By Kristin Bednarski
Sun staff

The Cincinnati Reds Rookie Success League will return to Batavia Township this year.

The Reds Rookie Success League is a character-building baseball camp for children that meets two times a week for four weeks in the summer.

The camp will run from June 10 to July 2 this year and will meet each Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Last year was the first year the camp was held in Batavia Township. The Cincinnati Reds Community Fund organizes several camps throughout the Greater-Cincinnati area each year.

Batavia Township Administrator Rex Parsons said the camp went really well last summer, and they are looking forward to another great summer.

“We were all pleasantly surprised with the kids and the interaction they had,” Parsons said about the camp last year. “Some of the kids had never thrown a baseball, and by the end of camp we had kids crying saying they didn’t want to leave.”

In addition to learning baseball skills, campers also learn a character-building lesson each day and are able to interact with many other children as well as several Cincinnati Reds players throughout the week.

During the camp last year, there were also several demonstrations from local government organizations including the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office, the Clermont County Park District, Duke Energy, and more.

Parsons said many of the same organizations will be presenting again this year.

“We are pretty much doing the same thing,” Parsons said. “It’s a great program.”

Parsons said it is great to watch the children come in, learn new skills and get daily activity while they are there.

“It’s just really good for the community,” Parsons said. “This is a county-wide program, it’s not just for Batavia or West Clermont.”

Parsons said children from anywhere in Clermont County can apply to participate in the program, and transportation is provided to the Batavia Township Community Center during the camp.

He said more than 180 children have signed up for camp this year, but there is still room left.

Children receive a uniform for the camp as well as lunch each day. Equipment is provided at the camp.

Parsons said they are also looking for more volunteers to help with the camp this year.

“Volunteers will be helping the kids through their daily activities and teaching simple baseball skills,” Parsons said.

He said individuals who are interested in volunteering can contact Batavia Township at (513) 732-3888.

To register a child, or for more information about Reds Rookie Success League visit www.reds.com/redsrookie, or call Jennifer Gruber at RRSLClermont@reds.com or call (513) 479-2030.