Each Summer, UConn Hoop Legend's Camp Proves She Is One For The Ages

VERNON, CT — Each summer, Kara Wolters shows one thing.

She's definitely one for the ages.

All ages.

Yes, we know about he stardom at the University of Connecticut and that she is one of a handful of players who have won NCAA, Olympic and WNBA titles.

And we know she has settled in nicely as a resident of north central Connecticut. She loves sharing anecdotes about getting high fives from fans while getting gas.

Wolters likes to think her summertime basketball camps, called Dream Big, are an extension of that.

"There is a sweet spot here for the younger kids," she has said.

Each summer, her Dream Big Basketball Camps for girls come to Granby and Rockville High School for a week at a time.

The players learn drills, offensive and defensive concepts, shooting and other fundamentals.

And the emphasis is on the "fun" part.

Youth basketball, Wolters has said, has undergone an evolution with the AAU programs dominating the scene for the older teens. But with it comes risk because the full spectrum of the game could be overlooked by an assertion that running and gunning is the end-all.

That's where the basics of her Dream Big Basketball Camps for girls come in, she said.

Wolters like to joke that she likes coaching because her daughter, Sydney, doesn't listen to her, especially after she started playing collegiately at Roger Williams.

But there was Sydney helping out at the camps. She and Kara even admitted they gave the exact word-for-word instruction a couple of times.

And it goes beyond hoops.

"I like to teach perspective at the camps," Wolters says "I love this age group. At camp, we will emphasize low block moves, of course," Wolters said. "There is a big focus on fundamentals and on-court skills."

Wolters then paused and added, "We also work on off-court skills — life-lessons through sports. Our philosophy is give girls a basic understanding of the game of basketball while instilling in them life's lessons and the qualities and characteristics that will enable them to be successful as young women in today's world. We strive to create an atmosphere that is educational but at the same time one that embodies a social, friendly and entertaining atmosphere. In others words ... fun."

There was one incident that, in hindsight, seemed unavoidable.

During a break one Tuesday afternoon in the Rockville High School gym, Wolters sauntered over to a group of campers sitting on the bleachers.

"How tall are you?" one of the girls asked.

"Six-Seven," Wolters responded.

Uh oh.

The answer set off a what had become a common catch phrase these days with the younger crowd.

"Six-Seven"

Six Seven."

(Giggles)

"Six-Seven."

Rather than wishing she suddenly went to six-six, Wolters took it all in with a laugh.

That's Kara. She just cherishes her role and, in a way, it's just like a high five at a gas station.

_______

Click here for more information on the camp.