Owsley County Schools announces Bitty League Basketball Skills Camp

Owsley County families will have a new place for young players to work on their game when the Bitty League Basketball Skills Camp comes to Owsley County High School on June 23 and 24. Hosted by Carla Boothe and On-Point Ballers, the camp is being positioned as a hands-on summer opportunity for children who need organized instruction, encouragement and a safe place to stay active while school is out.

The district said spots are limited and directed families to contact Travis Smith to reserve a place, a sign that interest could run high among younger athletes across the county. In a small rural district where parents often have fewer nearby recreation choices, a local camp at the high school reduces travel and keeps basketball development connected to the school system that many families already know.

That connection has been built over time through Bitty League itself. Owsley County Schools has described Bitty League as “the foundation for our basketball programs,” and earlier district posts show why. One recent practice drew 67 children in grades K-6, with students working on their game and having fun, while an earlier season included 74 students in grades K-6. The district has also held Bitty League sign-ups and practices at the elementary school gym, including sessions led by Lady Owls staff and players with separate time blocks for K-2 and grades 3-6.

This summer camp fits into a broader push by the district to keep students engaged beyond the classroom. Owsley County Schools is also running a Summer Learning Adventure for grades 6-12 with a Kentucky Kingdom reward trip tied to reading and math requirements, while sharing summer reading and math resources for grades K-5. The Owsley County Public Library is partnering with the district to provide internet access, device support, tutoring assistance and summer learning rewards, creating a wider network of support for children and families during the break.

The setting gives the camp added meaning. Owsley County High School sits in Booneville, the county seat, in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky inside the Daniel Boone National Forest. The district often points to the county’s sports identity and to hometown achievers like Baseball Hall of Famer Earle Combs, and that history helps explain why a youth basketball camp carries weight here. For Owsley County, the value of a camp like this is not only the drills and footwork. It is the chance to keep kids connected, coached and ready for the next level.