Howard Elementary School’s Champ’s Field in Niles hosted a baseball academy last week aimed at helping at-risk youth from Chicago.

The Old School Baseball Academy and Niles Community Schools (NCS) came together to allow 50 inner-city, at-risk youth to come to Niles for a baseball “boot camp” through a partnership with the Chicago chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

The camp was held at Champ’s Field Friday. It gave children from Chicago a chance to play a sport they don’t traditionally have as much access to.

Niles Community Schools donated time on the field for the camp, offered transportation services and access to facilities. Members of the school’s baseball team also helped out during the academy.