For the 15th year in a row, Donna Brown-Wynn is coming home and going camping.

Brown-Wynn, a former Vicksburg High basketball player and Belmont University coach, will return to her hometown next week for the 15th edition of her “Play 2 Wynn” basketball camp at Vicksburg Junior High.

The camp will teach the fundamentals of the game to children ages 6-16, but also a lot more. Brown-Wynn includes regular pep talks and life lessons alongside the basketball.

“I give positive encouragement and reinforcement. I also like to teach about life, tell them to listen to their parents and their teachers. Basketball draws them in, of course, but I also talk about life,” Brown-Wynn said.

Brown-Wynn coached for 17 years on the college level at Mississippi State, Belmont and Tennessee State. She now lives in Antioch, Tennnessee, just outside of Nashville, where she conducts local basketball camps and coaches a high school team.

Every year, however, she said she carves out a week in June to return home for this particular camp.

“It’s my love for Vicksburg,” Brown-Wynn said. “My love for coming home. Being around the kids reminds me of me coming up. I want to give something back. If you can reach one of them, you’re doing your job. That’s how I feel about all my camps.”

The Play 2 Wynn basketball camp begins Monday at 9 a.m. at Vicksburg Junior High, and will continue through next Friday. The cost is $35 per day, or $100 per week, and registration will take place before the camp begins each day. Parents can also register their children ahead of time by emailing Brown-Wynn at dbrownwynn@gmail.com.

All campers will receive a T-shirt, and prizes will be given out for various skills competitions, but campers are encouraged to bring their own water bottle and basketball if desired. Around 40 children are expected to attend the camp each day.

“We should have enough basketballs for everyone, but if they want to bring their own they’re welcome to,”

Brown-Wynn said. “Other than that, come in ready to play and to learn.”
Each day is its own session, Brown-Wynn said, so campers that miss a day or two can still participate on one of the other days.

“I just want them in there. However many days they choose,” Brown-Wynn said.