OUR STORY
Keely’s Camp was founded in 2011 as the first ski racing camp for girls in North America.
With an overwhelming positive response from our ski racing camps, we’ve now branched out into more outdoor camps for girls all over the world including backcountry skiing, ski mountaineering, and whitewater kayaking. Our camp provides the unique opportunity to be coached by not only the best females in the sports of skiing and kayaking, but also the best role models and mentors. As a staff of past Olympians, World Cup Racers, U.S. Ski Teamers, NCAA racers, big mountain skiing professionals, and world class instructors and guides, we recognize that outdoor sports have given us incredible opportunities and have shaped who we are today. At Keely’s Camp we are dedicated to sharing our wisdom, positive fun energy, knowledge and experience with the next generation of girls in skiing and outdoor sports.
a message from Keely
I grew up without having female coaches. The coaching industry, no matter what sport I was in, was dominated by males. According to the Women’s Sports Foundation,
“Women represent 43 percent of coaches of collegiate women’s sports, only 4.2-3.5 percent of coaches of men’s sports and 22 percent of athletic directors.”
And one of the reasons girls drop out of sports is because of the:
“Lack of positive role models. Today’s girls are bombarded with images of external beauty, not those of confident, strong female athletic role models. To some girls, fitting within the mold that they are constantly told to stay in is more important than standing out. Peer pressure can be hard for girls at any age; when that pressure isn’t offset with strong encouragement to participate in sports and healthy physical activity, the results may lead girls to drop out altogether.”
The year I retired from my World Cup ski racing career I went to Mt. Hood, Oregon and coached my first group of girls. The girls told me they, “loved relating to a female coach” and “Keely you should start your own camp!” I was among only a handful of female coaches on Mt. Hood that summer. I wanted to change that.
The following summer I hired an entirely female staff stacked with Olympians, U.S. Ski Teamers, and NCAA collegiate racers. Collectively we decided as a staff that we were going to give girls something we never had – strong, positive, experienced, female coaches.
It’s been nine years since Keely’s Camp began. We’ve coached thousands of girls from all over the world and those girls have come back to coach for us. We give girls a community of support for the rest of their lives.
Why? Because every girl deserves a female coach. This is our mission. Thank you for being a part of it.
Keely Kelleher
Founder & Director
“As a U18 race dad and an officer of our local club in NYS, have been exposed to many camps, with varied experiences. Tara recently attended one of Keely’s camps and the experience was above and beyond any other. The dynamic of an all girl’s staff and participants is extremely positive and supportive, and allows the girls to interact and engage with each other, and the coaches, differently, while very effective, compared to the standard mixed representation of coaches and athletes. Kudos and a shout-out to Keely and her staff for a smooth, very well run, competitive yet relaxed and caring environment that I am strongly recommending to girls that either may not yet have attended any camps, to those seasoned athletes, for an unforgettable and most important FUN and safe experience. Thanks Keely and team!”
JOHN SEIGLE
Parent
Ski. Climb. Kayak. Move Mountains.
OUR
SPONSORS
Keely’s Camp is comprised of an all-star female staff of Olympians, World Cup Skiers, and Guides who coach, mentor, and empower girls in skiing and outdoor sports. Keely’s Camp Coaches are proud to give girls what they didn’t have growing up – FEMALE COACHES!