Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
May 8, 2008 issue
Getting to the Next Level Without Illegal Substance Use
Story by Sam Calhoun
History is about to be made in Watauga County. The only camp like it in the United States, Camp Speed is coming to Watauga High School in Boone on Saturday, May 24, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The camp that teaches middle and high school athletes how to get to the next level without using illegal substances costs $40 per person plus $5 for lunch.
“Camp Speed was a God-given dream in my mind that the good Lord planted when what came down with Marion Jones,” said William Thompson, executive director of Camp Speed. “But at the time, I had no idea how to formulate the idea.”
After speaking with his pastor in Boone and realizing that no other camps in the country addressed the need, Thompson came up with Camp Speed—a one-day camp that includes stations teachings, strength and conditioning drills, nutrition workshops, legal and illegal substance workshops and workshops from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
“Kids will leave with a knowledge of nutrition, knowledge of strength and conditioning, a knowledge of how to run properly, a knowledge of what B-vitamins and multi-vitamins they can take; they’ll know how to get the best out of their body,” said Thompson. “The camp is for every athlete—from cheerleaders to the dog mascot. With so many questions [about performance enhancing drugs and steroids], Camp Speed feels that it is time for these topics to be addressed by professionals. We want to see this emerging generation do things the right way and not look for shortcuts that will in the end be very harmful to them and those around them.”
Camp Speed is hosted by Camp Director and ASU Strength and Conditioning Coach Jeff Dillman. To register for one of the 500 spots at the camp, click to www.campspeed.us, fill out the registration form and mail it back to Camp Speed, 247 Boone Heights Drive, Boone, NC 28607.
Described as a DARE program for athletes, Camp Speed doesn’t just tell kids that drugs are bad, it teaches them how to get the most out of their bodies without the use of illegal substances. Participants will receive updates on what substances are legal and illegal and be introduced to the website—a tool that will be updated on a monthly basis with new NCAA bans on substances. Thompson hopes parents will use the website indefinitely to keep up to date on information regarding substance bans.
“We’re trying to establish how to do it the right way,” said Thompson. “These kids need to have some form of inner strength to do it the right way. We want to develop the whole athlete, so we will take kids back to 101 and build them back up.”
In the morning, campers will be in the classroom, learning about nutrition and legal and illegal drugs. ASU Football Head Coach Jerry Moore speaks during lunch, followed by a performance by the Christian rock band Consecrated. In the afternoon, campers will head outside for station workshops on running and strength and conditioning drills. All the information addressed at Camp Speed is included on the website.
In addition to Camp Speed, a free Coaches’ Nutrition, Strength and Conditioning Seminar and preregistration for Camp Speed are scheduled for Friday, May 23, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Living Water Christian Fellowship, located at 247 Boone Heights Drive.
“The free coaches’ clinic on Friday night teaches coaches what this is all about at no cost,” said Thompson, who added that all participants will also get a free meal at the workshop. To come to the free seminar, coaches are encouraged to register online so the coordinators can get a head count.
Because Camp Speed is the first of its kind in the nation, schools across the country are already contacting Thompson for possible traveling programs. To address the growing popularity of the camp’s purpose, Thompson is creating an advisory board for Camp Speed that will “help direct the direction of Camp Speed in the future,” he said. “It’s kind of become a little overwhelming.”
Camp Speed is open to the public. Ten percent of profits from Camp Speed go to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
“[Camp Speed] is Jesus’ baby; I’m just the one he gave the opportunity to do it,” added Thompson.
In case of rain on May 24, Camp Speed will be held indoors, as the camp has rented the entire Watauga High School facility for the day.
High Country Honda and the U.S. Army are the event’s lead sponsors. Alpha Dog Sports, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Omega Tees and Screen Printing, Riddell, Subway, Appalachian Hospitality Management, High Country Cabinets, High Country Chiropractic, My Mailing Center, Selah Media Productions and Scott Thomas Design are supporting sponsors of the event.
For more information, click to www.campspeed.us or call 828-262-5364.
Date: Saturday, May 24
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: Watauga High School
Cost: $40 plus $5 for lunch