Thomas Morley wants to grow a thriving skateboard community.
For the past four years he’s been introducing kids to skateboarding in Georgetown by teaching lessons through his business, Driveway Skateshop.
“It was a COVID project,” Morley says. “All the other sports – baseball, soccer – were shut down, but the skate park was still open. Parents wanted to get their kids out and involved in something.”
Morley realizes that most of his students won’t become professional skateboarders, and that for the vast majority it will remain a hobby. But he also wants to let his students know there’s no reason their hobby can’t also be a profession.
As part of Camp Driveway, which he’ll be offering through July and August, Morley will not only teach his students to skateboard, but also show them all the ways they can make a career in the skateboarding industry.
It’s his way of helping grow the industry beyond just having more people using skateparks.
As part of the camp he’ll bring in skateboard photographers and videographers as well as highlighting other career paths in the industry.
“Art and photography and skateboarding go hand in hand,” Morley said.
If someone’s skills lie more in art than ollies, they could design graphics for skate decks. And that’s just the beginning, Morley said. There's also writing for skateboarding magazines, designing clothing, building and repairing boards.
He will also introduce participants to skate park design and feature building in a unique way. Each camp participant will receive a fingerboard, a small palm-sized skateboard. They will also design and build ramps and features for their fingerboard.
“I hope it helps develop some respect for the industry,” Morley said. “It’s not just kids at the park doing tricks.”
The camps were voted the best youth sports and recreation and best children’s activities by Community Votes last year. The camps are open to anyone between the ages of five and 14.
For more information or to register, visit the Camp Driveway website.
“I want to give more back to the skateboard community and just keep it growing,” Morley said.
