The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation aims to bring that excitement into the lives of over 450 kids, ages 9 to 14, each summer at the Ripken Summer Camp.

Every summer, at-risk youth from some of the country's toughest neighborhoods travel to Aberdeen, Maryland, for an all-expenses-paid, weeklong summer camp experience that goes beyond building baseball skills. For most, it's the first time outside of their neighborhood, and their first experience on an airplane.

Each child gets to feel like a major leaguer for the week, equipped with brand new baseball gloves, backpacks, uniform pants and shirts. They meet kids from all over the country while learning the fundamentals of baseball and softball and building relationships with caring adult mentors. They also develop important life skills such as teamwork, communication and leadership through activities like rock climbing, ropes courses and swimming. Every day, the kids also learn from local law enforcement officers, U.S. Marshals, and the military in hands-on demonstrations that include K9 Unit presentations, a helicopter landing, and equipment and vehicle show-and-tell.

"Our youth had a remarkable experience and were able to see things from a different perspective," said a mentor from the New York program who came to camp last year. "On the ride home, some of the guys were actually talking about becoming law enforcement officers or military in the future. The fact that they were even having this conversation is a testament to you guys."

The lessons learned at Ripken Summer Camp are taken back to hard-hit neighborhoods where these young people continue being a positive force for change within their communities.

Learn more about Ripken Summer Camp by visiting www.ripkenfoundation.org/programs/summer-camp.

Photo courtesy of Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation.