Basketball and Bibles: FCA Power Camp returns to Bureau Valley – Shaw Local

The first day of the 2026 FCA Power Basketball Camp opened Monday at Bureau Valley High School with 63 eager campers from around the area on hand.

The camp features instruction on basketball with daily Bible devotions.

The camp is led by FCA 3 Rivers Area Director Adam Hofer, Hall of Fame coach Thom Sigel (Rock Island/Rock Falls), Erie-Prophetstown coach Ryan Winckler, Princeton coach Tim Smith, Bureau Valley coaches Brent Jamison, Jeremy House and Craig Johnson (retired) along with the help of area high school/recent grads serving as counselors.

Emily Wright, a recent Bureau Valley grad and basketball player who was heavily involved in the BV FCA Huddle, returned for her second year helping at the Power Camp. She said it’s an important step in not only the campers’ faith journey, but also her own.

“Being apart of FCA has always been a huge apart of my faith journey, but recently going to FCA camp it really has changed my journey and I feel like I’ve taken a huge step in my faith,” she said. “It’s so important for me to be there, being able to spread the truth. Encouraging the younger generation is something I find so much joy in. It’s so important to me to make sure they know that they are not alone, Jesus is always there, and that God loves us so much.

“All these kids deserve to feel the love of Jesus Christ, and I’m so blessed to be able to help them grasp that. Also just being around these kids and being able to mix in basketball is something much fun, the energy is great and there are so many smiles and laughs from them, I love it so much.”

Wright said the Power Camp has made her more bolder with her faith.

“I did help a lot with BV, but I was never really into reading lessons aloud in front of our huddle. That is something I do regret not doing,” she said. “I wish I would’ve had that confidence to speak in front of groups like that and be vulnerable. Recently I have been growing more confident in that aspect, which is why I think I’ve been looking forward to this camp so much this year.”

Hall of Fame coach Thom Sigel huddles with camp counselors on Monday’s first day of the FCA Power Basketball Camp at Bureau Valley. (Kevin Hieronymus)