Camp returns for 2026
The Wayne County District Attorney’s Office announced that Bubba’s Basketball Camp will make its comeback in the summer of 2026, bringing together youngsters from grades three through six for a three‑day experience on July 7‑9 in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. The event is held in memory of Mike Birmelin, a beloved high school coach who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2023, and it aims to continue the tradition he started.
Founded originally by former Honesdale High School star Janine Edwards, the clinic combines basketball sessions, snack breaks and a commemorative t‑shirt for a $60 enrollment fee that covers meals, drinks and a keepsake shirt. Each morning the sessions kick off at nine o’clock and run until noon, offering a mix of fundamental drills and games designed to teach teamwork and character.
Local high school coaches and former Hornet players will serve as volunteer clinicians, providing mentorship that reflects the late coach’s infectious enthusiasm. The program thrived for nearly a decade before a brief pandemic hiatus, and last summer it attracted nearly 70 boys who benefited from the hands‑on instruction.
A coach’s lasting impact
Mike Birmelin, a Brooklyn native born on May 24, 1966, left a deep imprint on the region after a career that spanned decades of youth and high school basketball. Known for his encyclopedic knowledge of the game and his vibrant energy, he coached JV and varsity teams at Honesdale, blending technical instruction with lessons in sportsmanship and personal growth.
Though he succumbed to pancreatic cancer on July 15, 2023, his family and community leaders have turned his memory into a positive force, channeling support into the Michael C. Birmelin Youth Athlete Memorial Fund. Donations can be directed to The Dime Bank, 820 Church Street, Honesdale, PA 18431, ensuring the fund continues to assist aspiring athletes.