Sports Camps for Children

Sports are dynamic, attractive, and fun, which is why children love engaging in them. Various summer and winter camps provide children with the opportunity to spend quality time with peers in nature.

These camps introduce kids to different sports through play, teaching them teamwork, perseverance, and discipline while fostering the Olympic spirit of fair play and nobility. Both the Sports Association for the Disabled of Slovenia and the Olympic Committee of Slovenia organize these camps.

Paralympic camps have been held for years in Laško and on Rogla, while Olympic camps take place on Pokljuka. What is the formula for their success? Beyond children's playfulness and curiosity, the success lies in the combination of dynamism, belonging, attractiveness, and fun, as well as addressing the challenges of the digital age in sports. Their program includes both sports entertainment and educational content.

Various summer and winter camps provide children with the oppurtunitiy to spend quality time with peers in nature. Photo: OKS archive

Olympic Camp on Pokljuka

This year, the Olympic camp on Pokljuka was held for the sixth consecutive year, from July 7 to 12. The camp started with the lighting of the Olympic flame by this year's Slovenian Torch ambassador, former rower, Olympian, and bronze medalist Jani Klemenčič, along with Foksi the mascot. The program introduced children to various sports, both individual and team-based. Golden Olympian Alenka Cuderman played handball with the children. They also learned rowing, paddleboarding, and other water activities with gold medalist Iztok Čop, bronze medalist Jani Klemenčič, and other Bled rowers.

Popular Olympic sports such as sport climbing, basic alpinism, survival skills, martial arts, and judo basics were also covered. Olympian Urška Žolnir Jugovar introduced the children to the world of martial arts.

Even winter sports were successfully combined with summer activities with the help of recently retired biathlete Klemen Bauer. Biathlon, a great summer sport, combines running and shooting, teaching children about body control and proper breathing, leading to excellent shooting results.

Understanding and accepting each other is crucial in life and sports. To foster this understanding, children were introduced to parasports, such as sitting volleyball, through the experiences of this year's Paralympic team captain, Lenaali Gabršček. They also learned about the dynamic and engaging sport of wheelchair basketball.

Pokljuka Photo: Jošt Gantar/www.slovenia.info
Parental example is important for children, but siblings, peers, PE teachers and others are also important facilitators of children's engagement in sports activities. Photo: OKS archive

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Paralympic Camp in Laško

The Sports Association for the Disabled of Slovenia – Slovenian Paralympic Committee organizes four-day summer and winter Paralympic camps for families. Summer camps have been held in Laško since 2019, usually during the last weekend in August, and starting in 2024, winter camps for families are held on Rogla, typically at the beginning of February.

These camps are designed for children and young people with various disabilities and their families. The camps aim to introduce children and youth to various parasports they can engage in.

On average, about 15 families participate in these camps. A unique aspect of the Paralympic family camps is that children with disabilities are the center of attention, with all activities tailored specifically to them. This is different from their everyday lives, where they often have to adapt to others. It's important for the entire family to participate, allowing parents and siblings to see the capabilities of their child (or brother or sister).

At the camp, children meet parasports athletes and learn firsthand about the sports that might interest them. Some children have developed a passion for a specific parasport at these camps, including para dancer Brina Rogelj, para table tennis player Matevž Kovačič, boccia player Ervin Potočnik, para shooter Maj Crkvenjaš, and para swimmer Gašper Glušič.

Future parasports athletes also receive education on various topics at the camp. This year in Laško, lectures were organized for both children and parents, discussing parenting, sports engagement, and other relevant topics.

Winter camps for disabled children. Photo: Miha Kačič

A Bright Future for Young Olympians

Engaging in sports equips children for life, benefiting not only their physical development but also their minds. Sports help children develop better coping mechanisms for life's ups and downs. They learn to lose gracefully, which requires maturity and practice.