One of a Kind: Kenny Lake Annual Baseball Camp

For the last 4 years, the Carlson family has been coaching Baseball in Kenny Lake for a weeklong program. Reed Carlson, former Kenny Lake school teacher from 1988 and KLS principal from 1995-2008, has made it a tradition to come back every year from Minnesota to coach his favorite sport to the next generation, which includes many grandchildren and tens of youths ages 5 and up. 

This has become a family affair with Reed’s sons & daughters joining to assist throughout the week, all of them former players back when their dad coached and brought to life the Kenny Lake Baseball League. Coach Reed was instrumental in creating the school baseball field and ran the High School baseball program from 2001-2005.

Kenny Lake resident Hannah Steck Caldentey (Carlson) shares: “My dad wanted to keep the love of baseball going. He takes pride in that field and worked so hard to get baseball going and so it’s his joy to keep it alive at Kenny Lake. My family loves working with the kids in the Kenny Lake area.” 

What truly sets aside this camp is the knowledge, love and respect Mr. Carlson has for this sport, but also the way he can convey to the group the countless life lessons and human qualities baseball has to offer to players. As a lifelong teacher, he knows how to get a large group's attention and keep it engaged in the learning process. Mr. Carlson says: “Baseball is such an American Sport, and I am proud of our country 250 years old this year. There is something special about baseball and the way it brings a community together.”

His passion and enthusiasm are contagious and make everyone want to play their best. During this camp, all ages & levels are welcome, which is unheard of: little kids stepping on the field for the first time are inspired by older ones, while big kids cheer on the youngest. The game is played ‘for fun,’ but Mr. Carlson teaches the official rules and often stops the game explaining what went well or wrong, making the kids quickly improve their knowledge of the sport. 

Lesli Hawkins, who just moved here out of state shared she had never experienced baseball quite like this: “Watching the game on the last day of camp was like stepping back in time. A bunch of kids of all ages playing the game for fun, cheering each other on, learning the game from a family that loves the game, sportsmanship, the list goes on.” 

A heartfelt thank you to Mr. Carlson for his dedication to teaching baseball in Kenny Lake this but also for his outstanding groundskeeper work with countless hours spent prior to practice each day (mowing, raking, leveling, watering and making lines). Thank you to assistant coach Paul Caldentey and Hannah Steck-Caldentey (Carlson); Mary Richard (Carlson); Isaiah Carlson; Samuel Carlson for assisting with practice. 

Thank you to KLS for the use of the field & baseball gear and to Jan Carlson (Reed’s wife), for babysitting the little ones and making sure all of the group stayed hydrated during the hottest week of the summer (so far this year). Thanks to all the parents that committed to bring their children daily to camp.