How many of you went to Jewish summer camp? My hand is up. And how many of you thought about focusing on your sport all summer instead? I am still raising my hand. What if you could do both? Okay I am in. Finally the Jewish world has an overnight sports camp. It is called 6 Points Sports Academy. We spoke with the director Randy Colman to get the scoop on 6 Points and what it brings to young Jewish athletes.
Interview:
The Great Rabbino: Hey Randy, welcome to the The Great Rabbino it is our pleasure to have an interview with you.
Randy Colman: It is an honor to be speaking with the Great Rabbino!
TGR: So, Randy please tell the TGR audience what exactly is 6 Points Sports Academy?
Randy: 6 Points Sports Academy is a new summer camp experience where our highly trained and professional coaching staff can inspire Jewish campers to achieve excellence in their sport in a warm and encouraging summer camp atmosphere that promotes Reform Jewish values.
TGR: Why did you start the camp? And how did you go about finding funding/backing for the camp?
Randy: The camp was started to provide a resource for campers and their families so they did not have to choose between a high quality sports camp and a Jewish summer camp. At 6 Points, we plan on seamlessly integrating the best of sports and Judaism into a fun summer camp environment.
TGR: What types of facilities, instructors, and resources will the camp have?
Randy: 6 Points Sports Academy is located in Greensboro, NC on the campus of American Hebrew Academy. Situated on a beautiful 115 acre, $100 million dollar campus, the dormitory and athletic facilities are incredible. We will have college or high level high school coaches and Jewish college athletes who will serve as assistant coaches and role models “on” and “off” the field.
TGR: What is a typical day at 6 Points going to be like?
Randy: Sports, sports and more sports! Each camper will spend 4 hours a day in their chosen sport major and then spend an additional 2 hours a day in sport electives for fun, recreation and cross training. Evenings and weekends will be filled with campfires, bunk skits, song sessions and other fun camp activities.
TGR: What will Jewish life be like at 6 Points Sports Academy?
Randy: Everything we do will be from a Jewish perspective. We will use informal Jewish educational methods to seamlessly integrate Jewish values throughout the day.
TGR: In 10 years from now what do you hope 6 Points will have achieved?
Randy: At 6 Points our focus is on each individual camper and it’s about the life skills and values that we can teach them through sports. Our goal is to help create future leaders by integrating the overlapping values that are taught through sports and Judaism. Perhaps 10 years from now we will have a second camp location and while it’s not necessarily our goal, perhaps we will have a few professional Jewish athletes who attended camp here; perhaps a few Jewish leaders who attended camp here, and most importantly, we hope that all of our campers leave camp with a stronger sense of their own Jewish identity.
TGR: Were you an athlete when you were younger?
Randy: I was a 3 sport athlete growing up, Baseball, Basketball and Football. I was recruited to play D1 football for several colleges, but chose to attend the University of Michigan instead. I know what it is like being an athlete and more importantly a “Jewish” athlete.
TGR: What is a better camp movie and why; Wet Hot American Summer, Meatballs, or Indian Summer?
Randy: I can’t say I really have a favorite. I love all camp and all sport movies, especially those that highlight the “underdog”
TGR: How can potential campers and counselors get in touch with the camp?
Randy: They can visit our website at www.6pointsacademy.org or call us at 561-208-1650.
TGR: Randy, thank you for your time and good luck in the future. Hopefully, you will help produce some more Jews in sports so I can keep TGR alive. Can we revisit during the summer and see how things are going?
Randy: I would welcome the opportunity!
And Let Us Say...Amen.
-Jeremy Fine
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