Joe's Camp 2011

Bantam Elite Basketball Camp - Est. 2000

About Joe’s Camp

Joe’s Camp is a non-profit bantam elite basketball camp held every August in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.  Each year, 40 of the top 11 to 13-year-old players in the province are invited to attend.  Attendance is by invitation only.  The mission of Joe’s Camp is to provide a high quality elite camp that does not exclude any players based on their financial situation.  Keeping the registration fee extremely low is a key aspect of Joe’s Camp. 

 

For the low registration fee of $40 each camper receives lunch on the first two days, a camp T-shirt, a basketball, and high quality instruction from some of the top coaches and university players from around Nova Scotia.  There will be an optional skill development session on the third and final day of camp. 

 

Mike MacKay, William Njoku, Donnie Ehler, Fred Perry Jr., Christian Upshaw, Steve Benton, Mark MacLaughlin, Mickey Fox, Shawn Mantley, Jamie MacDonald, Deon Wilson and Augy Jones are just a few of the well known basketball role models and teachers who have coached at Joe’s Camp over the years.    

 

Joe’s Camp hasn’t changed very much since the first camp back in 2000.  Each year Joe’s Camp is composed of a five-on-five tournament (each team plays 5 games), skill development drills, and various competitions.   Skill development is a major aspect of the camp.  Our innovative drills focus on developing all around fundamental basketball skills (ball handling, shooting, passing, defending, etc.). 

 

Trophies are awarded for Camp MVP, All-Star (4), Top Defensive Player, Leadership, One-on-One Champion, and Free-Throw Shootout Champion.  Medals are awarded to all members of the championship winning team.

 

Due to the high talent level the games are always very competitive and intense.  Since 2000, 226 different kids have attended Joe’s Camp.  Most of these 226 kids have come back to the camp for two or three years.  Also, many former Joe’s Campers have went on the play college basketball in Canada and the United States. 

 

Joe’s Camp 2000 was featured on ATV’s newsmagazine show Live at 5.     

 

Joe’s Camp 2005 was awarded a $500 grant from Nova Scotia Health Promotion and Protection, and Joe’s Camp 2006 was awarded a $500 grant from Active Halifax Communities.

  

Six members of the 2005 Nova Scotia Canada Games Team are former Joe’s Campers (Tremaine Fraser, Casey Fox, Demar Parsons, Luke Reynolds, Pat McIver, Juleous Grant).

 

Seven members of the Nova Scotia 2009 Canada Games Team are former Joe’s Campers (Mandrez Downey, Tyler Scott, Geoff Doane, Rodell Wigginton, Shaquille Smith, DJ Smith). 

 

Nike and NBA Skills Coach, Ganon Baker, coached at Joe’s Camp 2010. 

 

A main focus of Joe’s Camp is to help build a strong basketball community in Nova Scotia.  It’s a great opportunity for many different young athletes to meet other talented kids from other communities and backgrounds.  Hopefully they will develop strong friendships that will last throughout their lives.  Basketball is not simply about a player’s ability to hit an open jumper or make the perfect pass.  More importantly, basketball provides great opportunities to meet new people and build relationships that can last for a lifetime.