Royal Navy host kids summer camp

HMS Drake sailors and Physical Training Instructors welcomed more than 210 children for a summer sports and fitness camp.

Run over three weeks, the sports camp has attracted up to 70 children weekly, competing in as many as eight different events every day.

Run in conjunction with Kings Camp at HMS Drake’s Gym and sports centre, the children of Naval families enjoyed trying their hand at new sports and exploring new challenges.

The children enjoyed playing basketball, lacrosse and dodge ball as well as learning important skills such as swimming lifeguard training.

The camp aimed to strengthen team work skills by putting them into groups to compete for an overall winner over the week.

“This is my first time working here at HMS Drake in Plymouth Naval Base; I’m used to working up in Scotland and on cruise liners around the world,” explained Findlay Harkins, site manager for the Kings Camp in Devonport.

“It’s been really good fun here and I’ve been so impressed with the politeness of the children in Plymouth, they have been so well behaved.

“We have something called the ‘Kings factor’ which we promote though all the coaches  running the activities, and it keep everything up to a high energy and high fun level, with all the sports throughout the camp week.”

Kings Camp runs more than three dozen activity camps across the UK each school summer break (plus three camps in South Africa). Youngsters have a busy day ahead of them, running around from 8am until 5pm.

Supported by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, Kings Camp Foundation run sports camps in other Naval Bases during the Easter and Summer holidays.

We have something called the ‘Kings factor’ which we promote though all the coaches running the activities, and it keep everything up to a high energy and high fun level

Findlay Harkins