Rhode Island Olympian to Lead Two Emerge Youth Life Skills Summer Camp Sessions This August

Beisel with a young swimmer. Courtesy of Emerge Camps

Who better to help teach Ocean State kids life skills both in the water and on land than a bona fide Olympian slash former “Survivor” contestant and a sunscreen maker slash lifeguard captain? Rhode Island’s two-time Olympic medalist Elizabeth Beisel has teamed up with Raw Elements USA founder, Brian Guadagno, to create Emerge Youth Life Skills Camps, a five-day immersive summer camp for ages ten to fourteen.

In partnership with City of Warwick and Save the Bay, Beisel and Guadagno aim to provide unique educational experiences for participants and encourage them to disconnect digitally. The curated programming will include safety training experiences such as CPR, First Aid and drowning prevention, as well as exercises in self-confidence, team building, yoga, meditation, overall wellness and re-wilding in nature.

There are two opportunities for those interested to join in on the fun: the first session will take place Monday, August 7, through Friday, August 11, followed by a second session starting Monday, August 14, and ending Friday, August 18. The camps run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day they are in session. Though the camps will be based in Warwick, the exact locations will vary between McDermott Pool, the Event Factory and Rocky Point State Park throughout the week depending on each day’s agenda. For example, the Re-Wilding Day will be held at Rocky Point and will include an Indigenous People’s experience led by the Narragansett Indian Tribe, along with environmental experiences led by Save the Bay and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s educational program. The price for the week-long camp is $499 with meals included. Interested parents can register at emergecamps.com.

“I am excited to welcome Emerge Youth Camps to our great city. As a father and grandfather, I know firsthand just how valuable camps are to our children as they navigate their way through their early years,” says Mayor of Warwick, Frank Picozzi. “The fact we can showcase areas of Warwick this summer is a win-win, and we can’t wait for Emerge Youth Camps to be a staple in our city and the state of Rhode Island for years to come.”

Beisel with two students. Courtesy of Emerge Camps

Beisel, an advocate for swimming as a life-saving skill who has conducted more than 500 swimming clinics nationwide with children of all abilities, is equally excited for the opportunity to work with youth in her home state.

“The concept of Emerge Camps is something, I know, I would have dreamt of attending as a child growing up in Rhode Island,” she says. “Now, that dream is a reality for today’s youth thanks to the incredible team we have assembled at Emerge. I am beyond excited to introduce campers to lifesaving skills in and around the water, tools to strengthen their mind body connection, and the courage to have confidence in themselves.”

Guadagno, Emerge’s co-founder, also brings a lot to the table thanks to his storied experience in entrepreneurship, youth mentorship and team building. Plus, as the head of sunscreen brand RAW Elements USA, the founder of the Rhode Island Public Sunscreen Program and being a Narragansett Beach Lifeguard Captain, it’s safe to say he is committed to health and safety in recreation.

“This is such a beautiful initiative to support, empower and inspire our youth through educators and teams who have so much passion to share positivity and knowledge,” says Guadagno. “We cannot be more grateful to our coalition of partners, Mayor Piccozzi and the City of Warwick, the Rhode Island State Parks/DEM, the Event Factory, Save the Bay, the Narragansett Indian Tribe and University Orthopedics for bringing these experiences to life for our young campers.”

And Beisel and Guadagno aren’t alone — they have assembled a team of passionate teachers and experts dedicated to inspiring young people to unlock their full potential. Emerge’s Program Director, Mark Kiely, is an experienced coach who has worked with both youth and collegiate swimmers and who always focuses on bringing team building life skills to his athletes. Program Producer Hugo Adams is a youth performing arts specialist and the co-founder the Talent Factory where he encourages and inspires his students to flourish as both artists and young adults. Together, Coach Kiely and Adames have curated lessons and tools for campers to become confident, self-aware leaders while cultivating their understanding of how to become world-class citizens.

“A summer camp is an immersive outdoor experience that develops children’s and teens’ skills, promotes independence, helps campers learn about teamwork and problem-solving, improves creativity, instills confidence, encourages new friendships, and maybe as much as anything else, disconnects our kids from their screens and connects them with nature,” says RIDEM Director Terry Gray. “For these reasons, our agency is proud to support Emerge Youth Life Skills Camps and welcome campers to beautiful Rocky Point State Park in August.”

To learn more about the Emerge Youth Life Skills Camps and learn how to register, visit emergecamps.com.