JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – If you ask a group of local kids what they did over spring break, get ready to hear all about athletics, sportsmanship and leadership. That's because they spent their week playing the game with some of the local military's finest.
Second Class Petty Officer Matt Hough, a Navy rescue swimmer, is also the franchise owner of ONE Sports Nation in Jacksonville. He took leave in order to provide a week-long spring break sports camp for kids in the community.
"We want to be able to provide for the community," said Hough.
About 20 kids from across the Jacksonville area got more than just a typical sports camp, which was hosted at River City Science Academy. Yes, they played a wide variety of sports including soccer, basketball -- even capture the flag -- but Hough brought some of those he works with at Naval Air Station Jacksonville with him.
"Whenever I get the chance to work with school kids, sports leagues and school kids, I always bring the Navy out and they're always willing to help me out," Hough explained.
The sailors certainly came to play and have some fun, but also offered guidance and their military perspective to each and every child.
You first met Hough last fall, when Sam Kouvaris took you to Hough's Jax Grid Iron NFL Flag Football field.
This Navy rescue swimmer started his ONE Sports Nation franchise in Jacksonville to offer not only his athletic skills, but also his military skills to children of all ages. He created his "dream team" for local kids.
WATCH: Navy rescue swimmer creates "dream team" for local kids
Hough's staff is full of military experience and leadership, with current and veteran service members serving as referees -- even Army veteran Derrick Whitaker operates the game day barbecue food truck, Whitz Pit.
And Whitaker was part of Hough's spring break sports camp, too. He not only helped out on the field, he provided the kids with lunch.
"I know that parents have a hard time finding daycare during the spring break time so that was the idea behind having a spring break sports camp," said Hough.
"They're going to be learning some leadership, they're going to be learning how to communicate with each other, also just how to just be there for one another, problem solving," said 1st Class Petty Officer Jeremiah Walton.
Walton, a Sonar Technician, was excited to be given the opportunity to join more than a half dozen others from NAS Jax, and make a positive impact.
"I wanted to come out here, not just to support Matt [Hough] and the other guys, but I actually just like to get involved with young kids," Walton said. "Showing these kids that, 'hey, you're not alone out there, you always have somebody that's going to help you out.'"
That's the very dream Hough is building his ONE Sports Nation franchise on here in Jacksonville. And, it will continue to grow as he will soon be transitioning out of the Navy, allowing him to go one-on-one full time.
Hough says he is excited about giving more kids this unique sports experience mixed with military leadership, and has now opened registration for his spring leagues and summer camps. The spring seasons of Grid Iron NFL Flag Football, Jr. NBA Full Court Legends Basketball and Grid Iron Cheer start April 1:
If you are interested in summer camp, email Matt Hough at Matt@onesportsnation.com.
Veteran-owned businesses
Matt Hough's ONE Sports Nation franchise in Jacksonville is one of many veteran-owned businesses throughout Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia.
To find a veteran-owned business in your area, anyone can search VeteransList.US for free by product, place or ZIP code.
For veteran business owners wanting to be included in the company's nationwide database, they can sign up through the website as well. Besides being part of the database, VeteransList.US will add information and photos for each business listing and post information to its social media sites.
Depending on your needs and how owners sign up, VeteransList.us can also offer assistance in making business operations easier, provide free access to online courses to learn new skills, give businesses exposure in email newsletters and pass along veteran-specific discounts to help save you time and money. To learn more, you will find a direct link here.
See other News4Jax features on veteran-owned businesses: