Bears Youth Football Camp Coming to Glen Ellyn

No matter what the sport, when school dismisses for the summer, a plethora of sports camps get under way throughout the area for aspiring young athletes.

Football camps are among the most popular. So what separates the Chicago Bears Youth Football Camps from other grid camps?

Well, for starters, these Youth Football Camps, available to kids ages 6 to 14 no matter what their skill level, have the backing of the Bears organization. Second, participants receive week-long, full-day comprehensive instruction in all aspects of the game (offense and defense) from professional educators with high school or college coaching experience, as well as from “Bear Heroes”—former Bears stars who attend the camps on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Third, Bears Youth Football Camps offer one of the few non-contact camps available. The non-contact format allows the game to be introduced to newcomers safely while at the same time being able to challenge and develop players who have more experience.

Finally, the Bears conduct these youth camps in several suburban communities—including Glen Ellyn. This year’s camp takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, July 25 through Friday, July 29 at Park View Elementary School, 250 S. Park Blvd.

Park Elementary is a new location for the camp, which has been running in Glen Ellyn since the camps started eight years ago, according to program director Tom Finks. Finks says over 40 kids have already signed up for this year’s camp.

“The new facility in Glen Ellyn will provide us with the opportunity to train more kids,” said Finks, son of the late Jim Finks, a former Bears general manager and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “There’s no better football community than Glen Ellyn in Illinois. We couldn’t be happier for the opportunity to run the camp there.”

Cost of the camp is $389 per person. Finks notes that those who sign up by Friday, April 22, will automatically receive a $25 discount off this price. In addition, participants will receive $20 rebates for every friend who signs up for the camp prior to the start of camp on July 25 (each signee also receives a $20 rebate).

Since the number of referrals is unlimited, Finks said it’s conceivable that one could reduce the $389 fee to zero by getting enough referrals.

Financial aid scholarships also are available.

Each Bears Youth Football Camp conducts station-based training from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday according to these age groups: 6- to 7-year olds (called Rookies), 8-9 (Scramblers), 10-11 (Playmakers) and 12-14 (Game Breakers).

During station-based training sessions, members of each age group get detailed instruction in offense, defense and specials teams play.

From noon to 1:15 p.m., lunch is combined with indoor interactive classroom activities.

The afternoon sessions are devoted to scrimmages, skills challenges and contests.

The culmination of camp takes place on Friday, which is deemed Super Bowl Friday. On this day, campers take part in contests throughout the morning that test their speed, agility, throwing, catching, punting and kicking skills. In the afternoon, participants play in touch football scrimmages according to age and experience.

Also on Friday, each camp member is acknowledged with an award determined by camp coaches in one of five categories: Student of the Game, Spirit of the Game, Hustle Award, Big Playmaker Award and the Leadership Award.

Finks said it has not yet been decided exactly which former Bears players will be appearing in Glen Ellyn. But he said it will be from a list that includes former linemen Al Harris, Revie Sorey and Keith Van Horne, linebackers Jim Morrissey and Mickey Pruitt, running back Robin Early, defensive back Allan Ellis and wide receiver Kris Haines.

For more information, visit www.prosportsexperience.com/bears or call (312) 226-7776.