Camp Isla™ was sparked at the 2021 BGDG Annual Conference at Grambling State University. There were several parents who asked if we could have a longer conference. Some of the gymnasts asked if they could train more. We saw the gymnasts, year after year, gaining confidence training with other gymnasts and coaches who look like them.

Spirits were high and inspiration was in the air on the historic campus of GSU! Thoughts like:

What if we host a camp prior to the conference?

• Camp Isla™ will give the upper level girls a chance to really train upgrades and perfect skills for college recruitment.

• Camp Isla™ can be a place where club gymnasts and collegiate coaches/gymnasts can see each other and interact!

• Camp Isla™ can be the groundwork of connecting HBCUs to gymnastics on a broader scale!

So guess what we did? We started planning and made it happen!!! We are now on our 3rd Season of Camp Isla™ and we can’t wait to see what this year brings!