Now in its third year, the summer camp partnership helps encourage activity and physical fitness for K-8 students.

“[Wu Tsai] support directly helps us to fund and fuel a program that reaches out into the community to serve many deserving kids.” 

Bev Smith, executive director of KIDSPORTS

The Human Performance Alliance at Oregon, based in the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact, is sponsoring the KIDSPORTS Pop-Up Summer Camps as part of a community-building effort. The free K-8 camps are held from June through August at local area schools and parks and are focused on providing age-appropriate movement & motor skill development, modified multi-sport games, and a chance for kids to move, play and have fun.

As a founding partner in the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance, the Alliance at Oregon is involved in the global collaboration to transform human health through the science of peak performance. KIDSPORTS, a private, non-profit organization, fits as a natural partnership given its mission to teach children and families the value of physical fitness, sportsmanship, practice and teamwork through sports and activities.

Pop-Up Summer Camps offer a range of athletic activities – obstacle courses, dodgeball, soccer and more – with the goal of encouraging activity and physical fitness. The camps are located at different elementary schools and parks across Eugene/Springfield with the goal to reach families that cannot commute to Civic Park, KIDSPORTS’ headquarters and the main location for hosting summer camps for 1,200 children.

“Children need a solid foundation of fitness, and fundamental movement and motor skill development in order to have a chance at developing optimal wellness and peak performance,” Smith said. 

By reaching students in different neighborhoods, KIDSPORTS is living out their goal to help children pursue healthy lifestyles. Smith believes that “active, healthy kids become active healthy adolescents and adults.” 

At their main location, KIDSPORTS welcomed a handful of UO graduate employees affiliated with the Alliance at Oregon to teach about nutrition, hydration, warm-ups and sleep. They encourage kids to stay curious and ask questions. 

“KIDSPORTS is about kids playing, developing, learning and having fun,” Smith said. “It is all about research trickling down into the community and helping kids to be curious and life-long learners and movers.”

Learn more about KIDSPORTS and its core philosophy that All Kids Play!

By Esther Szeto 

— Sept. 5, 2023