5/30/2013 football Edit

We Believe basketball camp to be held in Hazen

Luke Matheson

ArkansasVarsity.com Publisher

With schools across the Natural state closing down for summer break, there will be multiple camps for high school athletes to attend. One such camp is the "We Believe" basketball camp in Hazen which is put on by the Arnold Family Foundation.

There is no cost for the athletes who wish to attend this camp, which will be held Monday, June 3rd through Thursday, June 6th at the Hazen school gymnasium.

This is not your typical summer basketball camp. The focus is sports AND education. The no-cost "We Believe!" Camp invites Jr. and Sr. High school students from the DeValls Bluff, Hazen and Biscoe area to learn basketball skills and hear from alumni who have graduated from the small-town, delta area - teachers, doctors, lawyers, managers, media professionals and military service members. The "We Believe!" Camp provides free jerseys, shorts, shoes and lunch for the students.

Many volunteers and speakers take vacation time to spend with our students. Some alumni have traveled as far as Atlanta, GA. to share their life experience, the importance of sports and education. Former Biscoe resident and Camp coach, Lee Rhoden graduated from DeValls Bluff and Hendrix College, playing on the Hendrix basketball team.

Camp Director U.S. Army Major John Paul Arnold will be attending this year. The previous two years, Maj. Arnold was deployed to Afghanistan. Arnold grew up in DeValls Bluff graduated from Ouachita Baptist University.

Major Arnold spoke with ArkansasVarsity.com about the mission of this camp.

"We are stressing sports, fitness, and education," he said. "Sports and fitness have helped me in my career. I have to maintain my fitness or I'll be kicked out of the Army. We want to also teach kids how to have a respective competitive edge. You don't always have to be an all-star to be noticed. Fitness, teamwork, and education can get you through life, and we just want to help share that with the kids while at this camp."

Major Arnold also spoke about the beginnings of this camp.

"This all started with my dad [Coach Bill Arnold]," he said. "He wanted to have a camp that is free to the kids, and we also give them shoes, a shirt, a pair of shorts, and a meal. We want to talk with them about basketball, education, graduating, and being productive citizens through life. We will have several mentors at the camp each day to speak with the kids. We will have former military, principles, and students from the area speak to the athletes so they can see the different ways people have had success from different walks of life."

"We Believe" Basketball Camp Information

Who: DeValls Bluff, Hazen and Biscoe area Jr. and Sr. student athletes

What: "We Believe!" Basketball and Life Skills Camp

When: June 3 - 6, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Where: Hazen School Gym

Why: To give the students an opportunity to practice basketball, learn educational life skills and connect the students with alumni.

For more information on the camp, visit the Arnold Family Foundation website by Clicking Here.