Summer may be a quiet time of year for some school buildings, but not at Peace River High School.

Between upgrades and maintenance to their sports fields and grounds, a major washroom renovation, and a four-day volleyball camp, sponsored by Pallavolo Sports, the school building has continued to be a hub of activity during the summer months.

On August 6 to 9, youth from Grade 4 to 12 had the opportunity to learn from some of Canada's top volleyball coaches, including Sylvain Loiseau, former Sherbrooke University women's volleyball coach, former head coach for Volleyball Québec, among other accolades.

"Most of the level 2, level 3, coaches in Alberta, he actually taught them," explained Peace High Principal Wade Johnson.

Also coaching during the Week of August 6 to 9 was Lee Carter, former head coach of Brandon University's Bobcat Women's Volleyball Program. Lee also coached volleyball in Alberta at the previously named Grande Prairie Regional College (now Northwestern Polytechnic), and has experience working with provincial teams and with the Team Canada program.

"These guys are lifetime coaches," Johnson said. "Lee's approach is more play-based. They do drills but it's always active. It's always going and these kids go full-time. They rarely get breaks and there's a lot of interaction."

For four days youth from the Peace River area had the opportunity to learn the skills required to play a competitive game of volleyball through various play-based drills. On day one, the youngest group of participants, could not rally, Johnson recounted. This group of participants are too young for school or club volleyball, and would have only been exposed to the game through their PE classes at school. Despite this, and under the guidance of Carter and Loiseau, the youth in this group were rallying on day four, and playing sets that were both fun for the players and spectators to watch. 

Assisting Carter and Loiseau throughout the week, were PRHS graduates Emma Jeffs and Kate Johnson, as well as Natalie Rourke. Jeffs currently plays volleyball for Lakeland College, who are the national college champions. Kate Johnson is committed to Track and Field at the University of Lethbridge starting this fall and has played Division 1 U18 volleyball in Camrose. Rourke currently plays volleyball for Capilano University in Vancouver.

For Wade Johnson, hosting this annual volleyball camp at Peace River High School is an important part of providing opportunities to the youth of the region. In an effort to minimize costs to the players, and continue to offer high-caliber training, Johnson and his family open their home to the coaches to stay for the week, and spend most of the day at the school either participating in the camp as a player or assistant coach, or helping from the sidelines. 

"They will be back again next summer," Johnson reassured. "They are coming in here not only to build a program for our students, but also for the region."

Peace High hosts Volleyball Camp