POULSBO — The old adage about lightning not striking the same spot twice doesn’t hold true in Poulsbo. Next week, this will be proved once again as Poulsbo Parks and Recreation’s 13th annual Thunderbolts Track and Field summer camp hits North Kitsap High School Stadium.

“It’s really a lot of fun,” said event organizer Alexis Karageorge. “This camp promotes positive relationships between children and fosters a joy and love for the outdoors. It’s promoting a healthy lifestyle.”

The camp will offer children between 6 and 14 years old instruction in sprinting events, distance running, relays, hurdles, long jump, shotput and javelin.

“Athletes will learn the proper techniques in each of the events they’re participating in. That will be the big focus,” Karageorge said. “Staff in charge will teach them how to do their particular events. They will learn good form.”

This year, Gary DeSanctis will take charge of the Thunderbolts camp, replacing Greg Chapman, who had run the event since 2000.

“Gary’s been a runner his entire life,” Karageorge said. “He’s been an assistant coach of track and cross country at Wolfle Elementary. He competed as a runner in college and has ran in marathons.”

Aside from knowledgeable coaches, the camp’s name also promotes the mission of the week-long training.

“When you think of a thunderbolt, you think of something fast,” Karageorge said. “This program focuses on speed. It’s a catchy name that’s pretty positive. It’s pretty creative.”

The camp has been helping local children “bolt” faster and farther for a decade and has proven to be extremely popular, she added.

“Its pretty unique. Parents have a desire to have their children involved in activities and there aren’t that many summer track and field programs offered in the area,” she said. “It’s affordable and it always draws a big crowd of kids. There isn’t anything out there like it.”

For more information, call Poulsbo Parks and Recreation at (360) 779-9898.