For as long as Jasmine Beaulac can remember, sports have played a significant role in her life.
That trend isn't about to change any time soon.
After attending a NBC Basketball Camp in Olds, Alta., during the summer of 2014, Beaulac -- a Grade 9 student at Parkland Middle School in Cranbrook -- was recently invited to attend the NBC Camps International Canada Basketball Tour to the United Kingdom, June 28 to July 10.
"My goal was to improve my knowledge of the game, work on my outer-range shots and to work on my post plays," Beaulac said, reflecting on her first experience with NBC Camps. "Overall, it was the best camp I have ever attended and I learned so much about the sport and even more about who I am."
Beaulac's performance at the camp as well as her involvement in the community helped earn her an invitation to the international tour this coming summer.
In addition to playing for her school team -- the Parkland Raiders -- Beaulac is a coach for the Gordon Terrace Elementary School Grade 6 boys basketball team. She also assists with the Steve Nash Youth Basketball program in town. On top of it all, Beaulac proves herself a student of the game by volunteering as a hard-court referee as well.
The hard-working young lady doesn't restrict her community involvement to the basketball court either. When she isn't making it rain, Beaulac volunteers two days a week at a local retirement centre and works part-time at Fort Steele Heritage Town.
With such a busy daily itinerary, Beaulac is in need of support as she continues to pursue her blossoming hoop dreams. The cost of her trip to the United Kingdom is expected to exceed $6,500, a hefty bill for a full-time middle-school student.
She plans on hosting a couple fundraising events in the coming months to help work towards her trip. If she raises more than $5,000, Beaulac indicated she will be donating any extra proceeds to KidSport Cranbrook to assist other young local athletes pursue their own athletic dreams.
Those interested in sponsoring Beaulac are encouraged to contact her via basketballbeaulac@gmail.com.
In addition to competing in the United Kingdom, Beaulac will travel to Calgary for a two-day training session prior to jet-setting for Europe.
NBC Camps is based out of Spokane, Wash., and was founded in 1971 as Northwest Basketball Camp by Fred Crowell, a NCAA Div. 1 basketball coach at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.
The program has since evolved to provide a variety of camps in addition to basketball, including volleyball and soccer.
According to its website, the NBC Camps mission is "to create the best sports camp experience in the world, aspire to teach sport at the very highest level, work hard to create a totally unique experience, and give to each student athlete the will to become not only the best athlete but also the most complete person he or she can be."