Sixers Newsroom

Sixers Camps create lasting memories

The Sixers Day Camp is closing in on its final week of the summer. On Thursday, August 21, kids ages 7-13 attended the last week of basketball and dance camp at the Betty and Milton Katz Jewish Community Center.

During the day, the campers were surprised by a guest speaker: Philadelphia 76ers center Samuel Dalembert, who was swarmed as soon as he set foot in the gym.

“I love to see the smile on the kid’s faces. They are full of energy, I wish I had half of their energy,” said Dalembert.

Dalembert spoke with the kids, teaching them the right angles to take when playing defense. He then took questions from the campers. One of the first questions was what his favorite part of basketball was? Dalembert quickly responded, “Defense.”

Due to the requests from the kids, Dalembert found himself hoisting threes, throwing up half court shots and even displaying his impressive soccer abilities.

The Sixers Day camp, which was established in 1988, has sold out every camp for the past 10 years and the day program has expanded to over 25 different sites over the years.

Guest speakers have become a tradition at Sixers Camps. Over the years many famous players have been camp regulars, including Sixers Head Coach and former player Maurice Cheeks, Charles Barkley, Andrew Toney, Adrian Dantley, Aaron McKie, Darryl Dawkins, and Bob McAdoo.

Many of the young kids were attending the camp for their second and third times. On the final day of the camp, the kids get to show off their newly acquired basketball skills to their parents.

Sonny Elia has been the Director of Sixers Camps since its inception 24 years ago, and he runs the camps all over the Delaware County, including night camps in the Poconos. The overnight camps have seen kids from over 30 countries and 40 different states.

“The camp is set up to teach the kids and not make it an overly competitive environment,” Elia said. “Our goal is to excite the kids about basketball and also the Sixers.”

The camp’s daily schedule is jam-packed, with the experienced staff working on many things with the kids, such as ball handling, individual and team defense, passing, offense with and without the ball, shooting and rebounding.

Joel Michel, a freshman at Haverford College, has been helping with the Sixers camp now for two years.

“I enjoy working with the kids and getting to see them improve over just a week span,” he said. “It is very encouraging that you can teach the kids and they pay attention to what you have to say.”

Sixers Camps has helped many kids improve their game throughout the years including NBA players Malik Rose, John Salmons and Richard Hamilton, who has since come back to the camp as a guest speaker.

All campers receive an official camp shirt, invitation for two to a private 76ers practice or preseason game, official camp handbook and official camp player evaluation.

“I came back to the camp after being here last year, I like to meet new friends,” said camper Dayna Wachman of Cherry Hill, NJ.

Also, being held in the same facility is the Sixers Dance Camp. The camp is for girls ages 7-13 years old. Like the basketball camps, they also hold overnight camps, which is for ages 9-18 years old.

The camp is split up according to age and experience. The main aspects taught to the young campers are choreography, turns, leaps, tricks, and hip-hop.

Members of the Sixers dance team help with the camp. Erica, a veteran of the Sixers Dancers, has been doing the dance camps for three years.

“I have a lot of fun working with the kids, and when the junior Sixers Dance team try-outs come around, I am already familiar with some of the girls,” Erica said.

Sonny Elia and Debby Apalucci are concluding another year, and there is no wonder why these camps continue to sell-out year after year. Along with their experience staffs both individuals are providing these young kids with not only unbelievable teaching but also a great amount of fun.