With school ending for many children in North Carolina, parents have begun looking for ways to keep their youngsters busy and engaged over the summer months.Sports camps are always popular options. College, high school and even middle school coaches offer the chance to learn from experts, regardless of the child’s skill level.What about kids who would rather describe the action on the field or court, instead of participating? Most sports play-by-play broadcasters knew from a very young age that their path to glory would most likely come on the airwaves.For those aspiring Jim Nantzs and Jones Angels in the area, the kids who practice their home run calls in the shower, there’s an option.Durham Bulls radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster Patrick Kinas is holding the Ninth Annual Triangle Sportscaster Camp, July 10-12 in Durham, NC.Kinas is a veteran of the microphone and a longtime fixture to Triangle sports fans. Over his 24-year (and counting) broadcasting career, Kinas has been the voice of the Carolina Mudcats for 12 years and the Bulls for the last six.Kinas has also been the radio voice NC State’s women’s basketball team for 15 years.Nationally, Kinas has done play-by-play for college football’s East-West Shrine game, and last summer, he covered the Olympics for the Westwood One radio network, where he was the voice of swimming, among other events.Kinas will have plenty of help for the Triangle Sportscaster Camp. He’ll be joined by several of the Triangle’s most esteemed sportscasters to provide hands-on instruction in the areas of play-by-play, color, prep, research, TV anchoring, writing copy, interviewing and more.The full slate of instructors hasn’t been released yet, but it will include the voices of the Hurricanes, Blue Devils, Wolfpack, Tar Heels and Bulls, as well as talent from WRAL TV and News 14 Carolina. The instructors have combined for more than 400 years of experience calling games.Like college and pro athletes, who honed their skills at camps while still developing as youngsters, alumni of the previous eight camps have gone on to great success. Kinas said that Triangle Sportscaster Camp attendees have gone on to land internships in television and radio as well as college and pro play-by-play jobs.The camp only selects 16 students each year, and it’s in the final stages of enrollment. Cost is $425, with breakfast and lunch included.For information and to register, call (919) 291-7918 or visit www.trianglesportscastercamp.com.
