Junior Baby Bombers experience Yankees' Summer Camps

Credit: New York Yankees. All rights reserved.

As the Yankees continue their season in the big ballpark in the Bronx this summer, hundreds of junior baby bombers will don the pinstripes across the tri-state area at the Yankees Baseball Summer Camps presented by REFUEL with chocolate milk.

Entering its fifth year, the Yankees summer camps offer an unforgettable baseball experience to everyone, from first-timers to experienced travel team players. The camp aims to build tools necessary to succeed on the baseball field, but also off-the-field in order to bring out the personal best in each camper.

These tools, which are referred to as the "Super Six", include: Optimism, Resiliency, Goal-Setting, Emotional Mastery, Self-Efficacy, and Grit.

Credit: New York Yankees. All rights reserved.

There are 14 camp locations throughout the tri-state area, and each run from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., over four days.

In addition to playing and learning the game, campers will also have a chance to visit Yankee Stadium for a full-day tour. During this trip, campers will meet a current Yankee or Yankee alumni, receive an autographed photo, and have the opportunity to interact with past World Series Championship trophies and rings.

For John Erskine, he said last year's camp, especially the instructors, left a lasting impact on his then-five-year-old son, Dean, who had just been introduced to the game of baseball.

"It was excellent. My son still talks about Coach Matt. He still remembers the guy. It was really well run."

Erskine's son has gotten even more involved with the sport after last summer by playing t-ball this year. He still wears his camp-issued jersey out and about, too. Dean even went to his first Yankees game last month, the second home game of the season in which Aaron Judge hit a homer and the Bronx Bombers won 8-4 against the Rays. So who's Dean's favorite player? You guessed it -- The Judge.

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Dean will be attending camp again this summer. "I would say it's a bargain, particularly for younger kids," Erskine said.

Robin Jossen's 11-year-old son, Max, will be attending his third Yankees camp in a couple months. "It's just a pleasurable experience. It's professionally run, it's a safe environment, all the instructors are amazing," Max's mother said.

What started out as just Max and another friend two years ago has grown into a larger group.

Credit: New York Yankees. All rights reserved.

"I've gotten pretty much all of his friends going," Jossen said. "So many of his friends are going because we talk about it."

Although it's hard to pick one favorite aspect, the trip to Yankee Stadium at the end of the week is the perfect way to cap off camp. Last year, Max got his picture taken with Aaron Hicks and tried on some World Series rings at the Stadium. He's hoping to meet his favorite player, Brett Gardner, this summer.

"[Signing up for the camp] is a no brainer. If your kid loves baseball and wants to play and learn, and then go get a treat at the end by going to Yankee Stadium; it's the best camp ever," Jossen said.

For any parent on the fence about the camp or for those still scrambling to come up with summer plans, the Yankees Summer Camp is the perfect option for that young baseball fan.

Sign up and Save

All Bronx Pinstripes readers can get 5% off tuition by using the redemption code BPFAN when you sign up before June 2nd.  For more information on Yankees Baseball Summer Camps presented by REFUEL with chocolate milk, go to www.yankees.com/camps.

Campers who are registered before June 1, 2017 will receive an offer code valid for two (2) complimentary tickets in select areas in the general, non-premium Main or Terrace level for select, non-premium 2017 Regular Season home games in May, June, July or August.