36 kids from ages 6 to 12 years old are running chaotically around a gym, bouncing Harlem Globetrotter basketballs and shooting at the nets. Parents are lining the walls, smiling and enjoying seeing their kids active and having fun. The noise is incredible from the kids playing and the parents talking. Then a man walks in and says to put the balls away to the side of the gym, and then sit in the middle of the gym and face forward toward the door.
In a heartbeat, the balls are away, 36 kids are sitting as quiet as a mouse in the middle of the gym anxiously watching the door. Yes, 36 youngsters and countless parents so quiet you could hear a pin drop. My jaw almost hit the floor because of the fact that these 36 kids were so excited to meet who was going to come walking through the door, that they could sit so quietly for about 5 minutes. Yep, it seemed like eternity and all the while it seemed as if parents and kids were holding their breath.
Then they entered……
Yes, the excitement in the air was for Moose and Firefly from the Harlem Globetrotters. It was the Harlem Globetrotters’ Summer Clinic day for these 36 kids.
Right from the moment that Moose and Firefly walked through the door, the energy that they brought with them was incredible. The kids were instantly even more charged and fed off of both Moose’s and Firefly’s energy, excitement, and positive attitude.
The Harlem Globetrotters’ Summer Clinics are two hours in length. In that two hours, the kids get to do a great amount of drills, activities, and games.
The group of 36 kids was broken down into two smaller groups with each Globetrotter taking one group. The groups were broken down perfectly as far as age and ability went. When the activity was an absolutely amazing little race, the Globetrotters made sure to divide the groups equally again so each one had equal or close thereto, of big and little kids.
The Harlem Globetrotters’ antics and humor make the clinics. They create laughs, give praise, and help build pride and confidence in every one of the 36 kids that they interacted with that day. I have absolutely no doubt that this is a common theme in every camp.
I loved the time that Moose and Firefly took to chat about attitude, practicing, trying your best, respecting each other and more. The kids all listened, hanging on every word and participating every time they were asked a question. There is no doubt that all the positive messages that were being conveyed to the kids got through to every single one of them.
The entire time that the camp was going on, both kids and parents were laughing and smiling. I left with a sore face from so many smiles and chuckles. It was also an honor for the parents when Firefly took the time to come around and shake all the parents’ hands.
Even as I write about the Harlem Globetrotters’ Summer Clinic now, I have a huge smile on my face. It was such an amazing experience that it is worth every second of it.
The one thing that is upsetting a bit is that the Harlem Globetrotters’ Summer Clinics are not in Canada. Canadians love you too Globetrotters. What this meant is that we ended up driving down to the Lynnwood Clinic. So it was an entire day’s adventure for us to go to the two hour camp, but we would do it again in a heartbeat. It was an amazing day and experience.
There is nothing I can say that is negative about the Harlem Globetrotters’ Summer Clinic. It was done perfectly and professionally. It was done in an entertaining manner as well as having an educational edge to it. It is perfection.
The two hour clinic will go by in a heartbeat, but the memories will be countless and ever lasting. Both myself and my Little One highly recommend that you try with all your might to get to one of the Harlem Globetrotters’ Summer Clinics. It really is an experience of a lifetime.
Even more awesome, each camper leaves with a certificate and their own Harlem Globetrotter name. Meet Secret Weapon here with Firefly and Moose.
