Reflecting on a Virtual Summer at Nerd Street Gamers

September 21, 2020 – This summer had parents across the country in a tricky situation where they were left wondering how to keep their children occupied all week with the absence of other activities. With traditional in-person summer camps out of the question due to COVID-19, the need for virtual supplements was at an all time high. That’s where Nerd Street Gamers stepped in.

NSG provided weekly online camps for the top games in esports including VALORANT, Fortnite, and Overwatch all summer long. The camps included tournament play, macro and micro review, guest speakers, and one-on-one help with professional coaches.

“I found what I was looking for; people who take gaming seriously, respect and guide their passions in a positive way, and transfer that guidance to the kids,” Vanessa Pombo, mother of a Nerd Street Gamers camper, said. “My son was introduced to a college esports competition. For the first time he told me, ‘Mom, I think I want to go to college.’ I was thrilled! He had doubts about college and an Esports career. This summer, due to the camp, it changed everything!”

The exposure of esports in the higher education setting is only increasing, further proving the opportunities for youth in the industry for going pro or just having fun. Many parents experienced a similar reaction from their child in regards to college, including Cari Price whose son joined our camps this summer.

“I love how the classes were taught by intellectual college students – for the first time ever my son is talking about where he wants to go to college,” Cari said.

Along with helping for long-term goals like college and a career, the Nerd Street Gamers camps alleviated the current stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic. With quarantine orders in place, many children experienced loneliness with the inability to see or engage with friends.

“Nerd Street Gamers really saved the day in our house,” Cari said. “I had to talk my son into trying it. After the first day, it was as if someone turned his light back on. He had so much to talk about at the end of the day and he was excited to share everything with us. He started waking up early again and really had a passion for what each new day brought. Just like the rest of us, kids need a reason to wake up and get excited for the day. Nerd Street Gamers did that for my son.”

Aside from these summer sessions, we’re bringing the online gaming experience to life with other virtual events. This fall, Camp Localhost will provide online After-School Programming starting October 12. Check out all the games available here.

About Nerd Street Gamers
Nerd Street Gamers is a national network of esports facilities and events dedicated to powering competitive opportunities for gamers. The company promotes greater access to the esports industry, laying a national framework for esports talent development and high-quality gaming tournaments. NSG has received backing from Five Below, Comcast, SeventySix Capital, Elevate Ventures, and angel investor George Miller.

For more information, follow @nerdstgamers on Twitter or visit nerdstgamers.com.