Photo: Game On! Sports 4 Girls.

PARK CITY, Utah — Five years ago, Elyssa Brock saw a gap in Northern Utah’s youth sports landscape, especially for girls, and decided to fill it.

In 2021, Brock launched Game On! Sports 4 Girls Northern Utah is an all-girls, multi-sport program designed to introduce young athletes to sports in a supportive, confidence-building environment. This year, the organization celebrates its five-year anniversary, marking a milestone built on growth, resilience and a deep belief in the power of sports to shape girls far beyond the playing field.

“I always knew I wanted to use sports as a tool to help people,” Brock said. “Not just to win games, but to build confidence, resilience and self-belief.”

Brock’s path to Park City was anything but direct. Originally from New Hampshire, she studied in Vermont before spending six years working in professional sports, including roles with the NBA G League and the Philadelphia 76ers. While she loved the industry, she wanted something more personal and purpose-driven.

That clarity came while working in Chicago with the founder of Game On! Sports 4 Girls, Barb Lazarus, a national program started nearly 20 years ago. Brock spent four years helping the organization grow and develop a licensing model that enabled communities to launch their own chapters. When she looked west, Park City stood out.

“I saw a real need for an all-day sports camp just for girls—something less focused on competition and more focused on learning, confidence and fun,” she said. “I had always dreamed of living here.”

The first summer was anything but smooth. Staffing challenges meant Brock ran the first week of camp entirely on her own, with her parents later supporting her by driving across the country to keep things running. Despite the hurdles, interest from families was immediate.

“The girls showed up,” Brock said. “That told me everything I needed to know.”

Game On! Sports 4 Girls Northern Utah offers summer camps, after-school programs, birthday parties and Girl Scout badge workshops across Park City, Heber City and Kaysville. Summer camps remain the cornerstone, with weeklong sessions that introduce girls to more than 10 sports.

Core offerings include soccer, basketball, softball, volleyball, lacrosse and field hockey, alongside non-core activities like rugby, flag football, ultimate frisbee, yoga, martial arts, tennis and pickleball. Camps also include goal-setting workshops, team-building activities and creative outlets, reinforcing the idea that athletic development goes hand in hand with personal growth.

“We want girls to try everything,” Brock said. “Not to be perfect at it, but to discover what they enjoy and what makes them feel confident.”

That philosophy is especially important given national trends showing that girls drop out of sports at nearly twice the rate of boys by their early teens. Cost, lack of opportunity, negative coaching experiences and body-image concerns all play a role. The Game On! pledge reinforces the backbone of the program; it is said at the start of every camp day and the end of every after-school class, “I strive to be GirlStrong. Strong in Body! Strong in Mind! And Strong in Team!”

“Sports can become uncomfortable for girls right around the time their bodies start changing,” Brock said. “If they don’t feel supported, or don’t have the right equipment, they stop showing up.”

To help address that barrier, Game On! Sports 4 Girls Northern Utah plans to launch a sports bra donation initiative in 2026. The program will collect new and gently used sports bras to distribute to girls across Utah who may not otherwise have access, with the goal of helping them stay active and confident.

“It seems like a small thing, but it can be the difference between a girl continuing to play or walking away,” Brock said.

At camp, girls are encouraged to embrace mistakes, celebrate effort and learn how to win and lose with grace. There are no participation trophies—instead, campers set personal goals and earn ribbons by challenging themselves at the end of each week.

“We want this to be a safe place to mess up,” Brock said. “A place where girls learn they don’t have to be perfect to belong.”

That message resonates with families year after year. Some girls arrive with a group of friends; others come knowing no one at all. By the end of the week, most leave with new skills, stronger confidence and friendships formed on shared effort and encouragement.

Game On! Sports 4 Girls Northern Utah will offer summer camps in 2026 at the following locations:

Kaysville: Barnes Park
June 1–5, June 8–12, June 15–19, June 22–26

Heber City: Southfield Park
June 8–12 and June 15–19

Park City: Willow Creek Park
July 6–10, July 13–17, July 20–24, August 3–7
(Additional Park City dates to be confirmed)

Camps run Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Campers bring lunch, water and athletic shoes; all equipment is provided. Water games and special end-of-week activities help keep things cool and fun throughout the summer.

As Game On! Sports 4 Girls Northern Utah looks ahead to its next chapter, Brock remains focused on the same goal that inspired her five years ago: helping girls discover their strength—on the field and beyond it.

“Every girl belongs in sports,” she said. “Athlete or not, there’s a place for her here.”

For more information on programs, camps and registration, visit gameonsports4girls.com or follow Game On! Sports 4 Girls Northern Utah on social media.