Vero Beach Karate Association: Vacation Camps

Welcome to VBKA's Vacation Camps -- Here is where some of our best work takes place!
Download the 2008 Summer Camp Registration Form • Camp Brochure

The Vero Beach Karate Association has been offering camps to young people for the past fifteen years. The camp schedule follows the public school system, and camp sessions start as soon as school is out for the summer and end when school resumes. VBKA also provides holiday camps during the winter holiday season, as well as a spring break camp.

"It is at our camps that some of our best work takes place," explains Mr. Willis, the Association's Head Instructor.

"Camps center around the martial arts, and we train three mornings a week. For students who already belong to our association, this intensified training schedule helps them advance in skills at an accelerated rate, which is a great feature. In the afternoons, we have a good deal of enrichment training: ballroom dancing, dance etiquette, music and art classes, and manners and etiquette training, such as table manners, dating etiquette, telephone etiquette, and hospitality skills."

Above: Tiny Tots doing a one minute concentration drill.

Summer Camp is divided into three week sessions, with each week following a particular theme. Likewise, enrichment activities revolve around the week's theme.

VBKA enlists the help of various guests to be a part of the camp, each providing an experience that enriches the campers understanding in a particular area. VBKA guests have included NASA experts, scientists from Harbor Branch Oceanographic, the Vero Beach Mayor, State Senators, members of law enforcement, health and fitness trainers, stockbrokers, dancers, craftsmen, and many others.

"We want our students to be proficient martial artists, but we also want them to be ladies and gentlemen." ...Mr. Willis

It is through the camps that long term friendships and bonds are developed. These are young people who don't just train together. They grow up together and find that the friends they make at the Vero Beach Karate Association are decent, well mannered young people who are trying to make something of themselves. Many socialize with each other outside the karate school, and do so with the blessing of their parents who know these friends are good kids.

Students have so much fun when they get together at a VBKA dress up dance.

This is where their dance etiquette and social etiquette skills are put into practice.

Camp Counselor Megan Nixon dressed as a pirate for Pirate Week!

Mrs. Watkins shares her
musical skills
and talents
with campers. Here campers perform for parents and family at the
end of the session.

Pictured above: Campers practice their drum patterns under the direction of Michael Perrault

Pictured below: Harbor Branch representative shares
her expertise with campers.

Music enrichment was a big part of this year's summer camp program. Students learned to play the guitar and the drums.

CJ and Eric, guest musicians from Melody Music, share their guitar expertise with VBKA campers.

"We have some of the finest role models anywhere!" ...Mr. Willis

VBKA camp counselors are all great young people. Some are high school students, some are college students. All of them are Honor Roll students, and many are musicians, or involved in sports or cheerleading. Most of the camp counselors are Second and Third Degree Black Belts who know the VBKA martial arts program thoroughly. They are all respectful, humble, enthusiastic, and overall, they are delightful young people.

Below is a list of the 2008 Senior Summer Camp Staff:

Robbie Voyles	4^th Degree	Senior Counselor-Adult
Lynn Donini	3^rd Degree	Junior-University of Miami
Beth Donini	3^rd Degree	Junior- Villanova
Jason Wesley	3^rd Degree	Sophomore-University of Florida
Chelsea Clements	3^rd Degree	Sophomore-Stetson
Michael Kiernan	3^rd Degree	Freshman-IRCC

2008 CITs (Counselors in Training)

Pictured Above: Games are part of what makes camp
an enjoyable experience for kids and counselors!

Elixabeth Contreras	2^nd Degree Black Belt
Frederick Ouellet	2^nd Degree Black Belt
Ricardo Ibanez	2^nd Degree Black Belt
Michael Perrault	2^nd Degree Black Belt
Shannon Fitzgerald	2^nd Degree Black Belt
Miranda Dean	2^nd Degree Black Belt
Marlene Flescher	2^nd Degree Black Belt
Emily Astrom	2^nd Degree Black Belt
Erik Astrom	2^nd Degree Black Belt
NIck Culumber	2^nd Degree Black Belt
Hugo Martell	1^st Degree Black Belt
Ryan Fisher	1^st Degree Black Belt
Shaun Dibble	1^st Degree Black Belt
Richard Brown	1^st Degree Black Belt
Dylan Ross	1^st Degree Black Belt

2008 Camper Awards

Award	First Session	Second Session	Third Session
Hardest Working	Riley Minix	Logan Martin	Travis Kromhout
Most Helpful	Rhett Cameron	Sean Minix	Cody Skinner
Most Polite	Kyle Arango	Nicolette Jones	Mark Land
Most Friendly	D'Antre Hodge	Irelynd Kane	Katie Kolo
Best Girl Dancer	Juliette Moulton	Anisa Jones	Lindsay Alexander
Best Boy Dancer	Jake Maloney	Chad Martin	Zack Minix
Best All-Around	Liam Carroll	Jordan Chadwell	Ljubianne Kolb
Best All-Around Tot	Cassidy Arango	Tyler Sigmon	Suguru Toyota
Best Counselor	Shannon Fitzgerald	Rhett Cameron	Hugo Martell