Sanneh Foundation Offering Free Twin Cities Summer Camps For Kids

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Not many things are free anymore. So, when we heard about free summer camps for kids across the metro, we couldn't wait to spread the word.

Posters are popping up at recreation centers in Minneapolis and St. Paul, advertising weeklong summer camps that are completely free for soccer, baseball and basketball for kids between the ages of 6 and 14.

The Sanneh Foundation is behind it, but because more corporate sponsors stepped up to help out this summer, they've been able to greatly expand what they offer.

Tony Sanneh is a retired professional soccer player who grew up in St. Paul. Now, he's back home getting a new generation of athletes ready -- and asking big companies to help out, too.

"It's hard to say no, and there's a need," Sanneh said. "We always try to push the limit. We are really committed to the kids."

Last summer, Tony's foundation ran 30 free soccer camps.

This summer, they have 80 week-long camps at dozens of recreation centers across the metro. All are free.

"We have a lot of sponsors who just came up," Sanneh said. "They heard the call. You will see Jostens on every t-shirt. They saw the need. It's nice for me to know that I am not the only one doing this."

Other supporters are Delta Dental, Comcast, Health Partners, UCare, the Minnesota Twins and even the Police Activities League.

At Conway Recreation Center in St. Paul, police officers and the basketball coach at Johnson High School are volunteering their time to run camps.

"These kids are moving, they are learning about other cultures," Sanneh said. "The Twin Cities are so diverse right now. Kids of every color are playing her and nobody know a difference other than they are having fun."

Sanneh says there is still time to sign up more kids for the camps that run through August.

"We serve the whole Twin Cities community and it is F-R-E-E," he said. "The hardest part is getting the word out there because people don't believe it or they don't know how to find access to it."

Most of the camps are soccer camps, but again there are some basketball and baseball camps you can register your kids for online. There are no income requirements -- it's for everyone.

You'll find morning sessions that go from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and then afternoon camps that go from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. A child could do both.

From more information and to register, check out the links below:

Sanneh Foundation
Free Minneapolis Summer Camps Clinic
Free St. Paul Soccer Summer Camps Clinics
Free Basketball Camps
Other Locations In The Twin Cities