SLAM DUNK: Cambridge community group puts ‘bounce’ in youths’ step with basketball mentorship program
The kids were awestruck as they entered the massive arena in the big city to witness their towering sports heroes in action.
“Even walking from the bus and into the Scotiabank Arena, I was walking with one of the kids and he was like, ‘I’ve never been to Toronto, this is so cool,’” said Ellia Loschnig, Community Coordinator with the Preston Heights Community Group.
A recent trip to Toronto to watch the Raptors play was a dream-turned-reality for these youth thanks to the About The Bounce program. The NBA game put an exclamation point on the completion of a successful second year for the program, which combines basketball and leadership skills under one roof.
Through "About the Bounce," youth are able to enhance their athletic abilities while gaining experiences that contribute to their overall growth. The program focuses on teaching important life skills such as teamwork, communication, leadership, and resilience through structured activities and mentorship.
The weekly program runs from fall to spring. Youth in Grades 6-8 spend one hour honing their skills on the court with professional coaching from local organization You vs. You, followed by a second hour of in-class sessions that dive into leadership, life skills and mentoring.
Meals and snacks are provided in between sessions.
“It’s easy to find a drop-in sports program or even a registered program,” Loschnig said. “What makes this program unique... is the duality of having that wellness and leadership component with it.”
About The Bounce is a team effort — a partnership between the not-for-profit Preston Heights Community Group and Langs — and made possible after an application to Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF)’s Racial Equity Fund received funding. The Racial Equity Fund was established at WRCF in 2020 to advance racial equity in Waterloo Region.
According to statistics provided by the Preston Heights Community Group, 22% of youth in Cambridge identify as a visible minority, while 21% reside in single-parent households (the highest of all locations in Waterloo Region.) Additionally, one in eight youth in Cambridge are living in low-income situations.
“(Our centre) is located in the middle of subsidized housing,” Loschnig said. “So just having opportunities for these children to be safe somewhere, in our community centre, with role models, learning how to be a better leader... just learning those skills is important.”
About 20 participants were registered this past season, each outfitted with basketball attire including new Nike shoes. While the new sneakers and the Raptors game were the highlights, the weekly sessions in general have been a slam dunk from the opening tip-off. During the pilot season two years ago, there was a 100% retention rate with attendance at 98%.
About The Bounce will expand to include high school-aged participants in the fall.
“This is a cool opportunity for them,” Loschnig said. “Even seeing some of the returning participants from last year, some of them who were quiet, shy, had a harder time fitting in with some of the people. Now they have their own friend group. Even just that confidence, social skills, it’s bigger than new shoes and a trip to a game. Moreover, About the Bounce serves as a potential pipeline for staff recruitment within our community.”
The coordinator used the example of one participant who aged out of the program but stayed on to serve as a volunteer, and eventually was hired to support their summer camp for extended care.
“Starting as a participant, showing that initiative of becoming a volunteer, then leading into a paid position. That is essentially one of our goals, not specifically for About The Bounce but in programs in general,” Loschnig added. “Having them start when they’re younger and then volunteer and build up those skills and then either we hire them, or they have those skills to apply to other positions. It's nice to see their growth.”
WRCF’s Racial Equity Fund supports meaningful, positive action, which advances the work of organizations in Waterloo Region serving people who are Indigenous, Black, and people of colour. In 2023, approximately $400,000 was provided to 29 local organizations through this fund with dollars made available through WRCF and several WRCF Fundholders and donors. About the Bounce received funding through two WRCF Fundholder’s; The Motz Family Endowment Fund, and a Field of Interest Fund that is focused on supporting children and youth.
“We are super thankful for the funding,” Loschnig said. “This program was something that the Preston Community created, so being able to have that vision come to life because of WRCF is amazing to see.”
About the Bounce is more than just a sports program; it is a holistic growth platform that equips young people with the tools they need to succeed in life and build lasting, supportive relationships within their community.
“Kids are challenged to think about themselves in a bigger/community context and why their involvement and contribution to anything is valuable. We can’t express enough gratitude for my son getting to be part of this; everything that has and continues to be provided has been beyond expectations. Including a Raptors game on top of everything else is amazing.”
The Preston Heights Community Group is one of eight not-for-profit organizations operating under the Cambridge Neighbourhood Organizations umbrella. The network works together to create “thriving, connected neighbourhoods across Cambridge.”
For more information on About The Bounce, visit https://prestonheights.ca.
To learn more about the Racial Equity Fund, go to wrcf.ca/racialequity.