The La Conner High School track and field program, a perennial State 2B power, plans to stay in the running for years to come.

And not by chance.

La Conner High head track coach Peter Voorhees, his staff and Braves thinclads hold a youth camp each spring break to introduce the sport to local elementary school-age students. Among those campers, from kindergarteners through fifth graders, the next wave of La Conner track athletes will likely emerge.

That’s the long-term plan, anyway. In the short run, though, the camp focus is clearly on fun.

As upbeat music played over the Whittaker Field sound system, camp attendees learned the high school team’s warm-up drills, were taught how to throw the javelin, executed the shot put, and performed the long jump while also taking part in relay races, hurdles contests, and sprints.

“It’s an introduction to track and field and hopefully the kids have some fun with it,” Voorhees said. “And when the weather cooperates, it makes it that much better.

It’s also an opportunity for a change of pace for our high school kids,” he added. “It gives them a chance to take on leadership roles.”

This year’s three-day camp, held April 6-8 in sunny weather, welcomed 35 kids.

The current La Conner High tracksters quickly warmed to their camp coaching duties. Braves senior Maeve McCormick, a pole vaulter and sprinter, shared some finish line etiquette with her young charges.

“If you guys are sitting here, it means you have to cheer super loud for everyone,” McCormick said.

Fifth grader Arlo Oczkewicz received many of those cheers during the mini-track meet that wrapped up the camp on Wednesday.

Arlo’s day included a 50-foot javelin toss and a nearly 10-foot leap in the long jump. When asked to choose his favorite event, Arlo without hesitation said it was the javelin — even though all his throws were into a brisk north wind.

Braves senior Isabelle Villard, who competes in throwing events, enjoyed sharing tips with the young campers.

“It was super fun,” she said, hinting that coaching might well be in her future.

Voorhees said the spring camp, hosted by the Braves Booster Club, has been a mainstay on the La Conner campus for many years, interrupted only by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The time-tested camp format, designed to show that movement can be fun, has paid dividends by encouraging lifetime fitness and contributing to the La Conner track team’s enduring success.

The 2026 camp was no exception.

“Everybody did a nice job today,” Voorhees told campers prior to releasing them Wednesday for a group photo and popsicles. “You did a great job of competing and the big thing is we hope you had fun.”

Bill Reynolds is a general assignment reporter for La Conner Community News.