SPECULATOR - Lake Pleasant Central School was filled with the sounds of basketballs hitting the court during the first-ever Adirondack Basketball Camp July 5-8.

Over 80 children took part in the camp, led by the Warren County High School Girls Basketball Team and their coach, John Kelly, from Front Royal, Va.

Proceeds go toward the Paul Wilbur Memorial Scholarship, which will be awarded to a high school senior who attended LPCS and is going on to college.

Wilbur was a LPCS graduate and life-long resident of the area. He passed away in February 2008.

Camp directors Donna Wilbur, Paul Wilbur’s daughter, and Jon Swift, the school’s athletic director, are overjoyed with the success of the camp and the outpouring of support from the community.

Donna Wilbur, who lives in Warren County, Va., approached Kelly about running the camp. He jumped on board immediately.

“When this opportunity came for our girls to do a community service project by working at the camp and also do things that improve our team chemistry (through activities after camp ended each day), that was a win-win for us,” said Kelly.

The girls visited McComb’s Oak Hill Farm, Oak Mountain Ski Center for a chairlift ride, Auger Falls, the village beach and many local businesses.

The team spent a lot of time on Sacandaga Lake swimming, kayaking, tubing and touring on a party barge.

DAILY ACTIVITIES

Daily activities for the campers included shooting contests, ball handling drills, shooting drills and games.

Each camper received a water bottle, camp T-shirt, a camp basketball and a photo of all the campers and coaches.

The water bottles were provided by a donation from Hamilton County Trailblazers and the T-shirts by the Lake Pleasant Youth Recreation program.

GREAT TURNOUT

Swift was impressed with the turnout. “I was most encouraged by the number that came out; 84 kids. My objectives were for the kids to have a great time and learn some basketball, and they were more than fulfilled.”

Campers and parents had nothing but praise for the camp.

“It was great because it’s a fun, safe summer activity where they can get exercise, learn the fundamentals of basketball and build their confidence,” said Laura Gambrell, mother of one of the campers.

LOTS OF SUPPORT

Wilbur’s Cottages and Lipinski’s Cottage provided lodging.

Mountain Market provided a pizza dinner for the players while Melody Lodge provided dinner for the coaching staff one night. The Wilbur, Belles and Lipinski families also provided dinners for the team.

Others that made donations are Charlie Johns, Adirondack Gourmet, Price Chopper and Sparkle Laundromat. An anonymous donor provided a scholarship for a local camper.

To make a donation to the Paul Wilbur Memorial Scholarship Fund contact Swift at jswift@lpschool.com.