Power Camps keep kids active over the summer. Power Camps allow kids to meet new people and make new friends. Power Camps help kids discover sports, improve athletic skills and foster a love for their games.

Power Camps also establish and encourage relationships with God.

"It's about mind, body and soul," said Diana Roth, an area representative of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and a co-director of the New Holland Power Camp. "There are so many life lessons in sports. Athletics can teach you so many lessons. It's so good to get outside, move and have fun. Hopefully, we're developing a love for being physical."

This year's edition of FCA's annual Power Camps will be conducted from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. from Monday, June 15, to Thursday, June 18, on the athletic fields and inside of Petra Christian Fellowship, 565 Airport Road, New Holland. A later installment of the Power Camps will be presented from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. from Monday, July 13, to Thursday, July 16, at Manheim Brethren in Christ Church, 54 N. Penryn Road, Manheim.

There are costs involved with attending the camps, and lunch will be provided as part of the experience.

To register, go to https://FCA.regfox.com/2026newhollandpower.

"We want campers to come away knowing more about Jesus. That's the main purpose," said Roth. "We want to encourage them to grow in their relationship with Him, learn the sport and grow in their sport. Kind of like, 'Hey, I tried a new sport, I want to continue in the sport or try a different sport.' We want them to be more confident."

The sports being offered at the Power Camps include soccer, basketball, baseball, field hockey, volleyball, flag football and track and field, as well as outdoor events like BB gun shooting, archery, fishing, outdoor safety and hiking. The Power Camps are designed for youths between the ages of 8 and 12.

"We're combining the love of Jesus and sports," said Roth, a resident of New Holland. "There are a lot of positive vibes. It's more than just about sports. Every day we have a theme day, and we have new sports this year. It's a lot of fun. We have music playing, and we want campers to feel super welcomed. I'd love to have more and more kids come out and experience these opportunities. It's not a competitive sports camp."

More than 130 preteens are expected to attend the Power Camps. A vast majority of the campers reside in Lancaster County, including the Garden Spot, Cocalico, Ephrata, Warwick and Lampeter-Strasburg areas.

"Some are repeaters who want to keep coming back," said Roth. "They're kids who love sports. A majority come from Christian homes. Some are amazing athletes. They're looking for a fun, safe, godly experience."

The Power Camps are staffed by 15 to 18 experienced coaches, many of whom have coached on the scholastic and collegiate levels. The coaches are ably assisted by more than 40 huddle leaders, local high school students, some of whom competed at Power Camps when they were younger.

"Our coaches do an amazing job," said Roth. "We don't just pick any coach. We want coaches who understand the sport. They're working with high school students and elementary kids. They're not looking for perfection. They're looking to build their confidence and foster their love for the sport."

"I love to see the high school kids (huddle leaders) I worked with kind of do for others what I did for them," she added. "Just helping (campers) grow in their relationships with God. What I hear the high school kids say is that they love to tell the campers about Jesus."

FCA's Power Camps were started in New Holland in 2018, with 50 campers.

Part of an international, nonprofit, interdenominational ministry, FCA was established in Lancaster County in 2016 and currently maintains an office at Spooky Nook Sports, 2913 Spooky Nook Road, Manheim. The local Power Camps are modeled after FCA's Middle-Atlantic Competition Camps for students between the ages of 13 and 18, which this year are being contested from Monday, June 29, to Friday, July 3, at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.

"Power Camps have been a wonderful way to introduce Fellowship of Christian Athletes to Lancaster," Roth said.