The Jim Kelly Football Camps are in full swing this summer at Ralph Wilson Stadium and the Bills Field House in Orchard Park. Bills Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly has shown no signs of slowing down with his hands-on approach to his camp.
The Red Camp concluded last week and had over 400 kids participate. The Blue Camp dates are Monday, July 13th - Thursday, July 16th.
Kelly takes a lot of pride in his camp and is a very active participant. Among many other things, kids receive a t-shirt, cap and team photo with Jim Kelly himself in every picture. Along with a set of great coaches, Kelly practices with the kids, encourages the kids, gives chalk-talk sessions, talks to parents, signs autographs and even personally hands out the awards on the last day of camp.
Kelly said, "This is my football camp. It has my name on it. This is my reputation. I've always wanted to do this. I love kids."
Kids get more from the camp than just football which is another unique aspect of how special this camp really is.
"It's about football but the everyday life things that they might not get outside of here, they're learning from this camp," said Kelly.
Chalk talk presenters and camp assistants include Kelly, Derek Schouman, Steve Tasker, Mark Kelso, Alex Van Pelt and Andre Reed. Other Bills players and alumni are expected to make random appearances as well.
The camp is extremely organized and managed well. Kids are placed on teams by age group and position. Coaches run drills, provide individual and team instruction and play touch football games throughout the day. They make the camp fun for the kids and many of the kids are returnees from previous years.
Steve Palmerton, 14 years old, said, "All the coaches, they know what they're talking about because they've played."
"The camp has really helped me get to know people and work as a team," said Lucas Kramer, 4-year camp attendee.
"We learn stuff at chalk talk and how to be honest, learn about your friends and how they're good to you. We learn how to have a good time," said Tommy Flannery, 9 years old. "It's kinda cool being on the actual Bills field too. I feel like a player and we can just imagine the crowd in their seats."
The Jim Kelly Camp has also announced that future Hall of Famer and former Bills wide receiver great Andre Reed will be appearing at the Blue Camp next week. Reed will run his own chalk talk session for the kids.
In addition, the Jim Kelly Camp announced the following Blue Camp scholarship winners from their online contest held on Buffalobills.com:
Colin Spatorico, Ransomville, Austin Skowron, Elma, Matthew Lanzalaco, west Seneca, Thomas Sisti, Cheektowaga, Anthony Joseph Sundquist, Sloan, Christian Barczykowski, Alden, Luke E. Zaporowski, Elma, Jordan Skieresz, Lancaster, Alexander Delgado, Blasdell, Carolyn Kennedy, Tonawanda, Thomas Lipomi, Hamburg, Anthony Considine, Angola, Joe O'Shei, West Seneca, Mitchell Simons, West Seneca, Nicholas May, Tonawanda, Thomas L Meland, Kenmore, Matthew Mazuchowski, Sloan, Austin Antkowiak, Orchard Park, Kyle Callea, Lancaster, Ryan Harvey, Hamburg and Peter Fitzgerald, Elma.
Registration for the Jim Kelly Blue Camp is still underway and enrollments are being accepted today. For more information please visit www.JimKellyFootballCamp.com or call (716) 204-0900.
