MARTINSVILLE – The summer camp season is not over. Patrick Henry Community College just added a new summer camp that will start Monday, July 29 for anyone ages 8 to 13 interested in e-sports.
While playing popular video games like Fortnite alongside collegiate e-athletes, campers will build their teamwork and communications skills along with their tactical gaming skills. The camp focuses on creating strategies for personal growth and discovering the world of professional e-sports through tournament-style challenges and personalized coaching.
The camp runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, Monday, July 29 through Thursday, Aug. 1. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Participants will discover what it means to play professionally and prepare for college-level tournaments in PHCC’s Alienware-decked e-sports gaming arena. Students will choose from games like Fortnite, Rocket League, and League of Legends, and will train alongside the college’s e-athletes. The camp culminates in a professional-grade, live-streamed championship.
“At this camp, aspiring e-athletes will get to explore the whole world of collegiate e-sports,” PHCC’s Athletic Director Brian Henderson said. “They’ll experience the professional gaming industry in an entirely new way – meeting industry giants at our pro-gamer workshops and just becoming the best players they can be.”
Last year, nearly $9 million of scholarships were offered from over 80 universities in the United States and close to $1 billion in prize money was awarded to e-sports competitors. With a rapidly growing global fan base that is now rivaling that of traditional contact sports, e-sports has emerged as a booming industry. For those not looking to game professionally, having an e-sports background can also be beneficial for other future careers like game design.
With that in mind, PHCC’s athletic department designed the camp to focus on three main things: competition and gaming skills, tips for entering and thriving in the e-sports gaming industry, and strengthening the teamwork, communication, and concentration skills that e-sports require.
With tournament training and skills coaching campers can take their gaming skills to the next level. With pro-gamer workshops, campers will gain a deeper knowledge of the e-sports industry. With strategic mentoring, the coaches will help campers develop their teamwork, communication, and concentration skills. Over the course of the camp, participants will also design, compete in, and produce a professional-grade championship tournament event.
The camp costs $125 for all four days. For more information, or to register for the e-sports summer camp, contact Henderson at bhenderson@patrickhenry.edu.
