Celebrating its 11th anniversary, Coast Sports offers camp sessions from June 27 through August 18 at Brentwood Science Magnet School, corner of Bundy and San Vicente. The age range is 3 ‘ to 12. ’Our program remains dedicated to the proposition that a summer should be of the kids, by the kids and for the kids,’ said founder Steve Morris, who loves to include everything from marbles to bubble-wrap Sumo wrestling along with numerous traditional sports and activities. Morris, who has also served as the AYSO Region 69 coach administrator for 10 years, has coached all three of his kids in league and All-Star seasons. In 2000, the Yale graduate even gave up a profitable career in television writing to coach 3- to 8-year-olds fulltime. ’I backed into coaching when my 4-year-old Evan (now a freshman at Union College, where he plays lacrosse) wanted to play soccer,’ Morris said. ‘I enrolled in a class with a coach who was a horror show’insulting the parents and making the kids cry’so I took my limited high school experience and went out to Barrington with a dozen kids.’ Over the next two years, Morris’ one-class hobby developed into 20 soccer classes a week and then into summer camps, all under the umbrella of his company, Coast Sports. This summer, all of the traditional sports are back: soccer, basketball, baseball, hockey, volleyball, track & field, lacrosse, handball, dodge ball and rugby. Campers will also play cricket, rounders, spud, scully, tag, Red Rover and Kabadi, as well as participate in activities such as arts and crafts, science, lanyards, woodworking, relay races, scooter races and boxcar derby races. In addition, the kids enjoy off-beat camp activities such as ‘Don’t Do This at Home Day,’ human car wash, and human bowling. ’I can confidently state that no other camp has ever staged the Battle of Waterloo with water guns and snow saucers,’ said Morris, noting that although his camp doesn’t have a pool, he has created a fully-functioning water park. ’Every day we set-up our pools, waterslides, slip ‘n’ slides and ziplines. We trot out the water cannons, sprinklers, super soakers and water balloons and create novel ways of beating the heat.’ Led by long-time counselors and coaches Tracy Redman, Christian Chambers, Cory Cooper and Pete Bartlett, campers also participate in Sherlock Holmes Scavenger Hunts, Quiddich and Survivor Brentwood (based on the ‘Survivor’ television show). Campers arrive between 9:15 and 9:30 and participate in free play before morning activities begin. Lunch can be purchased through the school-lunch company, Freshlunches. After reapplication of sunscreen, it is time for afternoon activities. At the end of the day, campers make their own ice cream sundaes, before being picked up between 3 and 3:30 p.m. Last year, 10- or 15-day drop-in plans were introduced and will once again be an option. This allows parents flexibility in selecting any of the 45 days of camp to accommodate heavy travel plans. Morris’ wife, Marcy, is a partner at the entertainment law firm Jackoway, Tyerman, Wertheimer, Austen, Mandelbaum and Morris, representing actors, writers and producers. In addition to Evan, the couple have a daughter, Dori (15), and a son, Griffin (12), both of whom play club soccer. ‘Treating each and every child as an individual, with singular strengths and abilities, instills in that child the confidence to tackle the challenges of growing up in today’s world,’ Morris said, explaining his philosophy. ‘Be it soccer or handball or watermelon seed spitting, whatever your child’s passion or proclivity, we’ve got the community to make it happen.’ Visit: www.coastsports.com or call (310) 451-4220.
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