camps for boys and girls of all
ages, and, along with basket-
ball instruction, conduct a life
skills program for these disad-
vantaged children emphasiz-
ing citizenship, education, and
self-discipline. The initial camp
had only 75-80 boys and girls in
attendance, but it was obvious to
Coach Nichols that they were on
Basketball Smiles was birthed in the the right track.
After that first year, Coach Nich-
spring of 1999 when Coach Sam
Nichols from McMurry University ols developed the motto of Bas-
and Coach Patty Johnson from the ketball Smiles: “We bring a week
Commonwealth of the Bahamas met of smiles and hope through bas-
in San Jose California at the Wom- ketball.”
en’s Basketball Coaches Association
Convention. A mutual love for bas-
ketball and children between these
two coaches led to the first Basket-
ball Smiles basketball camps in June
1999.
The vision of Basketball Smiles was
born: to conduct free basketball
Over the years, Basketball Smiles
has grown to where over 300 chil-
dren are annually served through
the project. Since 1997, over 10,000
children have been served through
Basketball Smiles.
These basketball camps are free, and
open to children of all ages. The
camps are held on outdoor courts in
neighborhood areas. These neigh-
borhood areas are very poor, and
many of these children would not
be able to attend any basketball
camp if a fee were charged.
In addition to basketball instruc-
tion, the camps present a Life Skills
program that emphasizes citizen-
ship, education, and self-discipline.
In 2011, Basketball Smiles began
to provide academic materials to
teachers and school administrators
of schools in these disadvantaged
neighborhoods to facilitate specific
academic tutorial programs to assist
students.
In 2014, as part of the Basketball
Smiles emphasis on academic ex-
cellence, Basketball Smiles began to
provide school backpacks for every
camper in an effort to encourage
better homework efficiency.
Coach Patty Johnson from H.O.
Nash Jr. High School continues to
be the Bahamian Coordinator for
Basketball Smiles. Coach Johnson
not only coordinates the basketball
camps, but works with Bahamian
school officials to where Coach Nich-
ols and his staff conduct in-service
training for elementary and high
school physical education teachers,
and Coach Nichols regularly speaks
at several school assemblies during
his trips.
During camp each camper is fed a
nutritious meal daily and ice and
water is provide the campers to keep
them hydrated during the tropical
heat.
We now average 12-14 coaches from
the U.S. who volunteer their time and
raise their own expenses to comprise
the staff during Basketball Smiles
Camp. We have grown to where Bas-
ketball Smiles may very well be the
largest free Basketball Camp in the
entire Caribbean!