Since incorporating in April of 2009, Shaka Smart Basketball Camps’ mission has been to encourage high self-esteem and a lifelong love of fitness and nutrition through fun, high-quality basketball instruction and games. Back then, “Shaka who?” was a common refrain and just 63 campers attended our July session.

One Final Four-run later and we have to come up with new and increasingly creative scheduling maneuvers to meet camper demand.

More than 1,750 campers will participate in our team and individual skills camps, held in the Stuart C. Siegel Center at VCU this summer. Today our mom-and-pop shop hires more than 200 people including camp counselors, high school officials, photographers and web developers.

Many are college students and recent grads eager to gain new skills and build their resumes so they are better prepared for longterm job opportunities. It’s an honor and extraordinarily fun to serve as executive director of an enthusiastic team that works hard to deliver memorable summer experiences with a health and wellness twist.

One of my favorite moments in our session this year was overhearing a shocked dad say, “Oh, you’re eating healthy now?” after his son asked for apples from the camp store. Mission: Accomplished!