"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path

"Ken Heupel, head coach of the #14 Foundation’s Day of Champions Football Camp, speaks with youth from several Cherokee communities. The camp was sponsored by Cherokee Nation Behavioral Health Services."

Tahlequah, Oklahoma - The Cherokee Nation partnered recently with the #14 Foundation to host the second annual Day of Champions football camp in Tahlequah. The two-day camp provided 100 children between the ages of 8 and 14 mentoring and coaching in athletics, health, fitness, life choices and focused on the four principles of leadership: discipline, respect, trust and hard work. In addition, the camp carried a theme of character, responsibility, goal setting, dedication and integrity.

“The camp taught these kids the importance of setting goals and having a good work ethic, along with the importance of good nutrition, exercise, and staying away from drugs and alcohol,” said Dr. B.J. Boyd, Deputy Director of Cherokee Nation Behavioral Health Services. “Our participants were taught by some of the top collegiate coaches in the country, as well as former college and NFL players, who provide a positive influence on the kids in our communities.”

Participants came from several Cherokee communities to test their endurance and enhance their skills through position skill instruction, strength and conditioning drills, and individual and team competition. Parents and adults from the communities joined in as well, going through many of the drills with the kids.

“This camp goes a long way in helping us recruit more youth and parents for our community coalitions which are a vital part of our prevention programs,” Boyd said. “I hope we can continue to come together for similar programs in the future.”

The tribe’s Behavioral Health Services program strives to strengthen efforts in communities to reduce substance abuse and its consequences through a strategic prevention framework of community partnerships. Boyd said it is his hope the adults and youth participating in the camp will in turn go back and work with the tribe’s community coalitions in helping keep their areas drug free. The effort falls in with the tribe’s philosophy to learn from all that is observed.

Josh Heupel's #14 Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of children-in-need. The foundation was founded in 2001 by former University of Oklahoma quarterback Josh Heupel and was created as a direct result of the pursuit of his dreams and the success he experienced at the University of Oklahoma.

Ken Heupel, head coach for the camp and father of Josh Heupel, said that the coaches that come in want to share their experiences and encouraged all the participants to do the right thing and stay straight. “You’ve been a great group of winners. It’s been a privilege,” he said.