Camping out

When the final bell rings Friday at Columbia County's public schools, students can finally take a vacation.

But student-athletes may want to keep their thinking caps on, because there will be ample opportunity to learn at the numerous sports camps and clinics which are scheduled during summer break.

Following is a list of the sports, along with pertinent information on each camp or clinic.

Baseball

The Greenbrier Baseball Camp will be held June 17-20 at Patriots Park. The camp is open to players in grades 3-8, and the cost is $75. Daily camp times are from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. For more information call Greenbrier High School baseball coach Ed Williams at 541-9070 (home) or 650-6040 (work).

The 15th annual Bulldog Baseball Camp, for boys and girls ages 6-15, will be held May 27-31 at Harlem High School. The cost is $45, and daily camp times are from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information contact Benjie Moore (556-9136) or Jimmie Lewis (556-6659).

The Columbia County Baseball Camp will be held June 3-7 at Riverside Park. The half-day camp times are from 9 a.m. to noon daily. Registration will be June 3, from 8:30 to 9 a.m. at Riverside Park; pre-registration is encouraged. The cost is $75, which includes a camp T-shirt. For more information, contact Ted Miller at 868-3712, or call the Columbia County Recreation Department at 863-7523.

The 22nd annual Robert Sapp Baseball Camp is accepting applications for its summer session, to be held May 27-31 at Patriots Park. Camp times are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. The camp is for boys ages 7-14, and the fee is $110 (team rates also available - $10 discount for five or more campers from one summer league team). The camp will feature fundamentals, game competition, videos, motivational and instructional lectures, and, demonstrations. Information or camp brochures can be obtained by calling the Columbia County Recreation Department (863-7523), Coach Robert Sapp (770-287-3309), or by e-mail at rsbbcamp@aol.

Basketball

The fifth annual All-Star Basketball Camp will be held June 3-7 at Lakeside Middle School. The camp, which will be conducted by Lakeside Middle School girls basketball coach Angela Shay, is for girls in grades 4-9. The camp will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. daily. The cost is $75 ($60 for each additional child), which includes a T-shirt and pizza party at the end of the week. For more information contact Coach Shay at 855-6900.

The 11th annual Evans High School Basketball Camp will be held June 10-14, and a second session will be July 8-12. The camp times are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The cost is $100 with lunch provided, of $85 if you bring your own lunch. The camp, which is for players ages 6-14, will focus on fundamentals, team play and strategy. For more information call Evans basketball coach Kevin Kenny at 863-1198, 650-8008 or 951-3686.

The 11th annual Sure-Shot Basketball Camp for boys entering grades 6-9 is June 3-7 will be held at Lakeside Middle School. The June 10-14 camp is at Riverside Middle School, and also is for boys entering grades 6-9. The cost for each of those camps is $75. Camps for boys and girls entering grades 2-5 will be held at Lakeside Middle School June 10-14 and July 22-26, with each costing $70. For more information call Tom Weidenaar or Dave Pitock at 855-6900.

Lakeside High School's second annual "Camp of Champions" basketball camp will be held May 27-31 at the Lakeside gym. The camp is for players in upcoming grades 2-5 (8:30 a.m. to noon) and grades 6-9 (12:30 to 4 p.m.). Early registration will take place at LHS Gymnasium May 20-22 from 3 to 4 p.m.; the cost is $55 at early registration, or $65 on the first day of camp. The cost includes a T-shirt; trophies and daily prizes also will be presented. For more information call Lakeside basketball coach Richie Carnes at 863-0027 or 650-8886.

The first annual Fastbreak Girls Basketball Camp will be conducted June 24-28 at Augusta Preparatory Day School's Boardman Gymnasium. The camp is for players in grades 5-8 (ages nine to 14), and the cost is $150 for the week. Each camper will receive a T-shirt, camp notebook, a new basketball and daily lunch. The camp schedule includes: fundamentals; stretching and ball handling; league play; contests; films and videotapes; and awards. For more information or to get a registration form, call Augusta Prep coach Kevin Furtado at 863-1906, ext. 374 (work) or 860-6723 (home). Additional information is available at www.augustaprep.org.

Augusta State University coach Greg Wilson's Lady Jaguar Basketball Camp is scheduled for June 10-13 (team camp, $75 per player), with a second session scheduled June 24-28 (individual camp, $150 per player). The camps, which will be held at Augusta State University Athletic Complex, are for players ages 7-17. Daily camp times are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A $50 registration fee is due by May 15. For more information call 731-7909.

Cheerleading

The Evans High School cheerleaders will host their second annual cheerleading camp June 17-21 at Evans High School. Children in grades Pre-K through fifth are invited. Pre-registration cost is $80, and late registration is $90. The cost includes four days of lunch, a T-shirt and snacks. Contact Robin (650-1796) or Kelly (855-0699) for more information.

Golf

Applications are being accepted for the David Usry Junior Golf Academy summer camps, which will be held at North Augusta Country Club. The program, which uses the U.S. Kids Golf Personal Tee curriculum, offers a series of three-day camps during June, July and August. The camps are open to players ages 7-16. For more information or to register, contact David Usry at (803)279-0704 or www.usrygolfacademy.com.

Wedges & Woods has announced the dates for its summer junior program, to be conducted by PGA professional Alex McNeil. The sessions are: May 28-30 and June 4-6; June 18-20 and June 25-27; July 9-11 and July 16-18; and, July 23-25 and July 30 trough August 1. The cost is $95 per session. Each day of a session runs from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The classes will cover the grip, chipping, posture, bunker play, alignment, full swing, putting and etiquette. On the last day of each session, the class will play a round of golf. Classes are limited to eight students. Equipment will be furnished, if needed. Youngsters can sign up from 10 am. to 10 p.m. at Wedges & Woods, or applications can be obtained by calling 854-0360.

Soccer

Three youth soccer camps will be held at the Patriots Park Soccer Complex. Session one is June 3-7, from 9 a.m. till noon; session two is July 22-26, from 9 a.m. till noon; and, session three, a Striker-Keeper camp for advanced players, will be July 22-26, from 6 to 9 p.m. Online registration is available at www.tst.soccer.com. For more information call Donny Rogers at 294-5033 or e-mail tstsoccer@aol.com.

Only a few spots are remaining for the first annual Greenbrier "Girls Only" three-day Indoor Summer Soccer Camp, which is for players ages 10-14 and will be held May 28-30 at the Greenbrier High School gym. The camp will run daily from 2 to 5 p.m., and the cost is $60 ($40 for each additional child). Players need to bring indoor shoes or tennis shoes. The camp, which will be conducted by Lady Wolfpack coach Alex Heider, will focus on improvement of individual fundamentals, team concepts and game situations. For more information or to register, call 855-8083 or e-mail aheider@ccboe.net.

Softball

The Greenbrier Fastpitch Clinic will be held June 3-6 at Patriots Park. The clinic, which will be conducted by Greenbrier High School softball coach Garrett Black, is for girls in grades 3-8, and will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. The cost is $85 ($60 for each additional child), and includes a T-shirt. Snacks and cold drinks also will be provided. For more information contact Coach Black at 863-8709 or 650-6040.

Volleyball

The second annual Greenbrier Volleyball Camp will be held July 23-26 at Greenbrier High School. The camp is for girls in grades 6-9, and is limited to the first 30 players to sign up. Daily camp times are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $50, which includes a T-shirt. For more information call Greenbrier volleyball coach Debbie Born at 650-6043, ext. 220.