Football stars in town for Kelowna clinic

The Kelowna Secondary School football field will be oozing with talent and leadership the next few days (June 19 -22) for Camp Make It Happen.

The non-profit initiative is run by former KSS student and Kelowna’s very own wide receiver with the Eastern Washington Eagles, Nolan Ulm.

Check out the video to see Nolan's key messages.

He, and some of the best talent in the NFL, CFL and Division One, are coaching and mentoring up and coming local players, and young coaches, who’ve turned up for an opportunity of lifetime.

“It’s a holistic approach, we want to develop you as a football player but also as a person,” Ulm told Kelowna10. “We’re going to challenge you on the field to make plays, to learn and grow; and off the field, to set some goals and get you on a path to the life you want to have and the person you want to become.”

Ulm graduated from KSS in 2020. He was the No. 1 ranked U18 wide receiver in Canada.

He is the current Division 1 receiver on the Eastern Washington Eagles Football Team.

Through various coaching clinics, training sessions, and mealtime conversations, the weekend promises everything from football schemes, position-specific techniques, and, most importantly, leadership training from some of the best in the business.

Ulm, a management student, is the first person from his family to attend college, which is based in Cheney, near Spokane. He had a challenging upbringing.

“ I was born to a single mother in Edmonton… my father was a good dude but in the wrong scene as a cocaine abuser,” he explained.

At the age of three he and his mom came to Kelowna and lived in low-income housing.

“We had suitcases for tables and my mom worked all day so we could have good food …and I got passionate about being the best I could and I found that through football.”

Make It Happen is no ordinary football camp. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that puts the players first, giving back to the community and creating lasting change. The coaches are committed to building a legacy of growth, development, and empowerment within the Canadian football community.

“Sport is the way to become the best version of yourself, “Ulm said. “A lot of kids don’t have a mentor so we’re going to provide that. These coaches are going to stay in contact, the players are given drill packets, and really, it’s a plan for growth. They can go live a life of their dreams.”

Learn more about Make It Happen here.