Athletic Training Students
College Spotlight on Camp Katina
Volunteering his skills and services at a children’s gymnastics camp was a first for Anthony Reyes, a major in the Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) in the Division of Math, Science, and Technology at the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences.
Reyes usually practices his skills with high-school or university-level athletes. Working with children was a new and valuable experience, said Reyes, who was one of nine athletic training students who volunteered their services at the third annual Camp Katina, which was held in August 2009. in Davie, Florida.
Camp Katina is a gymnastics camp for underprivileged children hosted by the Jason Taylor Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) organization run by Miami Dolphins player Jason Taylor and his wife, Katina. According to its mission statement, the foundation works to support and create programs that promote “the personal growth and development of South Florida’s children in need by focusing on improved health care, education, and quality of life.”
For students like Reyes, it was educational, fun, and a way to support the community.
“This was much different than working with high-school and university athletes,” Reyes said. “It was a great experience because they knew I was there to help them in the event of any injuries. I think it is important to let our community know that we are there for them.”
Student volunteers were available to administer first aid, if needed, to the girls in the cheerleading and gymnastics camp. Besides Reyes, the NSU students included Chelsea Buonacquista, Ericka Calabro, Jaclyn Gonzalez, Megan Kim, Elizabeth Kreymer, Tathiana Mezamour, Jonathan Pietrantoni, and Theresa Wong.
The college’s Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) provides students with the educational foundation and clinical experiences in athletic training necessary to pass the Board of Certification examination and become competent allied health professionals, said Elizabeth Swann, Ph.D., ATC, LAT, associate professor and program director of athletic training in the Division of Math, Science, and Technology.
By volunteering at Camp Katina, the students gain practical training experience while helping underprivileged children from the Miami and Broward areas.
“Our students spend more time out of the classroom than in the classroom, applying their skills and knowledge,” Swann said. “We feel it’s just as important for students to understand that community involvement goes beyond just clinical experience.
“My hope is that when they walk away from events like these, they will see there are so many opportunities in the community to give back,” Swann said. “My goal is for the students to leave an event saying, ‘wow, I can help someone else by more than just taping an ankle.’”
Tathiana Mezamour, a junior in the Athletic Training Education Program, felt she was a positive role model to the young girls at the camp.
“The kids have fun at the camp, but they leave with much more than that in life lessons,” Mezamour said. “Just being able to be a part of that and help build that foundation was a great thing. They came over and asked us, do you like what you do? They understood that we were doing this for [college training] and that we were there for first aid and emergencies. We talked to the girls about going back to school after summer break.”
At Camp Katina, “we may not treat many injuries or perform evaluations—I think we had one Band-Aid and two ice bags all weekend—it’s the point of us being there and being involved and supporting that type of group. And the students really enjoy it,” Swann said.
