AwesomeStPaul’s April 2026 grant
will fund a youth-led Summer Soccer Camp. Congratulations!

Now in its third year, this collaborative soccer camp brings together St. Paul Central High School, the St. Paul Central Sports Boosters, and Saint Paul Parks & Recreation to create something genuinely special: a free or low-cost soccer experience designed for youth, with a focus on girls, from elementary and middle school.
St. Paul Central is the largest public high school in Saint Paul, situated right in the heart of the city and serving one of its most diverse communities. That location makes it a natural hub for exactly this kind of cross-community programming.
What makes this program unique is its generational coaching model. Each year, 30 high school athletes step into leadership roles as coaches, mentoring approximately 100 younger campers and building real connections across grade levels. For the younger kids, it's more than just soccer, it's a chance to feel excited and confident about the transition to high school, guided by peers they can look up to.
This program is also a direct response to the growing "pay-to-play" crisis in youth sports. As club leagues and competitive programs price out working-class and lower-income families, free community events like this one ensure that zip code and family income don't determine which kids get to play. Every child deserves access to sport, coaching, and the life skills that come with them.
For the high school coaches, the impact runs just as deep. Women and girls remain significantly underrepresented in coaching at every level, from youth leagues to collegiate programs. By putting high school girls in charge, this camp gives them hands-on coaching experience early, helping to build the next generation of female athletic leaders and close a gap that starts long before the professional ranks.
The camp strengthens the fabric of the Saint Paul community by connecting families, bridging schools, and fostering relationships between students who might not otherwise meet. Sports, at their best, are a powerful equalizer.