GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A local esports company is holding camps in Grand Rapids this summer to help support the rapid growth of the sport.

Jump Ahead Play Fuel summer camp will be held every Friday and Saturday from June 20 to Aug. 1 at Burton Middle School. The camp is free to all kids 10 and up in Kent County. 

“I’m very excited for the culture of esports that we’re building,” said Dee Jones, the chief energy officer at Jump Ahead L3C, the company hosting the camp.

He said that kids will get educated on digital finances; ‘shoutcasting’ commentary; cryptocurrency; name, image and likeness rights and more.

“I truly want them to know that people care,” Jones said of what he hopes kids get out of the camp. “People care about their education, people care about their goals, their dreams, the things that they look to achieve to get out of poverty, to change their lives, to break those barriers. To show their parents that you can actually get paid from gaming, have a career and potentially earn six or seven figures.” 

Universities around the country are putting more resources into building esports programs, leading to the formation of competitive teams, new facilities and even scholarships.

Josiah Dunning played on Ottawa Hills High School’s esports team. It earned him a scholarship to Davenport University. 

“It was an athletic scholarship, which confused me when I saw it the first time,” Dunning said.

Dunning is a part of a growing number of students who are using their talent for video games to help play for college. In Michigan alone, several schools now offer partial esports scholarships, including Michigan State, Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan. 

“We’re actually increasing opportunities and kids around our community are directly benefiting from this,” Jones said.