Our Daily Show! Interview: Elite FT Summer Camp
GLEN CARBON – Elite FT is offering a new summer camp — and a flash sale — to provide a fun experience for kids.
For 12 weeks this summer, campers can enjoy crafts, games, outdoor time and more at The Sports Academy in Glen Carbon. There are rates for single days and single weeks, or campers can enjoy the full summer with Elite FT. Until Monday, May 11, 2026, you can pay full price for one camp and receive 50% off another.
“We are, for the first time ever, offering a summer camp that’s not soccer-specific. We’ve been in business a long time and we’ve always run soccer camps all summer,” explained Elite FT owner Justin McMillian. “We’re excited about it and just wanted to let everyone know.”
While soccer is Elite FT’s specialty, this summer camp includes a variety of sports and activities. The goal, said McMillian and camp director Joe Aiello, is to give kids a fun place to spend their summer. Kids must be at least 5 and younger than 14.
The camp runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every weekday, starting on May 26 and running through Aug. 13, 2026. It costs $225 per week, and you can receive a 10% discount for each additional sibling. You can also sign up your child for one day at $65 per day.
Elite FT will offer early drop-off and late pickup options. Starting at 7 a.m., you can drop your child off early or pick them up by 6 p.m. and trust they are being supervised and having fun in those extra hours.
For a full list of prices, click here. McMillian emphasized that the flash sale is a great opportunity to save money while providing your kids with a fun summer experience. Only 25 campers will be able to take advantage of this deal through Monday, May 11.
There will be themes every week and corresponding activities. From “Artistic Week,” which features plenty of crafts, to “Olympics Week” with Olympics-themed games, Aiello looks forward to trying new experiences with the kids.
Every coach, including Aiello, is a teacher or aspiring teacher and eager to engage with the campers. Julia Pecher will serve as the morning director. She holds a master’s degree in elementary education and teaches fourth grade locally. Aiello, who serves as the afternoon director, is studying elementary education and coaches camps through Elite FT. Chris Pearson, the supporting director, has worked as an elementary teacher and a director for Elite FT camps and classes.
They look forward to guiding and mentoring the kids throughout the summer. It’s important to all three and McMillian to provide a safe, educational, energized environment for the campers.
But McMillian and Aiello emphasized that the goal is to simply enjoy the camp and bring the kids together. They hope everyone has fun, makes friends, and connects with the experience.
“People are making friends, basically, meeting new people throughout the summer, which is one of our main goals with the School’s Out Fun Camp,” Aiello said. “I think we all have a really good grasp on combining all of these things to create the best safe environment where kids can have fun but also learn and make friends and do all that, too.”
To learn more about the School’s Out Fun Camp, including how to take advantage of the flash sale, click here. For more information about Elite FT, visit their official website.
