Altoona Intermediate School students participate in Packers' youth camp
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Jesse Yang | WQOW
Altoona (WQOW) - Hundreds of local students spent a part of their school day on the field catching, throwing and learning the fundamentals of football.
Tyra Johnson, 6th grade student from Spring Valley who is also the state representative of the youth camp, said she is excited to encourage other students her age to get active and be healthy. "I enjoy just being here and just enjoy watching kids play and have fun," Johnson said.
About 300 students from Altoona Intermediate School were selected to participate in the Green Bay Packers' Youth Football Outreach Camp. Greg Emerson, Altoona's physical education teacher, said the school is one of a select few in Wisconsin picked to host the football camp. The Youth Football Outreach Camp, coordinated in conjunction with the NFL PLAY 60 program, provides boys and girls a chance to learn and test their football skills. Students participated in five drill stations on Tuesday, including throwing a pass, leaping for a catch and diving for a touchdown.
Former Green Bay Packers' running back, Tony Fisher, was on-site to help promote the campaign."I know when I was growing up, I wanted to get out and play in the elements. It wasn't just about playing video games or watching cartoons all day. (It was about) getting out and playing in the elements," Fisher said. "It gives them the opportunity. It is (more fun) to play outside than being indoors."
Ryan Fencl, the Packers youth football coordinator, said having the camp in Altoona was fitting because of its Packers history. "We're happy to come out here to Fuzzy Thurston's field and his hometown, and it means a lot to be able to come to the home of a Packer legend and come out here and put on one of our camps."
Fencl said there are 20 football camps held every year throughout Wisconsin. Tuesday's event is sponsored by the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board and Dairy Council, as well as the Green Bay Packers.
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