Oklahoma PlaySmart Academy

Combining the best of summer “day-camps,” experiential education and athletics, the Academy provides an intensely unique but fun experience for middle school youth where sitting around is minimize, the learning and participating is maximized and the impact is real.

Many of the activities featured at our Academy are below:

• Warm-up, exercise and nutrition instruction for good health and physical fitness.
• A “learn to swim” or “learn to swim better” experience crucial for all youth.
• Exposure to 5-6 sports (some non-traditional such as lacrosse, rugby, archery, low/high ropes, rock climbing, fishing, tennis, volleyball).
• Life skills workshops on topics such as health/nutrition, leadership/service, confidence building, public speaking, manners and etiquette.
• Mentoring sessions with guest speakers such as professional athletes and coaches, Olympic athletes, elected officials, and community, faith and corporate leaders.
• Academic workshops focused on study and organization skills, time management, goal setting, subject specific skills and college/career readiness.
• Purpose driven field trips bringing the goals of the Academy to life for the participants (and to provide an extra element of fun).

In order to further the development of our summer Academy participants, PlaySmart provides follow-up group activities throughout the school year on a weekend or off-school night.  A local community center or middle school generally serves as the gathering place before each activity.  These activities include but are not limited to community service projects, sporting events or other purpose driven events, leadership workshops with guest speakers and athletic opportunities such as pick-up games.

The purpose of these activities is to continue relationship building and to provide a “check-in” on the participant’s academic progress, athletic interests and overall well-being.  Additionally, these meetings provide more time to reinforce the outcomes and goals of the Academy.