The Michael Koenen NFL All-Star Football Kids Camp is a free annual camp intended to help youth located in the Washington State counties of Whatcom, Skagit, and Island learn the fundamentals of football in a safe & healthy environment. The Foundation provides children in grades 3-8 the opportunity to learn more about football as well as facilitate an understanding of the importance of athletics, staying in school, and making positive life choices.
Michael Koenen is a football punter for the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL. Born July 13, 1982 in Ferndale, Washington, he attended Ferndale High School and played college football at Western Washington University.
The Michael Koenen Foundation was formed in 2010 as a means to give back to the community he thinks of as home through football. Prior to 2010, Michael had run the camp independently since 2008.
"Any time you have kids come out and they are having a good time and there is a smile on their face, then its worth it. I just want these kids to have a good time."
Our goal, through the vision of Michael Koenen, is to provide children of Whatcom county in grades 3-8 the opportunity to learn more about football as well as facilitate an understanding of the importance of athletics, staying in school, making positive life choices, and of course - to have fun!Another goal is to involve top NFL players as "counselors" of the camp, thereby increasing the appeal to local children and providing them with positive role models. It is crucial that our community's youth have a wealth of successful people they can look up to and be inspired by, and the success of this football camp will provide positive role models as well as an experience that they will never forget.
We hope that after experiencing this camp, the youth of Whatcom and surrounding counties will be motivated and inspired to achieve their hopes and dreams as well as strive for success in every area of their lives. We are dedicated to providing children an opportunity to realize their potential and encourage them to make their dreams a reality.
- June 5, 2010: 170 kids participated in this year’s event, held at Ferndale High. Michael Koenen, #9 Atlanta Falcons kicker and Ferndale graduate, lead the camp, with assistance from his NFL teammates Jerious Norwood #32 running back, Thomas Johnson #93 defensive tackle and Boone Stutz, a former Falcons snapper. Local resident and former Seattle Seahawk Probowler, Alex Bannister, was also out on the field with the Falcons, along with members of the Ferndale High School Football team.
