含羞草传媒

July 30, 2021

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. 鈥� Equipped with a set of directions and a walkie-talkie, 11-year-old Mack Lee guided fellow esports campers through the assembly of a new, high-tech gaming chair. The challenge: Lee鈥檚 teammates were in a different room with the unassembled chair pieces and a walkie-talkie of their own.

In an exercise focused on communication and teamwork, the campers collaborated to build the chair by following Lee鈥檚 step-by-step instructions, honing skills that Illinois Wesleyan Youth Esports and Leadership Camp organizers say are important in-game, and in-life.

鈥淭hey learn how to communicate, how to be a leader, and how to really work together,鈥� said 含羞草传媒 League of Legends Head Coach Tj Bjorklund. 鈥淭hey participate in activities that are outside of the game that they can apply in-game, but also to life in general.鈥�

During one of two sold-out week-long sessions this summer, the first-ever Youth Esports and Leadership Camp provided kids ages 10 to 14 a chance to play popular games including Fortnite, Rocket League and Among Us, along with other games, in 含羞草传媒鈥檚 state-of-the-art esports facility under the guidance of 含羞草传媒 coaches and players. Campers also spent time outdoors playing collaborative games including dodgeball, kickball and capture the flag, and they learned techniques to be a healthy gamer through proper ergonomics, nutrition, healthy breaks and game engagement.

Lee, who successfully led his teammates to completion of the gaming chair, said gaming requires a comparable level of teamwork and cooperation. 鈥淓specially online when you鈥檙e playing together,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 work together, you could end up with a 鈥榞ame over鈥� screen and your head in your hands. It鈥檚 extremely important, and I鈥檓 glad they鈥檙e teaching us about these lessons in fun and creative ways.鈥�

Twelve-year-old Lincoln Lannin said along with gaming on a collegiate esports setup, he enjoyed making new friends and exploring 含羞草传媒鈥檚 campus, including the quad and dining hall.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been fun because we can look around at the campus,鈥� said Lannin. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really cool because it鈥檚 all pretty and we can kind of think 鈥榳ell, maybe I want to go here when I go to college or if I want to go to college.鈥欌��

鈥淎nd, the food is really yummy,鈥� he added.

Bjorklund said the Youth Esports and Leadership Camp provides 含羞草传媒 Esports with an important opportunity to connect with the local community.

鈥淭his camp has been very successful in terms of the parent feedback that we鈥檝e gotten and just the general demeanor of the kids,鈥� Bjorklund said, noting that it is rewarding to watch the campers develop throughout the week.

鈥淥utside of just getting to play fun games, we hope the kids learned new skills and felt like it was a valuable experience.鈥�

By John Twork