A student learns to throw a frisbee for disc golfing at last year’s NYSP.

Gustavus NYSP students perform a group nutrition exercise.

Gustavus Adolphus College is currently hosting the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP), which is taking place from July 7 through July 26, 2008.

This year’s NYSP at Gustavus is a three-week academic and athletic enrichment program for approximately 150 pre-registered youth ages 10-16 from low-income families living within a 45-mile radius of St. Peter. The camp is free of charge for all camp participants.

“This program provides an opportunity for healthy, constructive activities at no cost to the youth or their families,” says Rita Curtin, NYSP director at Gustavus, “and they have a chance to interact with youth from other communities. Participants also benefit from improved confidence in social, athletic, and academic settings.”

In its fifth year at Gustavus, NYSP is focusing on two areas: the “Learning is Fun” Academy, which will explore science, healthy living, reading, real-life application of mathematics, team building opportunities, creative writing, art, and drama; and Fitness Centers, which provide youth with team and individual activities in such sports as soccer, swimming, basketball, volleyball, flag football, tennis and golf. All youth will participate in swimming lessons relative to their level of skill and fitness/yoga to learn about relaxation and how fitness stimulates the brain.

Throughout the camp there is a focus on making healthy choices, as they relate to such things as nutrition, peer pressure, and alcohol and drug use. Prior to camp, each participant receives, at no cost, a medical screening with appropriate follow-up.

NYSP is participating in the externally funded Summer Food Service Program, which provides daily breakfast and lunch for campers.

NYSP at Gustavus began five years ago and has continued even though federal funding has ceased. It is now funded by Gustavus and local donations. “Community partners are an incredibly important part of Gustavus being able to continue to offer these programs,” Curtin says.

Gustavus continues to be one of only two NYSP programs in Minnesota and now is one of 50 at locations in 30 states. NYSP is a 39-year-old national initiative that, when federally supported, helped fund 200 summer programs at colleges and universities throughout the country.

For more information contact Rita Curtin, Gustavus’s NYSP director, at 507-933-6410.

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Media Contact: Media Relations Manager Matt Thomas
mthomas@gustavus.edu
507-933-7510

Gustavus Adolphus College President Jim Peterson was recently presented a $5,000 check by the HickoryTech Foundation to help fund the College’s National Youth Sports Program (NYSP). This summer’s NYSP at Gustavus will be a three-week (July 9-28) academic and athletic enrichment program for approximately 150 youth ages 10-16 from low-income families living within a 45-mile radius of St. Peter.

“Community partners are an incredibly important part of Gustavus being able to continue to offer these programs,” said Kathryn Bode, NYSP director at Gustavus. “We thank HickoryTech for their generous donation and their recognition of the importance of NYSP to local youth.”

NYSP is a 39-year-old national initiative that has supported 200 summer programs at colleges and universities throughout the country. Federally funded until two years ago, the organization provides economically disadvantaged youth with academic instruction, sports skill instruction, physical fitness and healthy habits, along with opportunities to become acquainted with careers and educational opportunities at a college or university campus.

Gustavus is the second such program in Minnesota and the first to serve out-state youth. This year, students from Arlington, Belle Plaine, Cleveland, Eagle Lake, Gaylord, Green Isle, Janesville, Jordan, Lake Crystal, Le Center, Le Sueur, Kasota, Madelia, Mankato, Montgomery, New Prague, Nicollet, North Mankato, St. James, St. Peter, and Waseca are eligible for NYSP at Gustavus.

In its fourth year at Gustavus, NYSP will focus on two areas: Fitness Centers, which include both team and individual activities such as basketball, soccer, swimming, volleyball, and yoga; and the “Learning is Fun” Academy, which will focus on enriching math and reading skills while also exploring science and health, creative writing, art, and drama.

As a way to help campers become more interested in the long-term goals of education, Gustavus has collected over 500 books that will be distributed and sent home with each student who participates in this summer’s program.

For more information about this summer’s NYSP at Gustavus, contact the Gustavus NYSP office at nysp@gustavus.edu or 507-933-7455.

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Media Contact: Media Relations Manager Matt Thomas
mthomas@gustavus.edu
507-933-7510

A Scholastic book fair will take place April 24-26 at Gustavus Adolphus College in the Dive, located in the O.J. Johnson Student Union. A wide variety of books will be available for purchase from 12 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. during the three-day event.

All proceeds from the fair will go to the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) and its summer programs.

The NYSP is an instructional program for boys and girls from low-income households. The program uses sports instruction and competition as a vehicle to enhance self-esteem, to promote respect for oneself and others, to reinforce the importance of education to one’s future, and to promote active, healthy lifestyles.

Gustavus is one of 57 higher education institutions in the country that will host NYSP summer activities in 2007.

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Media Contact: Media Relations Manager Matt Thomas
mthomas@gustavus.edu
507-933-7510

Team building is the first thing for NYSP campers and counselors.

NYSP at Gustavus includes sports and academics.

Computer skills classes are part of the 2006 NYSP at Gustavus.

For the third consecutive year Gustavus Adolphus College is hosting the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP). This year’s NYSP at Gustavus will be a three-week academic and athletic enrichment program for 170 youth ages 10-16 from low-income families living within a 45-mile radius of St. Peter. It runs from July 10 through July 29.

“This program provides an opportunity for healthy, constructive activities at no cost to the youth or their families,” says Kathryn Bode, NYSP director at Gustavus, “and they have a chance to interact with youth from other communities. Participants also benefit from improved confidence in social, athletic, and academic settings.”

In its third year at Gustavus, NYSP focuses on two areas: Fitness Centers, which include both team and individual activities such as basketball, soccer, swimming, volleyball, and yoga; and the “Learning is Fun” Academy, which will explore science and health, mathematics, creative writing, art, and drama.

For 2006 there are two NYSP locations in Minnesota and 78 nationally in 38 states. Of the 78 programs, 18 — including Gustavus’ — are supported by local funding.

“Gustavus has made a commitment to continue the program in spite of a reduction of federal grant funding for the NYSP organization,” says Bode.

This year students from Arlington, Belle Plaine, Cleveland, Eagle Lake, Gaylord, Green Isle, Janesville, Jordan, Lake Crystal, LeCenter, LeSueur, Kasota, Madelia, Mankato, Montgomery, New Prague, Nicollet, North Mankato, St. James, St. Peter, and Waseca are eligible for NYSP at Gustavus.

The Gustavus NYSP program is a participant in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program. Breakfast and lunch will be provided to all eligible participants free of charge. Children who are part of households that receive food stamps or benefit under the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) are automatically eligible to participate.

Acceptance and participation requirements for the program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. Breakfast will be served from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and lunch will be served from 11:10 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. on the Gustavus campus from July 10 through July 29, 2006.

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Media Contact: Media Relations Manager Matt Thomas
mthomas@gustavus.edu
507-933-7510

“This program provides an opportunity for healthy, constructive activities at no cost to the youth or their families,” says Kathryn Bode, NYSP director at Gustavus, “and they have a chance to interact with youth from other communities. Participants also benefit from improved confidence in social, athletic, and academic settings.”

In its third year at Gustavus, NYSP will focus on two areas: Fitness Centers, which include both team and individual activities such as basketball, soccer, swimming, volleyball, and yoga; and the “Learning is Fun” Academy, which will explore science and health, mathematics, creative writing, art, and drama.

For 2006 there will be 78 NYSP locations in 38 states. Of the 78 programs, 18 — including Gustavus — are supported by local funding.

“Gustavus has made a commitment to continue the program in spite of a reduction of federal grant funding for the NYSP organization,” says Bode.

This year students from Arlington, Belle Plaine, Cleveland, Eagle Lake, Gaylord, Green Isle, Janesville, Jordan, Lake Crystal, LeCenter, LeSueur, Kasota, Madelia, Mankato, Montgomery, New Prague, Nicollet, North Mankato, St. James, St. Peter, and Waseca are eligible for NYSP at Gustavus.

Volunteers are needed for this summer’s NYSP in a variety of capacities. For more information, contact the Gustavus NYSP office (nysp@gustavus.edu or 507-933-7455).

The Gustavus NYSP program is a participant in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program. Breakfast and lunch will be provided to all eligible participants free of charge. Children who are part of households that receive food stamps or benefit under the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) are automatically eligible to participate.

Acceptance and participation requirements for the program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. Breakfast will be served from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and lunch will be served from 11:10 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. on the Gustavus campus from July 10 through July 29, 2006.

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Media Contact: Media Relations Manager Matt Thomas
mthomas@gustavus.edu
507-933-7510