Penn State Stars Inspire the Next Generation at 5th Annual Nittany Lion Summer Impact Camp
By: Justin Bradley | SportzWire | July 12, 2026 | Photo courtesy Andrea Mecca
For the fifth straight year, the Nittany Lion Summer Impact Camp returned to Riverfront Sports, bringing together current Penn State football players, collegiate athletes, local coaches, and community organizations for one of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s premier youth football events.
The free camp welcomed boys and girls entering fifth through eighth grade for an afternoon focused on football fundamentals, teamwork, leadership, and mentorship in a fun, non-contact environment.
Participants spent the day rotating through position-specific instruction, flag football games, one-on-one competitions, and skill development stations before gathering for words of encouragement from the Penn State players and concluding the afternoon with a group photo and autograph session.
The annual event is made possible through the collaborative efforts of Lehigh Valley Health Network, part of Jefferson Health, Northeast Rehab, The Five Star Heart Project, Allied Services Foundation, MyCIL, Riverfront Sports, Financial Athletes, Century Dental Associates, Fidelity Bank, PNC, The Moses Law Group, and numerous community partners committed to creating opportunities for local youth.
This year’s Penn State group featured quarterback Rocco Becht, offensive lineman Cooper Cousins, defensive lineman Aidan Probst, tight ends Andrew Rappleyea, Finn Furmanek, Brian Kortovich, and Gabe Burkle, linebacker Evan Wolff, wide receiver Brett Eskildsen, running back James Peoples, and safety Vaboue Toure, all of whom spent the afternoon coaching, encouraging, and interacting with campers.
Among the many familiar faces on the field, Evan Wolff represented a story that perfectly reflects the mission of the camp.
The former North Pocono standout has volunteered at the Summer Impact Camp over the past two summers while still a high school player. This year, Wolff returned home wearing Penn State blue, working alongside his Nittany Lion teammates to teach the same local athletes he once stood beside as an aspiring collegiate player himself.
His journey serves as a reminder of what makes the Summer Impact Camp unique, not only does it bring elite collegiate athletes back to Northeastern Pennsylvania, but it also creates lasting connections between local youth and players who once walked the very same path.
That tradition has become a hallmark of the event.
Over the years, former Penn State standouts Dom DeLuca of Wyoming Area and Nick Dawkins of Parkland have also returned to volunteer at the camp, giving back to the community before both continued their football careers into the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens organization. Their continued involvement has helped establish a culture of service that today’s Penn State players proudly carry forward.
Saturday’s camp also featured former Wyoming Area standout Aaron Crossley, now a member of the Lehigh University football program. Crossley volunteered alongside the Penn State players and local coaches throughout the afternoon, providing instruction and encouragement to campers while reinforcing the camp’s emphasis on leadership both on and off the field.
While football instruction remained the centerpiece, the day’s greatest lessons extended well beyond the game itself.
Campers had the opportunity to interact with collegiate athletes who stressed the importance of discipline, accountability, teamwork, and perseverance, while also demonstrating what it means to remain connected to the communities that helped shape their journeys.
Each participant received a complimentary camp T-shirt and sports drink, adding to an already memorable experience for the hundreds of families who attended.
Five years after its inception, the Nittany Lion Summer Impact Camp continues to grow into far more than a football clinic. It has become an annual celebration of community, mentorship, and opportunity, bringing together healthcare providers, businesses, nonprofits, coaches, collegiate athletes, and volunteers with one shared purpose: investing in the next generation.
As campers left Riverfront Sports carrying footballs, autographs, and smiles, they also left with something much more valuable, the chance to learn from athletes who have proven that with dedication, hard work, and a commitment to giving back, the dream of playing at the next level is never out of reach.
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