Mid-Atlantic Hockey Camp returns to Cape Henlopen State Park

Skill, drills and fun are the routine during sessions

More than 140 campers and staff enjoyed the Mid-Atlantic Field Hockey Camp July 18-22 at Cape Henlopen State Park, now in its 44th year. DAN COOK PHOTOS

Dan Cook

July 22, 2021

The 2021 Mid-Atlantic Field Hockey Camp marked its 44th year at the Cape Henlopen State Park, where players ranging from beginners to advanced participated in four days of busy sessions. The campers worked on skills such as passing, ball control, footwork, shooting, goal tending, offensive and defensive strategy, and enjoyed many more fun activities.

Frannie Slabonik, a retired physical education teacher and field hockey coach in the Eastern Lebanon County School District, Myerstown, Pa., has been involved with the camp for the last 42 years, first as a camper and now as its owner for the past 17 years. She assembled a premier group of counselors, ranging from high school coaches to college players and coaches, to teach the finer points of field hockey and make sure the campers have a positive and enjoyable experience.

Sommer Dorman, a varsity player for Cape Henlopen High School, attended Mid-Atlantic as a camper for four years and now is a junior counselor.

“It’s like deja vu,” Dorman said. “I learned from junior counselors here, and now I’m the one teaching and taking care of the campers in my cabin. I love it here.”

The second session for the camp runs July 25-29.

For more information about the camp, go to midatlanticfieldhockey.com.

Coach Sarah Humphries leads the warm-up jog.

Reeve Nyland from Catonsville High School leads a group in the musical warm-up.

Coach Kayla “Bix” Straub leads the group in the musical warm-up to the song “Apache.”

Goalies for the camp are (l-r) Leah Allewelt, Julia Baird, Abbey McIlvain, Reese Bowen, Savannah Gettle and Olivia Justice.

Cape hockey player Sommer Dorman works as a junior counselor at Mid-Atlantic Field Hockey Camp and joined her cabin campers for a photo. Shown are (l-r) Allison Kitchel, Reeve Nyland, Bella Reyes, Dorman, Abby Shackelford, Molly Browning and Ainsley Shannon.