Newtown Parks and Recreation (Parks & Rec) has announced that three new sports programs will be available for children and pre-teens this summer: Flag Football Fueled by USA Football, STEM & Play Flag Football, and Community Athletic Solutions Soccer.

All three summer camps require no previous experience and welcome all skill levels.

Flag Football Camps

For nearly two decades, Skyhawks Sports Academy has partnered with Parks & Rec to offer sports programs for the community.

The company’s staff will be instructing the Flag Football Fueled by USA Football and STEM & Play Flag Football camps.

Sarah Kelley-Reid, East Coast regional manager for Skyhawks Sports Academy, said, “Skyhawks provides a wide variety of fun, safe, and positive programs that emphasize critical lessons in sports and life, such as teamwork, respect, and sportsmanship. Our programs are designed to give children… a positive introduction or next step into sports while fostering a lifelong love for an active, healthy lifestyle.”

Skyhawks Sports Academy has more than 40 years of experience offering skill-based sports opportunities to children, and its mission is to teach life skills through sports, Kelley-Reid said.

Flag Football Fueled by USA Football will introduce campers to skills and drills from the Football Development Model, developed by USA Football. The camp is designed to help players gain confidence and prepare for league play.

Coaches will teach specific skills, including passing, receiving, running, kicking, punting, and flag pulling.

Flag Football Fueled by USA Football will run July 19 to 23 and August 2 to 6, from 9 am to noon, at the Fairfield Hills Campus.

STEM & Play Flag Football is a one-of-a-kind program that will combine strategic STEM-based activities with traditional Skyhawks Sports Academy instruction.

STEM Sports football curriculum educates students on receiver glove and helmet technology, in-game communication, throwing arm strength, football properties, and calculating distances. The fundamentals of passing, catching, and defense through skill-based drills and scrimmages will also be taught.

STEM & Play Flag Football will run July 6 to 9, from 9 am to 3 pm, at Hawley Elementary School.

Children seven to 12 years old are eligible for both camps, and campers will be placed into groups based on their age and skill level.

When attending either camp, Kelley-Reid recommends everyone “dress athletically” and “bring water, snacks, and lunch (for full day STEM Camp), sunscreen, towel for wiping sweat, and hand sanitizer.”

Kelley-Reid assures the camp will be following the State of Connecticut protocols and guidelines pertaining to COVID-19.

To ensure the health and safety of campers, group sizes will be limited to 12 people or fewer; there will be verbal check-ins and health screenings; and the staff will be wearing masks at all times.

Additionally, she says, hand sanitizing and washing will happen often; all equipment will be sanitized before, during, and after programs; and children will be encouraged and reminded often to keep their six feet of distance.

For more information about Skyhawks Sports Academy, visit skyhawks.com.

Soccer Camp

Roy Collins, national development director for Community Athletic Solutions, has worked with Parks & Rec for more than 25 years to offer major league soccer programs to the community.

His professional team of national and international coaching staff will be instructing Community Athletic Solutions Soccer Camp this summer.

“CAS works at all levels of the game from professional, premier, travel, and recreational,” Collins explained.

Whether working with teams from Major League Soccer (MLS) such as the Philadelphia Union, FC Cincinnati, and Chicago Fire or running camp programs, Community Athletic Solutions is committed to providing trained coaches that bring an unparalleled soccer experience to the community.

When it comes to camps, Collins said, “It’s not just about technical coaching, it’s about understanding children and how they adapt and how we can create age-appropriate curriculums that will challenge the better players and introduce the beginners in the right way to develop a passion for the game. Every one of our coaches has a massive passion for the game.”

Newtown’s Community Athletic Solutions Soccer Camp will focus on creating a fun learning environment while also helping players develop skills such as ball mastery (fakes, moves, and turns), passing and receiving, dribbling and moving with the ball, and shooting and finishing.

“Above anything else, they are going to go away from the program feeling good about themselves. Self-worth is hugely important to us,” Collins added.

Campers ages four to 14 are eligible and will be divided into groups at the camp based on age.

Community Athletic Solutions Soccer Camp will take place August 2 to 6 at Treadwell Park. Camp will run from 9 to 10:30 am and from 10:30 am to noon for ages four to six, from 9 am to noon for ages six to 14, and from 9 am to 3 pm for ages eight to 14.

Campers will also be given their own dri-fit jersey to wear and a soccer ball to use at camp, as well as to practice with at home.

Collins recommends campers come with a pair of shin guards and safe shoes that they are comfortable in.

There will be protocols pertaining to COVID-19 in place to ensure the camp is as safe as possible, including temperature checks every day. If a temperature is too high, the person will be asked to go home.

In addition, Collins said, coaches will maintain spacing precautions.

“When the kids are not playing, we have an area to the side of the field where they will have their own distanced area to put their bags and their water, so they don’t congregate together,” he explained.

For more information about Community Athletic Solutions, visit communityathleticsolutions.com.

Newtown Parks and Recreation Assistant Director RoseAnn Reggiano says registration is currently open and available until the camp starts or the camp reaches capacity. To register for a summer camp, visit newtown-ct.gov/parks-recreation or call 203-270-4340.