The Citibank Colin Kaepernick ProCamp had s
o many subscribers that it was expanded to two days: Saturday June 21 and Sunday June 22, 2014. The pristine athletic fields at Saint Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco, CA hosted hundreds of children as they came to meet and interact with the San Francisco 49ers’ starting quarterback.
As a parent of a child who participates in the camps, I have nothing but praise for the ProCamps organization. No expense is spared in running a tight, safe and fun program for the kids. Rod Huber, the head football coach for The College of Mount St. Joseph and lead coach for ProCamps’ football camps has assembled and trained a first-rate staff of assistants. His enthusiasm and love for the game is infectious.
As a sports photographer covering both the professional games and the camps, I have now had an opportunity to see Colin as his youthful self in a relaxed fun environment. The Colin we see on the field is serious and focused. Some may misconstrue his demeanor as being aloof to the fans, when in truth it is simply a man fully engaged in his task at hand. But the Colin at the camp was a joy to observe as he engaged with the children and threw at least one pass to every camper. He was clearly enjoying himself as much if not more so than the kids. This is a side of a professional that most people rarely get to see…all made possible by the environment and the numerous coach volunteers who ensure that every child is having a good time.
Fans come in all sizes…as Colin learned during this camp. One youngster felt the need to hug him whenever he was within range. Even after the tenth time – when the child had to be physically pried away – Colin kept his composure and continued to smile and enjoy himself.
Every child had an opportunity to interact with Colin, they participated in competitions and they received an autographed photograph with Colin to commemorate the day. Special recognition was given to few campers who showed exceptional skill. Colin’s choice was a youngster with a low hairline who he thought was female. After an embarrassing correction and reddened faces all around, the young man graciously received his reward.
Please check out the ProCamps website (https://www.procamps.com) for more upcoming camps nationwide.
In addition to Citibank via their Citi Private Pass Program, sponsors included State Farm Insurance, KNBR Radio, Gatorade, PopChips, Everlast, Welch’s Fruit Snacks, the Teammates Foundation, Dick’s Sporting Good, the Hatton Foundation,Pepsi, and Body Armor Sports Drink.