Last Thursday, Andrew Bloom and his colleagues were part of the 90 schoolchildren who participated in a ball hockey morning session at Moshier Memorial Park in Burien. This event was part of the fourth annual Pro Sports Sampling Camp, which was organized by the King County Play Equity Coalition in collaboration with our city’s professional teams.

Bloom, the Kraken manager of social impact and youth access, said, “This is the fourth year we’ve done it. It’s great that all the other Seattle pro teams were present again too.”

We had 90 kids with us for hockey at the week-long camp, but they also engaged in various activities daily, each unique from the other. The camp is completely free of charge and it’s apparent that the kids thoroughly enjoy every single day.

Bloom noticed in his fourth year that more campers are familiar with ball hockey, adding to the joy of being outdoors on a Seattle summer day. This is largely thanks to the efforts of the Kraken and the One Roof Foundation, the philanthropic branch of the team and Climate Pledge Arena. Prior to hosting their first home game, the Kraken and One Roof have been conducting ball hockey clinics and distributing over 200 ball-hockey equipment kits, which include high-tech sticks, balls, and attractive official floor goals that catch kids’ attention. These kits have been distributed to school districts in Tacoma, Seattle, Highline, Renton, Edmonds, and Tukwila, and local parks and recreation departments also share them for use during after-school hours.

Furthermore, the initiative aligns perfectly with the One Roof action pillar of facilitating opportunities for children in underserved communities to play. The foundation’s other two pillars focus on eradicating youth homelessness in our region and introducing environmental justice to communities with environmental risks pertaining to air and water. An event like the pro sports sampling effectively completes the mission of providing youth access in a positive manner.

Bloom shared, “We witnessed a variety of encouraging aspects at the camp. The first thing that struck me was when we arrived that morning, we told the kids that we were from the Kraken and we would be playing on turf instead of ice. I asked them who had played a version of hockey before and was pleasantly surprised when almost 90 percent of them raised their hands. They said they had played it in their PE classes. That was really awesome. They even recognized our sticks, which were custom made with Kraken team markings, as the ones they used in PE. Their excitement was palpable.”

The morning drills and scrimmages improved as they progressed. Numerous children were clearly engaged, seizing every chance to hone their stickhandling skills. During breaks, several of them would pick up their sticks and practice shooting at the goals. Some even attempted trick shots. We were told by the kids, “We enjoy watching Kraken games.”

Any parent whose children are passionate about sports, dance, or musical instruments will recognize the dedication that shines through when their kids voluntarily keep practicing, even without obligation. Such enthusiasm undoubtedly aligns with the goals of the King County Play Equity Coalition.

KCPEC deserves significant recognition for implementing a vision and mission outlined in their current four-year plan (2021 to 2024). Their goal is to increase the number of physically active boys and girls in King County. At the start of this decade, the coalition found that only 19 percent of the county’s youth, or one in five children, met the recommended physical activity levels as per national health and fitness experts.

The percentage has risen to 23 percent according to the coalition’s website, however, everyone remains unsatisfied. The number of campers this summer surged by 50 percent compared to the previous summer. There are numerous reasons to endorse and expand these sports sampling camps, one of which is the research indicating that physical activity enhances academic performance, self-esteem, and resilience, strengthens the immune system, and aids children in recovering from stress and trauma. The benefits extend far beyond simply learning and enjoying the sport.

The KCPEC envisions a future where all young people in King County, especially those from traditionally underserved communities, experience the life-changing benefits of play, sports, outdoor activities, and physical exercise. Its member organizations are devoted to contesting and transforming systems to redistribute power and emphasize physical activity as a crucial component of health and youth development.

The next chapter of Kraken hockey starts now, be part of it. Season Ticket Memberships are available.