Hosted by the Grandparents Club
Last month the Grandparents Club hosted a Haudenosaunee Volleyball and Youth Leadership Camp in collaboration with the Cattaraugus Community Center (CCC) for youth, ages 8-18! The event was an amazing pre-North American Indigenous Games opportunity for volleyball players, athletes, and youth to brush up on their skills.
The two-day camp featured award-winning volleyball player Lauren Schad, an enrolled CRST (Cheyenne River Sioux – Lakota Nation) member, and a newly inducted member of the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame. She was a 2018 Nike N7 Ambassador, and she played professionally for five seasons in the top league in France. Schad competed in the Champions League for three seasons out of five in France, going up against the top athletes in the world. She retired from volleyball in summer 2022, operates a textile business called Wicahpi Rugs & Textiles, and is deeply involved in initiatives for Native youth in North America. She also speaks to international schools in France, working to contest the persistent stereotypes that face indigenous peoples and discuss what it means to be “proudly indigenous.”
Participants enjoyed daily activities including group warm-up and icebreaking activities, partner exercises, relays, introductions to skills such as setting and serving, and strategies for attacking and defense. Each day comprised of a morning session, and an afternoon session.
Dr. Rodney Haring posted this about the event: “Ja:göh Grandparents Club for hosting the Haudenosaunee Youth Volleyball and Leadership Camp. Much love to the coaches and speakers for shared stories, knowledge, encouragement, and inspiration. Appreciation to Seneca Nation’s Cattaraugus Community Center, tribal and community sponsors, and volunteers.”
The camp was co-sponsored by the JC Seneca Foundation and Fierce Lacrosse.
