Highland community youth camp offers free multi-sport summer option
Highland High School is opening a free weeklong sports camp for local kids, with meals included and paid spots for other families.
Families in Bernalillo County will have a low-cost summer option at Highland High School, where a five-day multi-sport camp is set to give younger children a chance to sample several games without the price of a private program. The camp runs June 29 through July 3 at the Highland High School gym in Albuquerque, with daily hours from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The camp is open to children entering kindergarten through sixth grade. Students from the Highland community and feeder school districts can attend free, while other students can register for $120. Breakfast, lunch and a camp T-shirt are included, a detail that matters for families trying to stretch summer budgets and keep kids in a supervised setting during the workday.
Built in conjunction with the Highland Alumni Association, the program is described in camp materials as teaching “the basics and beyond” across football, basketball, tennis, golf, track and field, soccer, powerlifting, wrestling, cheer and volleyball. That multi-sport format gives children room to try activities they may not have access to elsewhere, especially in households that cannot cover the cost of multiple leagues, uniforms and travel.
Coach Philip Lovato Jr. has tied the camp’s value to both access and leadership. He has said the camp helps because many sports are financially out of reach for local families, and because it gives high school students a chance to coach and guide younger children. Bernalillo County has echoed that theme on its website, describing the effort as a way to break financial barriers and build community leaders.
The camp has also grown into a larger summertime fixture. In 2025, reporting showed more than 200 children participating, with 10 sports taught by high school coaches and student-athletes. Lovato said then that he hoped to reach 300 kids and eventually make the camp 100% free. A 2024 report said the program offered nine sports and ended with an awards ceremony that brought in community members and recognized athletes.
Materials tied to this year’s camp also note that scholarships are available for some non-Highland participants. That extra support widens access beyond the immediate school zone, while still keeping the focus on local children and the families who need a break from rising summer costs.
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