A Summer Tradition Rekindled
The camp, held at Flivver Field in Kingsford, Michigan, runs for two days with sessions from 1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday and from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday. It welcomes any high school football player eager to sharpen offensive and defensive fundamentals.
Veteran coach Tom Wender, who revived the camp about a decade ago, directs the instruction, emphasizing personal interaction between players and coaches. Wender believes the hands‑on environment helps athletes showcase their abilities to college recruiters.
Around fifteen college coaches from institutions such as Michigan Technological University, Northern Michigan University and St. Norbert College are on hand to observe and mentor participants. Their presence adds a layer of evaluation that many players find invaluable.
Since the camp’s revival, at least 60 participants have earned football or academic scholarships, and the organizers attribute this success to the focused skill work and the chance for coaches to assess players in person. Groups are formed by experience level to ensure appropriate instruction.
Youth coaches are encouraged to attend and watch the sessions, further spreading the camp’s reputation across the Upper Peninsula and northeast Wisconsin, where it draws roughly 100 participants each year.
Registration is handled through the Kingsford Flivver Football Facebook page or by contacting Tom Wender directly. Participants must bring their own helmet and shoes, with quarterbacks required to supply a football. The fee is $100, payable to Tom Wender Football Camp.