By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–Makeshift hurdles, a Frisbee toss, a coin toss and a javelin throw with water tubes were just some of the activities seen at the Helena High School football stadium on June 23, for day one of the HHS Track and Field youth summer camp.

The youth summer camp was open to children in grades K-8 and is a two-day camp from 9-11 a.m. helping children learn the fundamentals of track and field. A family fun track meet will also take place on June 25.

Twelve campers attended the inaugural track and field summer camp and received instruction from Helena Track and Field head coach Jon Ray Russell, assistant coaches and current members of the HHS Track and Field team.

The first portion of the day was spent working on agility drills like speed drills with cones, speed ladders as well as running.

Two of the volunteers with the camp were rising junior James Brakefield and rising sophomore Christian Hill who are both members of the track and field team.

“I just enjoy track season so much that I was glad to help out,” said Brakefield.

Brakefield is also a member of the cross-country team and both him and Hill were helping campers at the coin toss station.

“I think my dad said it best one time, helping people makes you the happiest,” added Hill.

Once the speed and agility drills were complete, the campers moved on to compete at a hurdles station that involved jumping over noodles, tossing a Frisbee through a hula hoop, throwing water gun cannons like javelins and tossing quarters into rows of bowls.

Rising 5^th grader Charlotte Carroll said her favorite part of the day was participating in the hurdles station.

To cap off the day, campers cooled down by spraying each other with the water gun cannons after a hot summer day in the sun.

For more information on other upcoming Helena youth summer camps, visit Podcasts.shelbyed.k12.al.us/hlhs-athletics/summer-camps/.