For two weeks this summer, junior high and senior high youth will gather on the Multnomah campus to learn basketball fundamentals and have a good time during the fourth annual MBC Sports Ambassadors Basketball Camps.

"We're hoping that they'll come and learn a bit about basketball, learn some fundamentals, but yet have some fun," said Coach Chris Reese, the MBC athletic department director.

A boy's camp will run from June 26-30 and a separate girl's camp will run from June 1-23. The girl's camp is for fifth-to-ninth-grade girls and will be from approximately 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The boy's camp is for fifth-to-12th-grade boys and will be from approximately 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Boys may either board on campus all week or commute.

The girls' camp costs $60. The boys' camp costs $160 for commuters and $215 for boarders. The athletic department will offer a $10 discount for children of Multnomah graduates and employees and siblings of Multnomah students. Six or more campers from the same school or team may receive a $10 discount. Campers may only receive one discount each.

Campers will learn fundamentals of basketball skills such as dribbling, passing, and shooting. They will compete in one-on-one, three-on-three and five-on-five games. Two daily devotionals, films of Christian athletes, and guest speakers supplement the boys' camp. MBC staff, MBC basketball team players, and local Christian coaches will train the campers, Coach Reese said.

Previously, up to 90 boys have come to camp. This summer, Coach Reese said he is hoping for 50 to 60 boys; he has no idea how many girls will attend.

While anyone is welcomed, Coach Lois Vos said, the boy's camp originally started as an evangelistic outreach to non-Christian kids. The camp was also started to helped subsidized the athletic department's budget.

Those two reasons were factors in starting a girl's camp, Coach Vos said. But the athletic department also wanted to recruit future members to the MBC women's basketball program. Citing that boys who were groomed in the summer camps came to play for MBC as college students, Coah Vos hopes the girl's camp can repeat the process.

Those interested in attending the camp may contact the MBC athletic department at (503) 251-5395.