By Ryan T. Scott Updated 8/25/2008 6:09:50 PM

The Bible says to seek understanding above all else. To me, understanding comes through the ability to apply logic and wisdom to life's landscape. Sometimes the logic and wisdom is overshadowed by the necessity of pure faith.

A lot of faith can be put into the growing basketball/education camp by the name of Protect the E.D.G.E. That faith, in this case, is because of the logic and wisdom that the program teaches the youth enrolled in the program. In a day and age when classic common sense principles for success are defeated by the millions of daily distractions provided through television, technology, and bling, Protect the E.D.G.E. drives home the exact messages that will lead children to success in sports and life. A little extra buy-in for the children comes through the fact that owner, founder, and coach, Quadree Drakeford, was a starting player for a High School team that USA Today considers one of the greatest high school teams of all-time; I suppose it didn't hurt that NBA superstar Tracy McGrady was on that team, too.

Here is the meaning and logic of this program: E.D.G.E. stands for Excel, Dreams, Goals, and Education. Within the definition of Excel is the statement 'to be, or do something to a greater degree'. One thing that has been lost by today's youth is the focus on being excellent, especially with the little things. For this reason the Protect the E.D.G.E. educational curriculum focuses on the player's mental approach to the game. Greatness comes through consistent goodness, and this training program drills home the focus and fundamentals that lead to consistent goodness, and thus greatness.

Dreams: Within the definition for dreams it suggests 'images, ideas, emotions, and achievements that are longed for an aspiration'. Dreams drive the excellence. When a young person hits that rough patch in their training and wonders, 'Why am I doing this?' all they need to do is refer back to that image, idea, and emotion that they so deeply yearn for.

Protect the E.D.G.E. uses the most powerful tools available to man in order to make dreams seem like reality. The tools used are called examples. The reason that historical leaders have been assassinated is because they provide too powerful of an example to others. These great examples fan the flames of even greater dreams, or aspirations. It's simple, the reason that mankind grows in its capacities is because a child sees an example and dreams of matching, or improving, on that example; Just ask Kobe Bryant or Olympian Michael Phelps. Actually one can simply ask camp speakers Sade Houston of the WNBA Minnesota Lynx, or Vice President of U.S. Bank Kevin Wright. Drakeford said, "We aim to identify what a young person really wants to be. We want every child to leave with a strong knowledge and clarity of that dream."

Goals provide a person with the understanding that they are making progress towards their dream. Goals are more important now than ever. The desire for immediate gratification kills millions of dreams daily, and immediate gratification is at an all-time high since everything is accessible in drive-thru fashion. It is difficult to make our youth understand this since these conveniences have been available to them for most of their lives. This makes these concentrated programs all the more important to back-up what is being taught at home…hopefully

Photos by: Raechelle Drakeford for Butterfly Springs Photography Minnesota Lynx Charde Houston speaks at the Protect the E.D.G.E camp

One of the many sayings that the program preaches is that to be successful someone has to be 'a winner rather than a whiner'. Goals allow the participants to experience consistent winning. Consistent winning builds self-esteem, and building self-esteem is another goal of this camp.

The final piece of the E.D.G.E. is Education. The camp teaches young basketball players to 'play from the neck up'. This principle crosses over to school education. The alert, disciplined nature necessary for true success on the court is also a foundation for success in the classroom. As Drakeford would say, "Leaders are readers." To drive the commitment to education home, Protect the E.D.G.E. also provides an after-school program by the name of Butterfly Springs. This program tutors children in math, science, and english.

So where does the 'protect' part come in? When we are infants, toddlers, or grade school aged youth, it is the duty of our many guardians to protect us physically, as well as to protect our ability to believe in our great possibilities. We need someone to clap after we eat all of our peas and carrots. This protects our self-esteem, and sense of self-worth. As we grow, a transition must take place, to where we must protect our own dreams, self-esteem, and sense of self-worth. Unfortunately, there is always someone around with nothing better to do than to try and tear another person down; the young folks call them "haters." The Protect the E.D.G.E. program teaches kids to 'use haters as motivators'. As someone told me once, "If someone is hating, then you must be doing something right."

The Protect the E.D.G.E. program is only about $125 rather than the $500 or $1200 that this type of power packed camp costs all too often. The fact that they provide meals, snacks, and big-time speakers makes it an "offer you can't refuse." In the mean time, how about we cross our fingers and pass this article out to the 'where's ya mama' kids on the street corner at 11 p.m. Tell them that "leaders are readers" and people standing on street corners without bean pies will have to settle for 'two hots and a cot'. Hopefully they ask you what that means.

For more information see protecttheedgenow.com, butterflysprings.org, or call (612) 327-8505 and ask for Raechelle. Also look out for their Fall Sponsorship Banquet.

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