I was young enough to again start designing school systems — because as good as I was at that task, I’ve learned more this week about how I could help kids “get to better” by actually making the school day longer and more of a learning moment.

g.w.

P.S. the pizza was okay too!!