Urbana summer camp aims to give young men positive purpose
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — One summer camp aims to make long-term differences for young men in Champaign County.
Sunday was orientation for the Manhood Training Camp in Urbana. The outdoor program was put on pause for the winter months, and it’s all kicking off once again.
Program Director Banio Koroma said now is the time to start connecting again — especially with school letting out in just a few weeks. Organizers say it all starts with mentorship. It’s one of the main ways to curb violence, especially as it tends to rise in the summer months.
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The camp welcomes any interested kids from the ages 10 to 18. On Sunday, mentors and youth just had some fun activities including fishing, kayaking, games, and fitness activities. But it’s the long-term effects the director hopes will make a change.
“A lot of youth are struggling to find their identity, and more importantly, to find a positive identity to identify with,” Koroma said. “Unfortunately, that’s why the gangs are able to get to our youth, because they have the draw; they offer to give them money and a protection and a brotherhood. So, what we do is we’re actually countering all the gang recruitment by reaching out to the youth and then showing them that, hey, [it] can be cool to work legitimately. You can be cool and not rob somebody. You can be cool and work a 9 to 5. You can be cool and make yourself and make your community better. That’s the draw that we’re trying to push on to the youth.”
He said the program hired three new mentors from the community this year. They’re training right now.
Regular camps begin May 31 and will run through the summer. If you want to get involved, visit the Vision to Succeed website or the Manhood Training Camp Facebook page.
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