Nike Cross Country Camp Central Wisconsin

SECURE YOUR SPOT!

Please Note: This camp SOLD OUT in 2024. You can expect a high demand on these first-come-first-serve camper spots, so please be sure to register early.

Chris Solinsky has a belief that a successful distance athlete is one that finds a volume that not only challenges them, but also one that they can do consistently. If there is one secret in distance running it is that there are no secrets, but the key to success is safely pushing the limit consistently over time - this is what allows athletes to become so aerobically strong and to compete with the best!

Camp Co-Directors & Stevens Point Area High School Coaches Kevin Hopp and Pat Leahy bring a wealth of experience to this great program. Both Hopp and Leahy coached Solinsky during his high school career at Stevens Point.

2025 OVERVIEW

• Dates: July 20-24, 2025. Join the Priority List to be the first to know when registration opens!
• Age Group: 12-17
• Gender: Co-ed
• Camp Type: Overnight
• Check-in: Sunday, 1:00pm-2:00pm
• Checkout: Thursday, 11:30am-12:00pm
  • Location: Central Wisconsin Environmental Station- Main Office
  • View the campus map here
• Meals: All meals are provided at the camp dining facility.

All Campers should arrive at camp, prepared to run on Sunday, the 1st day of camp. Dinner is the first meal on Sunday. Campers should eat lunch before arriving at camp.

PREPARE FOR CAMP: COMPLETE YOUR PRE-CAMP CHECKLIST

To view your customer account, complete your mandatory forms, pay balance dues, and review important camp information, visit Pre-Camp Checklist.

All necessary camp information is on this page. If there are any imperative changes prior to camp start, registered campers will be notified via email and this webpage will be updated!

HOUSING

• Dorm: Central Wisconsin Environmental Station cabins
• Campers Per Room: Cabin-styke
• Roommates: Rooms are assigned by age & roommate requests. Roommate requests must be received no later than 14 days before the start of camp. If you don't have a roommate request, you will be placed in a room with someone near your age. It will be a great opportunity to meet someone new!
• Linens: Not provided
• Air Conditioning: No, fan recommended
• Key Deposit: We do not require a room key or meal card deposit. However, if you do not return your key or meal card on the last day of camp, you will be responsible for all replacement charges from the host facility. US Sports Camps will charge the camper credit card on file for all costs due.

Staff members reside in campers’ quarters and participate in all activities.

WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE FEES:

• Overnight Campers: Features several instructional sessions per day, three hot meals, and lodging in residence halls. An evening recreation program is also included.

SIBLING DISCOUNT:

We’re excited to offer a discount for families with multiple children attending! If you’re registering two or more siblings for this camp, please reach out to us at [email protected] for a discount code to use during registration.

We offer the following sibling discounts for our running camps:

• $15 off for weekend clinics
• $20 off for day camp sessions
• $25 off for overnight sessions

INSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT & FACILITY

• Ratio: 1:10 staff to camper ratio
• Grouped by: age and ability
• Evaluation: by coaching staff
• Equipment: Campers should bring at least two pairs of broken in running shoes. Spikes/racing flats are optional. Please be sure to properly mark your equipment, so that it can be easily identified.
• Facility: Central Wisconsin Environmental Station (CWES) trails and local roads

CHECKLIST OF THINGS TO BRING:

Below is a suggested list of clothes, equipment and personal items. US Sports Camps is NOT responsible for lost or stolen articles or money.

ALL CAMPERS:

• Athletic clothing
• 1-2 pairs of broken-in running shoes/ event spikes
• Non-running shoes
• Water bottle
• Sunblock
• Comfortable non-running clothing
• Underwear and socks
• Pajamas/sleepwear
• Flip flops
• Toiletries
• Personal items & medications
• Washcloth and bath towel
• Alarm clock
• Swimsuit and towel
• Pen and paper for notes during guest speakers
• Cell phone (if you have one)
• Fan (optional)
• Pillow, pillowcase, bed sheets, comforter or sleeping bag (linens are NOT provided)
• Extra spending money (suggested $40)

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation is not provided. Campers are responsible for getting to and from camp on their own. There is no supervision before or after camp hours so please make arrangements to pick up your child on time.

GEAR UP FOR CAMP

All Nike Cross Country Campers receive a Nike camp t-shirt as part of their tuition. Additional Nike Camp gear is available for purchase at check-out or can be purchased at any time on our storefront.

MEDICAL PROTOCOL

Most camps have an athletic trainer on-site to help with illness or injury. In case of an emergency, campers will be transported to the nearest hospital.

CAMP TUITION PAYMENTS

Full payment of camp fees must be completed by the first day of the month before camp. For example:

• June Camps: final payment is due on May 1
• July Camps: final payment is due on June 1
• August Camps: final payment is due on July 1

Any camper with an unpaid balance 10 days before the start of their camp will forfeit all camp fees paid to date and be removed from the camp.

Your confirmation email shows your balance due and balance due date. Final payments can be made through the US Sports Camps Customer Portal or by phone at 1-800-645-3226.

COMPANY POLICIES

For information regarding our cancellation policy and all other company policies, please visit USSC Policies.

CANCELLATION DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER

In the event a camp day is cancelled or camp hours are adjusted due to inclement weather, we will make every effort to provide make-up time. If make-up time is not possible, no refund will be issued for the first cancelled day or any shortened hours. If additional full days are cancelled and cannot be rescheduled, a pro-rated camp credit voucher will be issued for each cancelled day beyond the first.

NIKE CROSS COUNTRY CAMP FAQ

For general questions about our Cross Country camps please see our FAQ page.

A note from Coach Solinsky:

"I am incredibly passionate about the sport of track and field and specifically distance running. My hope is to spread that passion to anyone that attends the camp while also sharing any variety of the experiences I have been lucky enough to have during my time in the sport. There have been many valuable experiences both positive and negative that lead to shape a love for the sport that have brought me from a kid that did not want to run to someone that has made a career in the sport and a lifelong runner. My aim is to impart some of the important lessons on those that attend the camp, while giving tips for training and developing a mental edge for competitions."

Coach Solinsky's belief of always touching on speed throughout the year comes from his mentor, Jerry Schumacher. He always said an athlete should be 2-3 weeks away from racing no matter where they are in the training phase and to do this you must touch on speed throughout. The idea is during the early phases of training to do a speed session of intervals once a week or once every other week and to use speed mechanic drills do develop better form for efficiency and better overall sprint mechanics. The emphasis is not on improving speed, but to improve form and maintain natural speed during much of the training phase until the point of the season when speed becomes more prominent in the training.

The final training piece of Chris' philosophy is core and general strengthening. This last component makes a true athlete. His team practices in the weight room twice a week and supplements locker room lifting/core routines the other days of the week. During weight room sessions the weight equipment is utilized to strengthen running-specific movements to have the kids become endurance athletes rather than just runners. The supplemental locker room lift/core routines revolve around 30 minutes of either an upper body core strengthening routine or a post workout legs routine. They found that when runners do leg strengthening routines directly following workouts, recovery is faster and mechanics are better.

At camp, we will also touch on the psychology of running by bringing in an array of speakers to discuss the mental side of running. They will discuss some of the things they find/have found to bring success. We will bring in current athletes, former athletes, and coaches, so that the campers can get a diverse view of what success looks like and to arm themselves with different tools to have the strongest mental game. We will also have a counselor/athlete panel open for question-answer session so the kids can get all their questions answer regarding the college process, and their secrets.