November 8, 2011
NorthStar Soccer Club Closes Fall Season with Club-Wide Celebration
|
| Saturday, November 5 was the official close to the 2011 Fall season for NorthStar Soccer. The season was celebrated through the Club-wide party at Trussville Playstation for a private two-hour event. Kids from the U8 through U12 teams attended and enjoyed the morning roller skating, eating hot dogs and cupcakes and receiving their trophies and special awards that each of the coaches made for their players. We had over 75 soccer kids attend, and a total of over 130 kids with the siblings, cousins and friends who also came to support the players!
This was the second club-wide celebration for NorthStar Soccer. Last May, all soccer players gathered at the NorthStar House for a cookout and trophy celebration together, which fostered a great community feel that carried on into the Fall season. The Club has grown from 80-90 players in Spring 2011 to over 120 players in Fall 2011. Kids from all over the West Birmingham community - near and far - are joining to be a part of this quality soccer program that is the only one of its kind in this area of Birmingham. Check out NorthStar Soccer Club's four sponsors and their websites listed on the NorthStar SC home page to see the faces behind a segment of the support that the club has received this calendar year.
Visit our Facebook Page for pictures of this Fall Season's soccer games!
|
November 6, 2011
New ministry video!
|
| Please take a look at our new ministry video - "NorthStar Stories." Please share it with anyone you know who might be interested in the work we are doing together!
|
August 9, 2011
NorthStar Soccer Kicks Off the Fall with Preseason Camp
|
Monday through Thursday, August 1-4, marked the first annual NorthStar Soccer Preseason Camp. An average of 25-30 NorthStar Soccer players registered and attended soccer camp from 9am-12pm in the blazing August heat. Kids were divided into four groups by age and gender and were led through a week of skills refreshment and fun competitive games.
Among the coaches were Briarwood High School Varsity girls soccer players, led by Briarwood Soccer Club Director Ryan Leib. Ryan and Val have worked together in soccer ministry since Val took over as NorthStar Soccer Club Director, including a 10-day trip to Brazil with Ryan's Under 17 Briarwood Soccer Club Girls team.
NorthStar Preseason Camp players were not only reminded of the fun of NorthStar Soccer, but they were also taught the meaning of "the Lord as our Rock." Every child memorized Isaiah 26:4 "Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal." Daily devotionals were held during snack break where Val, Ryan and Tina Roberts, former Americorps staff member at NorthStar and current volunteer, taught the kids what it means to trust in the Lord and have a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Despite the intense heat, every child and volunteer had a great time at the camp! Thanks to Samford Soccer and the Center for Christian Mission, NorthStar Preseason Camp was able to offer the kids a "special treat" each day. From Samford Soccer water bottles and t-shirts to donated sun chips, granola bars and a final day of ice cream, the kids stayed cool and encouraged by the relationships that were strengthened and the experience that was had.
Check out pictures on our facebook page by Clicking here.
NorthStar Soccer will officially kick off Monday, August 22 with our first skills practice night! Games will begin the second weekend of September (9-11th).
|
June 5, 2011
Camp NorthStar 2011 Begins June 6!
|
| Camp NorthStar 2011 begins Monday, June 6! We have a great staff team, a fantastic group of kids and great parents. We are looking forward to a summer of fun, learning, and memories. Thanks to all the volunteer groups who will be providing Bible Camp each afternoon!
|
March 15, 2011
March Newsletter Released!
|
NorthStar Spring Programs and Soccer Club have kicked off in full-swing. Click Here to read the March Newsletter that was sent out in the mail last week!
If you'd like to be added to the NorthStar mailing list, email Paul Neville at pneville@northstaryouthministries.org with your name and address. We'd love to keep you updated through our quarterly mailings!
|
January 18, 2011
NorthStar Soccer Receives Grant from US Soccer Foundation
|
NorthStar Soccer Club is pleased to announce the receiving of the 2011 US Soccer Foundation Grant. Grant recipients were released on Monday, January 17 through the US Soccer Foundation Press Release. The Grant given to NorthStar Soccer Club is both cash and Eurosport credit. It will enable Val to attend the Urban Soccer Symposium in Washington, DC in April for the second year in a row, as well as cover program expenses for the 2011 Calendar year.
Read the US Soccer Foundation 2011 Grant Announcement Press Release for more information on the Grant, Foundation, and a complete list of Grant Recipients.
|
December 14, 2010
NorthStar Wraps Up 2010 with Annual Christmas Party and Semester Displays
|
NorthStar Youth Ministries had a another excellent Fall semester in afterschool programs, tutoring and NorthStar Soccer Club! News on the semester can be read in our November Newsletter (Click here to view the Newsletter). The semester was wrapped up with a fantastic Christmas party organized and hosted by University Ministries and freshman work study student, Kali Jones. Art awards were given, the semester-prepared dance was performed, and NorthStar participants and volunteers gathered to celebrate the season together.
NorthStar wishes all a very Merry Christmas! We eagerly anticipate a great 2011 ahead, with further developments in all of our program areas that will strengthen the quality and effectiveness of what we desire to accomplish. Spring Program Registration for both Afterschool Programs and NorthStar Soccer Club will be released and circulated during the second week of classes for the Spring 2011 Birmingham City Schools term.
Happy New Year!
|
September 17, 2010
NorthStar Soccer Fall 2010 Season Outlook
|
NorthStar Soccer Club began its first games of the season last weekend. U9 through U12 teams are competing in the MARS League for the second consecutive season, playing games against teams from all over the greater Birmingham area. Registration has matched that of last season and NorthStar Soccer Club is well-represented in the MARS League.
Team Breakdown:
30+ players in the Under 6 Age Division
Two boys teams and two girls teams in the Under 8 Vestavia Hills Rec League
- Boys Coaches: Samford Students Johnny Corey and Nick Tingle
- Girls Coaches: Samford Graduate Brit Griffin and BSC Student Anna Wilson
Under 9 Girls team
- Coaches: Former Samford Soccer Players Amber Cress and Cindy Spiker
Under 9 Boys team
- Coaches: BSC Students Brian Teed and Andrew Burdhardt
Under 10 Girls team
- Coaches: NorthStar Soccer DOC Val Kikkert and Briarwood Soccer Coach Tina Roberts
Under 11 Boys team
- Coaches: Adam Gerndt (third year as NorthStar Coach!) and UAB Grad Student Ben Roberts
Under 12 Girls team
- Coaches: BSC Student Matt Kelly and North Greenville Former Athlete and Graduate Whitney Smith
Teams practice two nights a week -- Skills night with the Samford Soccer Team on Monday nights and team practice Wednesday and Thursday nights.
For more information, ways to get involved, or opportunities for donations, contact Val Kikkert at valkikkert@gmail.com or 205-586-2959.
TEAM SCHEDULES
(All teams are in their age group's "Silver" bracket -- U11 Boys in the "U11/U12 Boys Open" and U12 Girls in the "U111/U12 Girls Open" Brackets)
|
August 18, 2010
NorthStar Soccer Set to Kick-off Monday, August 23
|
After a great summer of Camp NorthStar, Coach Val and NorthStar Soccer Club is ready to kick-off for her second season as Program Director. Last night was the parent information meeting, and there were a lot of new faces and kids being registered from all over the Birmingham area. While football remains a key competitor to soccer registrations each Fall, NorthStar SC is holding its own so far.
The Samford Soccer Team will be back to lead skills nights. The Division I athletes will each be assigned an age group to work with for the season in order to maximize both time and relationship opportunities for the NorthStar players and volunteers. The season's coaches are from all areas of Birmingham and walks of life, which will provide NorthStar SC participants the exposure to great leaders.
Practice for NorthStar SC begins Monday, August 23 at 5:30pm. We anticipate a great turnout in our first week of practices with registrations coming in daily. Coach Val is leading soccer clinics around inner city Birmingham this week in efforts to expose the kids in the area to the sport and hopefully recruit some players for this season or seasons to come! The game of soccer is growing all across the country and we hope to raise up some great soccer players in inner city Birmingham through NorthStar Soccer Club.
Season Details:
- U8 teams to participate in Vestavia Hills Soccer Club Rec League
- U9-U12Teams to participate in MARS League, DIII Rec Soccer (Val is League Administrator)
- Sunday, September 12 is NorthStar Soccer Day at the Samford Women's Soccer game against Tennessee Tech at 2pm.
|
August 18, 2010
Fall Programs Around the Corner
|
After a great six weeks of Camp NorthStar, Paul and Val have recovered and are excited to enter into a great Fall season of NorthStar programs. This Fall we will be offering music lessons, art, dance and tutoring, as well as NorthStar Soccer. Soccer begins Monday, August 23 with practices twice a week for each of the teams (games on the weekends) and the Fall programs begin in September.
Camp NorthStar pictures can be viewed on our Facebook page. We had one of our most successful and unified summers in program history with a great staff, quality curriculum provided by Birmingham-Southern College Education Department students and especially the use of the BSC campus. All of our activities, with the exception of lunch and the various weekly field trips, were held at BSC in the Harbert and Humanities buildings. This led to the feeling of camp unity for participants, staff and parents and also facilitated Bible Camp volunteers with their planning and activity leading.
Our quarerly newsletter with information about the summer will be posted and sent out soon! We are still in need of financial support for the summer. Click Here to donate now!
|
May 17, 2010
Spring Newsletter Sent Out
|
Our Spring Newsletter was sent to all addresses in our database. If you did not receive a newsletter in the mail and would like to be put on the mailing list, email Paul Neville with your name and address at pneville@northstaryouthministries.org.
Click Here to view this Spring's Newsletter!
We are in need of financial supporters for Camp NorthStar! Sponsor a camper TODAY - $100 for one week, $300 for 1/2 the summer and $600 for the entire summer.
Click Here to Sponsor a Camper
|
April 28, 2010
Successful Spring Gala
|
A special thanks to Bethany Gibson for leading the team to put on this year’s Spring Gala. The auction was full of items including some great vacations, two puppies, and a football autographed by Nick Saban! Thanks to all the businesses and individuals who contributed an item to the auction!
The event could not have gone better, with great food, amazing auction items, and wonderful friends to celebrate a year of NorthStar Youth Ministries in action. Paul and Val both spoke of their experiences with NorthStar and gave the challenge to the audience to jump on board with supporting campers for the summer. WJOX Radio Host Ryan Brown was the emcee for the evening and conducted the live auction portion of the evening. The highest bidding item went to Assitant Samford Soccer Coach Jay Yelton and his wife, Graham, who bid on the Watercolor vacation home.
Samford volunteers Sarah Kleban and Leah Duncan also helped create the Star Display where guests had the opportunity to purchase a star and help sponsor a camper for the summer. Stars were sold for $50 each, representing 1/2 week for one camper. NorthStar kids spent time the weeks before the Gala hand painting the stars to be sold. Flower center pieces were also sold for $100, representing one full week for one camper this summer.
The overall event raised $14,000 to be applied to Camp NorthStar.
If you missed the event, you have not missed the opportunity to sponsor a child at Camp NorthStar this summer.
$100 sponsors a camper for one week
$300 sponsors a camper for 1/2 the summer
$600 sponsors a camper for the entire summer
DONATE NOW!!!
Thanks to our Event Sponsors!
- A-1 Products
- ACCi
- Bobby & Cam Cowen
- Elegant Earth at the Arbor
Check out our website for a full list of those who contributed auction items!
|
April 5, 2010
Complete List of Gala Auction Items
|
The Gala is less than one week away and final preparations are being made for the event. We have some incredible items that you will not want to miss out on!
Here is a sneak peak of the complete list of items we will have: Gala Auction Items
Don't forget to reserve your ticket if you have not already. Tables of 10 can be purchased in advance for $315. Click here to buy your tickets now!
The evening will include: Three rounds of silent auction bidding, live auction bidding, a short presentation of Camp NorthStar and NorthStar Youth Ministries, great food catered by the B&A Warehouse and fellowship with friends and supporters from all over Birmingham.
Contact Bethany Gibson (bethanygib@gmail.com) with any questions regarding this weekend's event. See you there!
|
March 31, 2010
College Hills Neighborhood Association votes yes on beautification project!
|
| On Monday, March 29, the College Hills Neighborhood Association approved allocation of $20,000 for the Beautification & Entrepreneurship Project (see previous article for details). Next step is applying for a grant from the Kresge Foundation. Thanks to Samford student volunteer Jayme Clonninger for taking the lead on that effort. Grant submittal deadline is Monday, April 5. Paul & Jayme will be working hard this week to make the proposal the best it can be.
|
March 28, 2010
College Hills Beautification & Entrepreneurship Project
|
NorthStar Youth Ministries is working cooperatively with the College Hills Neighborhood Association and the Southern Environmental Center to develop a project that will combine landscaping improvements, public art and youth entrepreneurship. For more information on this exciting project check out the attached documents. College Hills neigbors, please be sure to come to the special meeting on this project on Monday, March 29 at 5:30pm at the Southern Environmental Center on the campus of Birmingham-Southern College.
College Hills Beautification Project Overview
College Hills Beautification - More Specifics
College Hills Beautification - Proposed Budget
|
|
Archives |
College_Hills_Beautification_Project_-_Brief_Overview.doc [28K]