Young soccer enthusiasts will have not one, but two opportunities this summer to hone their soccer skills for next season, at two professionally coached soccer camps hosted by the Telluride Youth Soccer Club.

The NCAA Division II National Champion men's soccer team from Fort Lewis College in Durango will share their expertise with local soccer stars during the first summer camp, June 26-30, led by head coach Jeremy Gunn and several members of last year's team. Marley Wilson, from the internationally renowned United Soccer Camps program, returns for the second year in a row with his leading line-up of professional coaches for the summer's second camp, July 31-Aug. 4.

"Having two outside groups coach summer camps is something new for us," says Telluride Youth Soccer Club director Adam VanDerven. The Fort Lewis Camp in June should prove to be exciting for young local players, he says, since the Durango-based team currently stands at the top of NCAA Division II rankings.

"That's a very impressive achievement for a small school – and it's right in our backyard, so this will be a great opportunity to bring the Fort Lewis coaching staff and players up here," VanDerven says.

The August camp will witness the return of the popular international coaching staff from United Soccer Camps.

"Last year's camp with the United coaches was such a success, mainly because these local kids got psyched about being out on the field with coaches from the U.K. who know so much about the game," says VanDerven. "The kids will be really excited to see the same coaches coming back, and we're looking forward to bringing some consistency to the summer camp program."

The camps are designed to get kids out on the soccer pitch and have some fun.

"It's not about constant drills or a lot of sprinting," VanDerven says, "but more about playing games, working on teamwork and interacting with coaches to learn a lot of new ideas. If a kid is really into soccer, these camps will be a lot of fun. And even for the kid who's only a little into soccer, we've designed the camp so that it will be fun for them, too."

The early registration deadline for both camps is this Monday, May 1; after that, the price increases from $140 to $165. VanDerven adds that early registration is much appreciated.

For more information on the camps visit www.telluridesoccer.com or call VanDerven at 729-1913.