Specialty camps help hone skills,
Tucked deep in the Plumas National Forest is Two Rivers Soccer Camp, where nature and soccer are intertwined, and campers dribble, pass and score goals by day and roast marshmallows and tell campfire stories by night.
“Our whole niche is we are one of the only sports camps that are in a traditional idyllic camp setting in the mountains,” said Lynda Boyden, director at Two Rivers. “Many sports camps are on college campuses but with us, you have a super high level soccer experience coupled with a fun atmosphere so you work hard and then you can let your hair down and enjoy the mountains.”
Started in 1971 by Richard and Pat Schwendinger, the camp gives young athletes ages 7 to 17 the chance to train hard, but also play hard. Each day consists of up to five hours of training, but is
combined with three activity periods focused on more traditional camp activities, like hiking, fishing or tubing down the river.
The idea is two fold. Athletes don’t burn out as easily, and they’re able to see they can work hard and then play hard, which enhances the effort to train hard and hopefully results in children having a longer span of playing the sport, Boyden said.
Plus, it’s just a beautiful place to play soccer.
“There’s something magical about the place where we are ... and if you put kids in a game that they really have a passion for and you put them in a place that’s beautiful, it’s a magical formula,” Richard Schwendinger said.
The camp is co-ed and has children up to teenagers, but Boyden said the common love for the sport seems to bond campers together regardless of age.
And for any campers or families hesitant to consider a sleepaway camp for the first time, she said many children — even those nervous at first — fall in love with it and spend their week enjoying new friends and the game they all love. The cabins at Two Rivers are typically made up of eight campers with a counselor to each group who resides in the cabin.
“We have the common denominator of the sport of soccer, so you have a group of like-minded kids who are all there for the same purpose,” Boyden said.
However, for those who are homesick, staff will remind them that it’s normal to miss home and encourage them to stay positive and busy. Many of the staff members say that Two Rivers, even for the youngest campers, is a great way for the young athletes to gain independence.
“There’s such a level of maturity you gain having to do everything for yourself without your parents,” Boyden said. “You couple that with a really caring counselor who is a great student athlete or coach and it’s amazing, something every child should experience in our opinion.”
Camp sessions at Two Rivers are one week long, and fall into two categories based on the amount of hours devoted to training per day. The “Development” program is for campers who want two sessions of soccer per day for a total of three-and-ahalf hours and the “Select” program is for campers who want three sessions per day for a total of five hours of training.
Fees range from $1,595 to $3,540 depending on the program and cover instruction, housing and lodging for a week, and there is an option to attend different programs for multiple weeks. Coaches and staff consist of a team of “A” licensed coaches from Europe and the U.S. and “hand-selected” college students pursuing careers in coaching or teaching.