July 25, 2013

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The University of Notre Dame announced today that the football team will open its 2013 training camp on Monday, Aug. 5 in Marion, Ind., at the Shiloh Park Retreat and Conference Center. The Irish will go through their acclimatization portion of training camp. Notre Dame will ultimately conduct four practices on site before transitioning to its customary LaBar Football Practice Fields on Friday, Aug. 9.

“I’m excited to take our football team to a facility like Shiloh Park,” said fourth-year head coach Brian Kelly. “Training camp is vital in terms of developing team unity, character, camaraderie and ultimately a focused and specific identity for the upcoming season. We instituted a similar type off-site program for training camp at the University of Cincinnati and it played a huge role in the success of our team.

“I can’t say enough about the people at Shiloh, especially Dan and Karen Heincker. They’ve really gone above and beyond to make this a tremendous experience for our players. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t recognize our program’s incredible support staff. This was no simple task to pull off logistically, yet thanks to the hard work of everyone on our staff, especially Beth Rex (operations), Dan Brazo (facilities), Jason Michelson (operations), Rob Hunt (sports medicine), Ryan Grooms (equipment), Tim Collins (video) and Paul Longo (strength and conditioning).”

“Coach Kelly believes in the importance of team building and honestly a camp setting accomplishes it perfectly,” said Dan Heincker, director of Shiloh Park Retreat and Conference Center. “He understands that our pace of life in this modern world is far too fast. We have a culture filled with distraction and constant communication. It’s important to get away from all that pressure, which helps people slow down and think about what is truly important. The players will spend significant quality time with one another, beyond the practice field and meeting rooms. The team will get a true understanding and appreciation of their importance to one another.

“This is such a tremendous opportunity for our camp and our staff is thrilled. As a sports fan, former college athlete and longtime coach, I can’t begin to describe the feelings that our camp could possibly play a role in the success of the Fighting Irish this fall.”

ABOUT SHILOH
Shiloh Park Retreat and Conference Center is a year-round facility available for summer camps, retreats, banquets, conferences, workshops and special events. Owned and operated by the Northeastern Indiana District Church of the Nazarene, Shiloh Park serves all denominations and is located on a 65-acre tranquil setting.

Shiloh Park offers:

  • All-season lodging accommodations for up to 350 visitors.
  • A 16,000 square foot multipurpose/recreational building.
  • Four conference rooms of various sized with sound and multimedia equipment.
  • Excellent food service with a variety of menus to serve banquets, retreat groups, camps or conferences.
  • A beautiful three-acre Spruce Lake for kayaking and fishing.
  • Outdoor swimming pool.
  • Challenge course with climbing walls, zip line, leap of faith and swing by choice.
  • Recreational area providing a softball diamond, football fields and sandlot volleyball courts.
  • http://www.shilohpark.info/

— ND —