Wiley College will open the doors to its gymnasium for an athletics outreach later this month.

The event, which will run free of charge from July 6 to July 29 to children ages 6 to 13, was the brainchild of Wiley athletic director Andre Payne, who said he was looking for a way to reach youth that might not be able to afford to go to camps that cost money to attend.

"We're expecting a lot of the kids that we reach or that may come, they're parents can't afford to send them to $100 camps or $200 camps," Payne said. "And now all summer long, they have to play outside or find a gym, if it's open. What we want to do is open up our doors and say, 'Our home is your home.'"

Payne said many kids come to Alumni Gymnasium throughout the summer seeking a place to play basketball.

The coach said he wanted to think of a way to help these kids other than just allowing them to play on their own.

After discussing the idea with head women's basketball coach Janet Eaton, the coaches decided to incorporate a variety of sports into the outreach.

"I think it's such a great idea and a great initiative to volunteer and to give back," Eaton said. "We have a lot of kids that don't have a lot to do (in the summer). We definitely wanted to get it off the ground and move forward with it."

The camp will run for 15 days Monday through Thursday - except the first week, which will be Tuesday through Thursday - from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Any child aged 6 to 13 is invited to attend.

Mondays will consist of basketball and aerobics, Tuesdays will consist of volleyball and cheerleading, Wednesdays will consist of soccer and Thursdays will consist of flag football.

Additional sports to be determined are pending for Wednesdays and Thursdays.

"What we're really trying to do is reach the kids in the community," Payne said. "Give them an opportunity to not just play, but also learn the rules of the games and learn how to be competitive, yet still play with good character."

The variety of sports was an important factor for Eaton.

"Versatility is important," she said. "It's not just about basketball. It's about team sports, the concept of team, working together ... learning to work with someone else and learning to adjust. That's something they will learn in life."

The outreach will also include prayer before and after the camp each day.