When Andres Rivera announced a summer basketball camp at Watertown’s Eastbrook Apartments, the response was immediate. Local businesses, high school teachers and dozens of families pledged support, eager to see the kids not only improve their game but also learn the value of teamwork and study habits.
A Celebration Turns to Service
Eight sponsors, including the popular Lakeside Eatery, stepped forward to fund a send‑off party that would mark the camp’s final day. The event was meant to be a festive showcase of the campers’ progress, a chance for the community to celebrate together.
Liability Concerns Halt Practices
However, the Watertown Housing Authority raised a liability flag, ordering the camp to pause its on‑site activities. The sudden directive left Rivera and his volunteers scrambling to adjust their plans while still honoring the commitments already made to the participants and sponsors.
Rather than cancel outright, Rivera decided to transform the gathering into a community cleanup. On Sunday, instead of shooting hoops, the campers will don plastic gloves and collect garbage bags throughout the neighborhood, turning the space they had been using into a cleaner, safer environment for everyone.
Academics Remain at the Core
The pivot to service does not dilute the camp’s educational mission. Rivera continues to weave academic enrichment into every activity, ensuring that the young athletes understand that skill development on the court is inseparable from growth in the classroom.
Looking ahead, Rivera plans to maintain collaborations with local businesses and role models, using the cleanup as a springboard for a pre‑school‑year celebration that will blend gratitude for the community’s support with a renewed focus on student‑athlete development.