KampKromm

🌟Jamie Kromm | Owner

🌟Small-group kamps helping youth athletes build confidence, leadership & self-trust

08/20/2026

This is the first time I’ve ever had an athlete’s reaction captured on video. When I demonstrate something difficult, I’m not just paying attention to whether a kid can do the drill. I’m listening and watching for what comes up before they even try.

“WOW!”

“No way.”

“What?!”

Those immediate thoughts. The stories. The limiting beliefs. The body language, the apprehension that says, There’s no way I can do that.

And then they try.

And I get to witness them, in real time, prove their own story wrong.

Maybe they don’t get it perfectly. Maybe it takes a few tries. Maybe it’s messy.

But suddenly the thing they were certain they couldn’t do?

They’re doing it.

That’s why basketball/games/sports are such a powerful container for this work. It gives us a place to practice meeting challenge. To notice what our mind tells us when something looks hard. And then to have an experience that gives us new evidence.

Because…the skill isn’t the point.

The kid learning what happens inside their mind and body when they’re challenged…and proving to themselves that they can do hard things…is the point.

07/30/2026

“They may not remember what you said… they may not remember what you did… but they’ll always remember how you made them feel.”

Last summer, Kailey Klein donated to KampKromm after we hadn’t been in touch for years. It was one of those quiet acts of generosity that simply meant a lot. No fanfare… just someone choosing to support something they believed in.

This summer, I invited her to join a session and share a little about her basketball journey.

When I told the kids a Division I Hall of Famer was coming, one of them asked if it was Caitlin Clark. 😂 (I forgot to mention she’s a local superstar. Google her for all the accolades!)

She drove an hour and a half, stayed nearly the entire two hours, jumped into drills, got to know the kids, encouraged them, cheered them on.

It still humbles me… every single time… the people who choose to pour into these young athletes.

A huge shoutout to Kailey Klein for reminding all of us that leadership isn’t just about what we’ve accomplished. It’s about how we show up for people.💜🏀

07/27/2026

Gracie and I go way back to my sophomore year on varsity basketball (as pictured). She was a junior, and we immediately hit it off. I remember always laughing with her… and when she would call me “Crumb Cake.” 😂

Thanks to FB, we’ve stayed connected over the years…and this summer, she generously sponsored a young athlete at KampKromm.

To me, it’s about so much more than the financial support. It’s a belief in KampKromm, in these young athletes, and in the power of relationships. It’s built on years of laughter, memories, encouragement, and people continuing to show up for one another.

I’m humbled by the people showing up for KampKromm. Every sponsor, every family, every athlete… I’m reminded that I don’t have to build this alone, nor do I want to anymore! Thank you for being part of the KampKromm team, Gracie. 💜🏀

07/21/2026

What. A. Summer.

As I reflect on the past few weeks of KampKromm, one thing keeps coming back to me…

Growth isn’t just for the athletes.

It’s for me, too.

This summer challenged me in ways I didn’t expect. There were days I didn’t feel like showing up. There were many moments I questioned myself. There were things that stretched me outside of my comfort zone…like coaching a group of boys who were good friends.

Interestingly, I had more boys than girls in KampKromm this summer.

What I walked away realizing is that boys need spaces like this, too. Spaces where they can be challenged, encouraged, learn to communicate, work through frustration, and become more aware of themselves.

I also learned that nighttime kamps aren’t for me, to trust myself more, that it’s okay to experiment, adjust, and admit when something doesn’t fit.

And every single day, I was reminded that I can never ask someone else to do something I’m unwilling to do myself.

The more I’m willing to grow, the better I’m able to help others do the same.

So while the athletes were learning to embrace mistakes, move through discomfort, and believe in themselves…in the middle of some of the hottest weeks I can remember…

I was doing the exact same thing.

That’s what KampKromm is. It’s not about perfect shooting form or making every shot.

It’s about learning who you are when things get hard… and discovering you’re capable of more than you thought.

To every athlete, family, and donor who trusted me this summer—thank you. Thank you for allowing me to grow right alongside you.

This summer gave me more clarity than I ever expected.

And I have a feeling it’s only the beginning. 💜

07/18/2026

We were playing Hot Shot, where the athletes have one minute to make as many shots as they can from different spots on the court.

One athlete missed a few shots in a row. I could hear and see the frustration building.

Then, with time still left on the clock, he threw the ball up in the air and quit.

Afterward, I asked him,

“Do you notice if this happens in other areas of your life?”

Him: “What do you mean?”

Me: “Like in soccer… at home… or at school?”

I told him he didn’t have to answer me. I just wanted him to get curious.

He paused. “Yeah… I guess it does.”

That’s what KampKromm is about.

Not fixing kids. Not trying to change them in one conversation.

Just helping them notice.

Because once we notice a pattern, we have something we didn’t have before:

A choice.

07/15/2026

“Aww man… why me?”

I looked them right in the eyes and said…

“Why NOT you?”

Leaders go first.

Even when it feels scary.

Even when it feels embarrassing.

Even when it feels uncomfortable.

That’s what we’re practicing at KampKromm.

07/11/2026

If you wanna be the best, you gotta play the best.
And sometimes that means leaving the comfort of your friend group.
Sometimes that means playing the opposite s*x.
Sometimes it means stepping on the court with a former D1/Hall of Famer.
Whatever it is... growth usually lives on the other side of discomfort.
Will it always make you the best basketball player?
Idk.
But I can promise it’ll make you the best version of YOU. And that’s worth the fear, the discomfort, and the unknown.
We are not victims of our circumstances.
We always have a choice... we always do.
And most of the time, that choice shows up in how we respond to what’s happening around us.
Are we going to let one bad call ruin the game?
Are we going to let one play control our mood?
Are we going to spend our energy arguing with refs, blaming opponents, saying it’s unfair, or saying, “She cheated”?
Or are we going to notice what’s happening... own our response... and get back to the next play?
Because that’s where growth happens.
The inner game affects the outer game.
Choose courage over comfort.
Every single time.

07/09/2026

A.M. bike ride thoughts…

You know that phrase, “curiosity killed the cat”?

And I was like… wait. Why are we so afraid of curiosity?

Because I see how quickly we go to blame instead. I see it a lot with kids…

They get out in a game of dribble tag and instantly it’s,

“That’s unfair!”

“They cheated!”

Blame.

Because it’s HARD to look at ourselves and ask…what part of this is mine?

Could I have responded differently?

But that’s the whole foundation of KampKromm.

Get curious about your thoughts.

Your feelings.

Your reactions.

No one is dying here…although the ego sure acts like it is. 😂

06/09/2026

Disappointment. Loss. Rejection. Failure.

They’re inevitable in life.

What separates people isn’t avoiding those moments…
It’s how they respond to them.

Do you get stuck in the story?
Do you blame?
Do you shut down?
Or do you get curious?

Because resilience isn’t just bouncing back.

It’s noticing what’s happening inside of you when life doesn’t go your way.

That’s where growth begins.

That’s where radical responsibility begins.

The inner game affects the outer game.
🏀

06/05/2026

I rode my bike today and lost my eyeglasses because I had to take a selfie for this post. I cannot even!!🤦🏼‍♀️ 🤣

And losing my glasses wasn’t even the thing I kept thinking about on my ride.

A few years ago, I probably would have turned something like that into evidence that I was irresponsible, distracted, or not paying attention. Instead, I was like 🤷🏼‍♀️

Because a few months ago, after another back injury, riding my bike felt a lot less certain than it does now.
As I was riding, I realized something…
The goal isn’t to never have setbacks.
The goal is to see them differently.

I’ve fallen out of workout routines.
I’ve gained weight.
I’ve stopped tracking macros.
I’ve had injuries.
I’ve had seasons where I didn’t trust my body and judged it.

But every time, I come back.
Not perfectly.
Not immediately.
But I come back. And every time I’m building trust in myself.

And that’s what I teach athletes at KampKromm🏀, too.

Confidence isn’t never struggling.
Resilience isn’t never falling off track.

It’s getting curious instead of critical, seeing it as feedback instead of failure, making adjustments instead of repeating what isn’t working, and trusting that you have the tools to find your way back.

The inner game affects the outer game. ✌🏻❤️🏀

Address

Mendota, IL

Website

https://jamie-l-kromm.mailchimpsites.com/

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