Lehigh University Athletics
Kayla Burton Finds “Heaven on Earth” at Ron Burton Training Village
5/25/2017 10:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball, Student Athlete, Features
by: Tim Geer
Lehigh Sports Communications
For five weeks each summer in rural Hubbardston, Massachusetts, a group of campers wakes up every morning at 4:30 a.m. to embark on a seven mile run through wooded trails. It is here that women's basketball senior Kayla Burton calls her "heaven on Earth".
Since 1985, the Ron Burton Training Village has been has been a place where thousands of young lives have become developed and enriched through physical fitness, educational advancement and spiritual growth. The story and foundation of the camp, which is supported through many sponsors including the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots.
Burton, who graduated from Lehigh earlier this week with a bachelor's degree in journalism, has spent quite a bit of time at the camp over the years, performing many spontaneous roles including lifeguarding and leading Bible studies with her mom, preparing tables for meals and running basketball clinics. She has taken many of her skills/drills she has learned at Lehigh and is able to give back by teaching to the campers.
"I got into basketball because I've been playing against guys my whole life at this camp," Burton said. "Growing up at this camp, I would play against these guys one-on-one and now it's cool because I'm able to give back to them by running clinics and watching them play one-on-one."
The beginnings of the Ron Burton Training Village (RBTV), along with the man himself, have quite the backstory.
"Growing up, my grandad was terrible at sports," Kayla says of her grandfather, Ron Burton, Sr. "People literally nicknamed him 'nothing'."
Raised by his grandparents, Ron, Sr. developed a love for football, landing a spot on a team while he was in middle school, largely out of sympathy from the coaches and school administrators. After all of the team's running backs were injured in the final game of the season, Ron made his season debut, which earned him quite a few remarks from the many high school coaches in attendance.
"You know you're not very good…and you're not that fast," one of the high school coaches told Ron, commenting on his undersized stature and lack of athletic ability. Eager to do anything to make himself better and succeed in the sport, Ron listened and heeded the coach's advice.
Every morning at 4:30 a.m. before going to school, he carved out a seven-mile route near his Springfield, Ohio home and ran. This routine continued for over a decade, during which he worked on other aspects of his game and physique, which helped turn his entire life around. A young man who had grown up in poverty and been mocked and taunted for his athletic ineptitude, worked his way to being named a high school All-American and earn 47 college scholarship offers.
After listening to numerous offers, Ron eventually settled on Northwestern, passing over national powerhouses like Ohio State.
"They were furious," Kayla says of the family's reaction. "The whole town thought he was going to Ohio State. He was almost shocked at himself that he chose Northwestern, but did really well there."
So well in fact that he earned collegiate All-America honors and became the first ever draft choice of the Boston Patriots in the 1960 American Football League Draft.
"He was a big believer in his faith," Burton said. "Once he had retired, he wanted to give back to the community and all the people who had helped him along the way and pass along what God had given to him."
After acquiring 300 acres of land in a rural part of eastern Massachusetts, Ron, Sr. turned his vision into a reality. Today, the RBTV mentors hundreds of boys and girls each year between ages 11 and 17 in areas such as education, social skills, morals, and fitness. The camp is based on four pillars – Love, Peace, Patience and Humility.
During the five-week program, campers begin their day in full sweats at 4:30 a.m. with a seven mile run, just like Ron, Sr. once did.
"The camp is also spiritually based," Burton explains. "You don't have to be Christian to attend, but there are Bible verses staggered throughout the course. Some kids walk a lot of it, but they make sure that each of them finishes. You start to see the kids pushing each other and screaming and setting goals for themselves. It is the most inspiring and most beautiful kind of environment, and it's so uplifting. The people really try to uplift each other and they correct each other if anyone talks negatively. Because my grandad was in such a negative environment growing up, he never allowed that, and the camp doesn't allow it."
The rest of the day offers other competitions such as capture the flag, as well as choir.
"My grandad was a huge fan of choir growing up," Burton says. "It's fun because before we eat, we sing Gospel songs, and they love it. We make it competitive with whoever sings the loudest gets to eat first and things like that."
One of the camp's many volunteers is a former musically talented camper, who now returns to play the piano at night. The camp also has educational exercises such as SAT prep, and at night, there's even a Bible study.
"Some kids have never seen a Bible before, or may not want to be there, but they listen on what the lesson is about and they start to realize there is this loving a peaceful feeling that they have at the camp, and they want to take it home with them," Burton said. "And some of them have to go back to really rough areas, but the village is the one place where it doesn't matter where you come from. By the end of the camp, it's all tears because no one wants to leave."
Ron Burton, Sr. passed away in 2003, but the whole Burton family helps to carry on his legacy at the RBTV. Ron's children, including Kayla's father, Steve, run the camp along with numerous staff members and volunteers, which also include members of the U.S. Military and Naval Academies who intern as "huddle leaders". Kayla's mom, Ginni, a certified lifeguard and former swimmer at Northwestern, even gives all the camper's swimming lessons.
"A lot of the guys have never touched the water and are afraid to touch the water, but by the end of the camp they all know how to swim," Burton says. "It's taught me about taking risks, but also believing that you can do it and give each other confidence."
The Ron Burton Training Village has garnered support over the years from a host of high-profile sponsors. With all campers being equal and having to wear the exact same clothing, Reebok has donated shoes and clothing that everyone wears, and others donors step up and sponsor kids to attend the camp. Several colleges even evaluate campers, and then check in on them throughout the year and present them with a full scholarship.
"They don't have to give money or scholarships to these kids, but they do because they feel that's the type of kid they want to attend their school," Burton said.
"It is so expensive for a kid to attend on their own," Burton explained. "We have a huge fundraiser every year at Gillette Stadium that many former campers come back to each year, and they talk about what a life-changing experience it was for them and how they want everyone to have that opportunity. They talk about the positive impact it has and so many of the companies and people at the event say, 'This is the first time I'm hearing about it, but I can't leave here without sponsoring someone.'"
New England Patriots Devin McCourty and Matthew Slater, along with former Red Sox captain Jason Varitek have all supported the RBTV and made appearances at the camp.
"I'm excited to go back," Burton said of this summer's camp. "I've had to go back and forth the last couple years because I've been playing basketball in the summer and I've been at Lehigh. I just love being there. It is my heaven on Earth and a second home to me. I'm just blessed to have that place."
http://www.ronburtontrainingvillage.org
Lehigh Sports Communications
For five weeks each summer in rural Hubbardston, Massachusetts, a group of campers wakes up every morning at 4:30 a.m. to embark on a seven mile run through wooded trails. It is here that women's basketball senior Kayla Burton calls her "heaven on Earth".
Since 1985, the Ron Burton Training Village has been has been a place where thousands of young lives have become developed and enriched through physical fitness, educational advancement and spiritual growth. The story and foundation of the camp, which is supported through many sponsors including the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots.
Burton, who graduated from Lehigh earlier this week with a bachelor's degree in journalism, has spent quite a bit of time at the camp over the years, performing many spontaneous roles including lifeguarding and leading Bible studies with her mom, preparing tables for meals and running basketball clinics. She has taken many of her skills/drills she has learned at Lehigh and is able to give back by teaching to the campers.
"I got into basketball because I've been playing against guys my whole life at this camp," Burton said. "Growing up at this camp, I would play against these guys one-on-one and now it's cool because I'm able to give back to them by running clinics and watching them play one-on-one."
The beginnings of the Ron Burton Training Village (RBTV), along with the man himself, have quite the backstory.
"Growing up, my grandad was terrible at sports," Kayla says of her grandfather, Ron Burton, Sr. "People literally nicknamed him 'nothing'."
Raised by his grandparents, Ron, Sr. developed a love for football, landing a spot on a team while he was in middle school, largely out of sympathy from the coaches and school administrators. After all of the team's running backs were injured in the final game of the season, Ron made his season debut, which earned him quite a few remarks from the many high school coaches in attendance.
"You know you're not very good…and you're not that fast," one of the high school coaches told Ron, commenting on his undersized stature and lack of athletic ability. Eager to do anything to make himself better and succeed in the sport, Ron listened and heeded the coach's advice.
Every morning at 4:30 a.m. before going to school, he carved out a seven-mile route near his Springfield, Ohio home and ran. This routine continued for over a decade, during which he worked on other aspects of his game and physique, which helped turn his entire life around. A young man who had grown up in poverty and been mocked and taunted for his athletic ineptitude, worked his way to being named a high school All-American and earn 47 college scholarship offers.
After listening to numerous offers, Ron eventually settled on Northwestern, passing over national powerhouses like Ohio State.
"They were furious," Kayla says of the family's reaction. "The whole town thought he was going to Ohio State. He was almost shocked at himself that he chose Northwestern, but did really well there."
So well in fact that he earned collegiate All-America honors and became the first ever draft choice of the Boston Patriots in the 1960 American Football League Draft.
"He was a big believer in his faith," Burton said. "Once he had retired, he wanted to give back to the community and all the people who had helped him along the way and pass along what God had given to him."
After acquiring 300 acres of land in a rural part of eastern Massachusetts, Ron, Sr. turned his vision into a reality. Today, the RBTV mentors hundreds of boys and girls each year between ages 11 and 17 in areas such as education, social skills, morals, and fitness. The camp is based on four pillars – Love, Peace, Patience and Humility.
During the five-week program, campers begin their day in full sweats at 4:30 a.m. with a seven mile run, just like Ron, Sr. once did.
"The camp is also spiritually based," Burton explains. "You don't have to be Christian to attend, but there are Bible verses staggered throughout the course. Some kids walk a lot of it, but they make sure that each of them finishes. You start to see the kids pushing each other and screaming and setting goals for themselves. It is the most inspiring and most beautiful kind of environment, and it's so uplifting. The people really try to uplift each other and they correct each other if anyone talks negatively. Because my grandad was in such a negative environment growing up, he never allowed that, and the camp doesn't allow it."
The rest of the day offers other competitions such as capture the flag, as well as choir.
"My grandad was a huge fan of choir growing up," Burton says. "It's fun because before we eat, we sing Gospel songs, and they love it. We make it competitive with whoever sings the loudest gets to eat first and things like that."
One of the camp's many volunteers is a former musically talented camper, who now returns to play the piano at night. The camp also has educational exercises such as SAT prep, and at night, there's even a Bible study.
"Some kids have never seen a Bible before, or may not want to be there, but they listen on what the lesson is about and they start to realize there is this loving a peaceful feeling that they have at the camp, and they want to take it home with them," Burton said. "And some of them have to go back to really rough areas, but the village is the one place where it doesn't matter where you come from. By the end of the camp, it's all tears because no one wants to leave."
Ron Burton, Sr. passed away in 2003, but the whole Burton family helps to carry on his legacy at the RBTV. Ron's children, including Kayla's father, Steve, run the camp along with numerous staff members and volunteers, which also include members of the U.S. Military and Naval Academies who intern as "huddle leaders". Kayla's mom, Ginni, a certified lifeguard and former swimmer at Northwestern, even gives all the camper's swimming lessons.
"A lot of the guys have never touched the water and are afraid to touch the water, but by the end of the camp they all know how to swim," Burton says. "It's taught me about taking risks, but also believing that you can do it and give each other confidence."
The Ron Burton Training Village has garnered support over the years from a host of high-profile sponsors. With all campers being equal and having to wear the exact same clothing, Reebok has donated shoes and clothing that everyone wears, and others donors step up and sponsor kids to attend the camp. Several colleges even evaluate campers, and then check in on them throughout the year and present them with a full scholarship.
"They don't have to give money or scholarships to these kids, but they do because they feel that's the type of kid they want to attend their school," Burton said.
"It is so expensive for a kid to attend on their own," Burton explained. "We have a huge fundraiser every year at Gillette Stadium that many former campers come back to each year, and they talk about what a life-changing experience it was for them and how they want everyone to have that opportunity. They talk about the positive impact it has and so many of the companies and people at the event say, 'This is the first time I'm hearing about it, but I can't leave here without sponsoring someone.'"
New England Patriots Devin McCourty and Matthew Slater, along with former Red Sox captain Jason Varitek have all supported the RBTV and made appearances at the camp.
"I'm excited to go back," Burton said of this summer's camp. "I've had to go back and forth the last couple years because I've been playing basketball in the summer and I've been at Lehigh. I just love being there. It is my heaven on Earth and a second home to me. I'm just blessed to have that place."
http://www.ronburtontrainingvillage.org
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