New Heights – Adventures for Teens, the Seacoast’s most comprehensive out-of-school program for middle and high school-aged teens, today announced that several coaches and players from the University of New Hampshire’s Athletics Department will help lead the New Heights Summer Sports Camps in 2006. 

This collaboration is the latest between the noted community program and the university.  In addition to the work the out-of-school program does with the university’s Family Resource Center, UNH’s Department of Social Work has researched the effectiveness of New Heights’ development, risk prevention and academic assistance programs. Several students from the university also intern at the Teen Center.

“UNH’s familiarity with New Heights made the decision to partner with them an easy choice,” explains Tracey Tucker, director of New Heights.  “For more than a decade, we have worked with coaches from throughout the Seacoast to develop a summer sports program that’s focused on fun, that also helps teens develop skills that are helpful both on and off the court.  Since the UNH staff knows and respects that mission, they’re willing to embrace it in the sports program that they’ll offer the kids, providing our teens a truly unique summer experience.”

New Height’s 2006 Summer Program will feature five sports camps, including:
•       Football will be headed by UNH head coach Sean McDonnell, who won Coach of the Year honors after leading his team to the NCAA I-AA quarterfinals this year. He’ll be joined by Brown University head coach Phil Estes, as well as head coach Billy Ball from Exeter High and Portsmouth’s assistant coach Kevin Mills.

•       Basketball will feature UNH head coach Bill Herrion and Southern New Hampshire University head coach Stanley Spirou, who will teach teens the finer points of the game. They’ll be joined by members of the UNH hoops squad and former Cleveland Cavalier’s star Dwight Davis.

•       Volleyball will once again be taught by Portsmouth High varsity coach Roy Swanson. He’ll be joined by members of the UNH Women’s Volleyball Team who will share their experiences as well as their knowledge of the game.

•       Lacrosse, one of the fastest growing sports on the Seacoast, will be led by Oyster River High coach William Sullivan and former head coach Mark Henderson.

•       Cheerleading is also being offered by New Heights for the first time. This safety-first camp will be led by Sharon Robitaille who has coached CYO cheering for two years and was a cheerleader for eight years. She is joined by former cheerleaders Lauren Robitaille and Jessica Day.

Additional members of the UNH Athletics Department will participate during the sports camps as guest speakers. These speakers include Dick Umile, head coach of Men’s Hockey, Robin Balducci, head coach of Women’s Field Hockey, Ken Fuld, chair of UNH’s Psychology Department, and Marty Scarano, UNH’s Athletic Director.

“ We’re very excited to play a leading role in New Heights Summer Sports Camps this year and hope it is the beginning of long and fruitful relationship,” noted Scarano.  “The approach New Heights takes towards its Sports Camps gets to the heart of athletics. Participating in sports teaches you about teamwork and can help you grow as an individual.  I believe that by sharing their own experiences and relating to the kids on a personal level, our own coaches and players may get as much out of this experience as the teens will.”

Also participating in the sports camps will be several coaches from local high schools who continue to support the New Heights program.  These coaches represent Dover, Marshwood, Newmarket, Oyster River and Portsmouth.

Space in the Summer Sports Camps is limited, so interested parents are encouraged to attend New Heights’ Summer Program Expo next Tuesday, March 7 at the Community Campus in Portsmouth. Brochures and registration forms are available by calling New Heights at 603-422-8235, or by visiting www.newheightsonline.org.

About New Heights
New Heights – Adventures for Teens is the Seacoast’s largest, most comprehensive out-of-school program for young people between the ages of 11 and 18.  A program of the Seacoast Mental Health Center, New Heights offers all Seacoast teens a place to spend their time out of school where they can enjoy fun, healthy, challenging activities during a crucial juncture in their lives – the transition from childhood to adulthood.  Founded in 1987, this unique development and risk-prevention program is located at the Community Campus in Portsmouth. For more information, visit www.newheightsonline.org or www.smhc-nh.org.