The summer season brings plenty of free time for children of all ages. Fortunately, there are any number of summer sports camps available throughout the area, all featuring the chance to expand the skill base of young players or give them a chance to learn a new game.

Today, we run down the camps we've had submitted to us so far this summer. This list will appear occasionally this summer as space permits.

To have your camp listed, email the basics to sports editor D. Clay Best at clay.best@nando.com or fax to 934-8803.

Sportscasting

Triangle Sportscaster Camp

The Third Annual Triangle Sportscaster Camp will be held July 5-7 in Raleigh and Zebulon. This three-day, day-camp teaches the fundamental cores to a career in play-by-play and anchoring in the world of sports broadcasting. Campers receive hands-on instruction and training from nearly a dozen major college and pro sports announcers and TV sportscasters from across the state. The camp is directed by Carolina Mudcats and regional TV play-by-play broadcaster Patrick Kinas. The camp fee is an all-inclusive $400 and open to ages 13-24.Online registration is available at trianglesportscastercamp.com or by calling 291-7918. Space is limited to 16.

Softball

Johnston County Softball Camp

The ninth annual Johnston County Softball Camp for girls ages 7-16 will be held July 11-14 at Smithfield Community Park. Camp runs 9 a.m. until noon daily. The fee is $60 per camper. Smithfield-Selma coach Britney Smith will direct the camp staff.

South Johnston Softball Camp

The South Johnston Softball Camp will be held June 27-29 at South Johnston High School. Camp, for ages 6-14, is from 9 a.m. until noon daily and the cost is $60 for campers. Registration forms can be found at South Johnston High School and all other South Johnston area schools. For more info, contact Mickey Bridgers at 262-6402.

Soccer

Smithfield Soccer Camp

A soccer camp for ages 5-14 will be held July 19-21 from 8:30 until 11 a.m. daily at Smithfield Community Park. Steve Brush, a local CASL coach, and Morgan Brush, a current Barton College player, will lead the camp staff The fee is $40 per camper.

Comet Soccer Camp 2011

The Comet Soccer Camp 2011 will be held June 13-16 at Clayton High School. Camp runs from 5-8 p.m. daily and is open to ages 6-14. The camp will be led by William Williams, Thomas Gruhalla and Amanda Shattuck. The fee is $75. Registration forms are available in the Clayton High School main office.

Selma Challenger Sports Soccer Camp

The Selma Parks Dept. and Challenger Sports will offer youth soccer camps for ages 6-16 at Selma Middle School from June 20-24. Camp for ages 6-10 will run from 9 a.m. till noon; camp for ages 11-16 is from 2-5 p.m. The cost is $106 per camper and includes a soccer ball and camp T-shirt.

Tennis

Tennis Camps in Smithfield

Two tennis camps for youth players will be held July 11-13 at the Smithfield Community Park courts. A camp for ages 5-7 will be from 6-7 p.m. nightly, while the camp for ages 8-14 runs from 7 until 8:30 nightly. The cost for ages 5-7 is $30; the cost for ages 8-14 is $50. Doug Simmons will direct the camp staff.

Baseball

17th Annual Johnston County Baseball Camp

The 17th annual Johnston County Baseball Camp will be held June 20-23 at Smithfield-Selma High School. The camp is open to ages 7-16 and runs from 9 a.m. till noon daily. The fee is $75. SSS coach Mike Joyner will lead the camp staff. Sign up at the SRAC.

South Johnston Trojan Baseball Camp

The South Johnston Trojan Baseball Camp will be held June 20-24 from 9 a.m. until noon daily at Bruce Coats Field on the campus of South Johnston High School. The Camp is open to ages 6-14 and the fee is $80. For more info, contact Keith Durham at 894-3146.

Rams Baseball Camp

The inaugural Rams Baseball Camp will be held June 13-16 at Cleveland High School. Camp will run from 9 a.m. until noon daily and is open to ages 6-14. The cost is $80 for one child or $140 for two and the program is limited to 75 campers. Campers will be split into three age groups. Cleveland High head coach Jamie Lee will lead the camp staff. Registration forms are available in the school main office or online at cvhsabc.shutterfly.com.

West Johnston Baseball Camp

The West Johnston Baseball Camp will be held July 11-14 from 9 a.m. until noon daily at West Johnston High School. The fee is $80 per camper. West High coach Mike Jacobs will lead the camp staff. For more info, contact Jacobs at michaeljacobs@johnston.k12.nc.us or 934-7333.

McGee's Crossroads Athletic Association Baseball Camp

The McGee's Crossroads Athletic Association Baseball Camp will be held June 27-29 at McGee's Crossroads Middle School. The camp runs from 9 a.m. until noon daily. The cost is $60 per camper. West High coach Mike Jacobs will lead the camp staff. For more info, contact Jacobs at michaeljacobs@johnston.k12.nc.us or 934-7333.

Basketball

Youth Summer Basketball Camp

A youth basketball camp for ages 5-7 will be held June 15-17 from 9-11 a.m. daily at the Smithfield Recreation and Aquatics Center. SSS High coach James Robinson will lead the camp. The fee is $40 or $45 on the first day of camp. Sign up at the SRAC.

Wildcats Summer Basketball Camp

The Wildcats Summer Basketball Camp will be held June 20-23 from 8 a.m. until noon at West Johnston High School. The camp is open to boys and girls who are entering the fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth grades. The cost is $50 per camper. West Johnston High boys coach Kris Bennett will lead the camp staff. For more info, email Kristopherbennett@johnston.k12.nc.us.

Selma Thunder Basketball Camp

A basketball camp for ages 8-14 will be held July 19-21 at Harrison Gym in Selma. Local coaches Travis Holder and Cortney Moore will lead the camp staff. Each participant will receive a camp T-shirt and there will be pizza on the last day of camp. The cost is $40. Register by July 1.

Summer Basketball Camp

A basketball camp for ages 7-14 will be held June 27-30 from 9 a.m. until noon daily at the SRAC. The fee is $65 per camper or $75 the day of camp. SSS coach James Robinson will lead a camp staff that will include former college players. Sign up at the SRAC.

Lady Comets Basketball Camp

The 2011 Clayton High School Lady Comets Basketball Camp will be held June 20-23 at Clayton High School. Camp runs from 9 a.m. until noon daily and is open to girls ages 6-15. The camp staff will include Marlon Lee, Tresa Brown-Tomlinson and Misty Greene. The fee is $75 or $60 before June 15. Registration forms are available in the Clayton High School main office.

Networks Basketball Summer Boot Camp

The Networks Basketball Summer Boot Camp will be held Mondays and Tuesdays from June 13 through Aug. 9 at the Smithfield Recreation and Aquatics Center. Each session is from 6 until 7:30 p.m. Eighteen camp sessions are available, the fee of $200 covers nine days, giving attendees a flexible schedule. Participants can attend all 18 sessions for the flat fee. The camp will be split into grades 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12. Register at networksbasketball.com.

Scholarships to Harper, Williams Camps offered

Rising sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders are eligible for an all-expenses-paid scholarship to either the Roy Williams Basketball Camp (June 18-22) or the Kellie Harper Basketball Camp (July 3-6) through a program sponsored by Wake Electric. Applicants will be judged on their academics, extracurricular activities and accompanying essay. Applicants do not have to live in households served by Wake Electric in order to win. Download an application online at wemc.com/basketball.aspx.

Track and Field

Fundamentals Track and Field Camp

A track and field camp for ages 7-17 will be held June 27-30 at the Smithfield Recreation and Aquatics Center. The camp runs from 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. daily. The fee is $60. Former NCAA Division II high jump champion Adriane Stone will lead the camp staff. Sign up at the SRAC.

Football

Spartan Football Camp

The 2011 Spartan Football Camp will be held July 18-21 from 8:30 until 11:30 a.m. daily. The camp is open to ages 6-14, and the fee is $50 per camper. SSS head coach Frank Lassiter will lead the camp staff. Sign up at the SRAC.

Yellow Jackets Football Camp

The Yellow Jackets Football Camp will be held June 27 until July 1 at Brack Wilson Park. The camp is free to boys ages 6-12 (as of Aug. 1). Camp will be from 6-8 p.m. nightly. Selma Yellow Jackets' youth coaches will lead the camp staff. Register by June 24. All participants must have a registration form on file to participate. Registration forms are available at the Parks Dept. office.

Gary Fowler's Comet Football Camp

The 2011 edition of Gary Fowler's Comet Football Camp will be held June 20-23 at Clayton High School. Camp runs from 8:30 until 11:30 a.m. daily for rising first through eighth graders. A parent meeting will be held at 8 a.m. on June 20. The camp staff will include Gary Fowler, Anthony Barbour, Brian Roach, Vernon Brigman, Robert Furth, Allen West and Chris Bagley. The fee is $75. Registration forms are available in the Clayton High School main office.

Volleyball

SSS Volleyball Camp

A volleyball camp for ages 5-14 will be held July 25-28 at the Smithfield Recreation and Aquatics Center. Camp runs from 9 a.m. until noon daily. The fee is $60 per camper. Kim Smith, a former Clemson player, and SSS coach Chase Crocker will lead the camp staff. Sign up at the SRAC.

Methodist University Volleyball Camp

A one-day Methodist University Volleyball Camp will be held at North Johnston High School on July 7. The camp is for rising 6-12th graders and runs from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Lunch is included in the $30 cost per camper. For more info, contact Nicole Davis at 284-2031 or nicoledavis@johnston.k12.nc.us.

Future Lady Panther Volleyball Youth Camp

The 2011 Future Lady Panther Volleyball Youth Camp will be held Aug. 1-4 from 6-8 p.m. nightly at North Johnston High School. The camp is for rising K-6th graders. The fee is $50. The camp will be directed by North coach Nicole Davis and NJHS players.

Duke Volleyball Camp

A Duke University Volleyball Camp for rising 6-8th graders will be held Aug. 1-2 from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. daily at North Johnston High School. The cost is $75 for the camp and lunch both days. For more info, contact Nicole Davis at 284-2031.

West Johnston Youth Volleyball Camp

The West Johnston Youth Volleyball Camp will be held June 14-17 at West Johnston High School. The camp runs from 9 a.m. until noon daily and is open to ages 8-14. The cost is $70 (before June 10) or $80 up until the first day of camp. Players should bring knee pads and a water bottle. For more info, email Jerry Hogan at westvolleyball@hotmail.com.

Clayton High Volleyball Camp

The 2011 Clayton High School Volleyball Camp will be held July 11-14 at Clayton High School from 1-4 p.m. daily. The camp is open to girls ages 8-15. The registration deadline is June 24. The camp will be led by Aaron Firebaugh and Marlon Lee. The fee is $75 per camper. Registration forms are available in the Clayton High School main office.