Donate to Impact Student Athletes
We cultivate healthy environments to promote resiliency through sports performance training, mindfulness, yoga and breathwork.
Who is
Maroon Village?
Join us in supporting our mission, purpose, and cause. Your generous contribution supports student athletes in need. Help us achieve our goals to make an even bigger impact in 2024.
Maroon Village serves student athletes throughout the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana areas who are often navigating extreme and challenging circumstances. We focus on endurance and connectedness as important variables for success on and off the playing field. Our team prepares student athletes for success through a sound approach of deep practice, body awareness, and critical pedagogy.
Mindfulness & Sports Camp Summer 2024
Summer Camp 2023
Success!
FREE Mindfulness + Movement Sports Camp
Location: Calumet College of St. Joseph | Whiting, IN
Grades 3rd-5th & 6th - 8th
Youth learned foundational skills for sports along with mindfulness practices to elevate their athletic performance!
We even had a special session with Kayla Jeter, Professional Volleyball Athlete and Mindfulness Coach!
See you this Summer 2024!
Congratulations to our Co-Founder Shea Gardner!
2021 Recipient of the Albion College Distinguished Young Alumni Award for her work with Maroon Village and beyond!
Watch her interview below!
Strategic Priorities
for 2024
The Resilient Coach Training
In response to the NCAA Student-Athlete Well-Being Study not only do we offer intentional programming to support student athletes directly, we are committed to equipping Coaches with tools to navigate the stress and trauma our Student Athletes are experiencing in real time.
Through training, Coaches deepen understanding and awareness of the often extreme circumstances alongside of building trauma sensitive mindfulness skills to help support their student athletes through and on to performing at their best - on and off the playing field!
Interested in Coach & Staff Training please email us:
hellomaroonvillage@gmail.com
*We offer The Resilient Athlete Training too!
Mindfulness & Sports Summer Camp
In partnership with Calumet College of St. Joseph last June, camp was a one week pilot program for middle school aged student athletes. They showed up M-F | 8-12 to build skills in mindfulness, yoga, and a different sport each day. They grew in confidence and community!
Join Us for Summer Camp 2024
Registration open now!
Ladder of Opportunity
We are actively reflecting on and refining our efforts to create ladders of opportunity for our student athletes. It is important to recognize athletes beyond the playing field.
In 2024 we will be working towards building out our already up and running summer camp and college programs (internship and summer camp coach).
If you are interested in working with Maroon Village please email us:
hellomaroonvillage@gmail.com
Sign Up for Sessions!
Middle School | High School | College | Semi-Pro Athletes
Meet Our Founders
Rich Gardner
Athletics & Performance
Certified Strength & Conditioning Coach (CSCS)
BA Economics Penn State University
MS Sports Fitness + Recreation Leadership DePaul University
3rd team All-American honors
3rd round draft pick NFL, Tennessee Titans + Seattle Seahawks
2010 German Bowl Champion + Captain Kiel Hurricanes
Undefeated Defensive Coach Jr Kiel Hurricanes team
PhD Candidate Health & Human Performance Concordia UC
Shea Gardner
Athletics & Awareness
20 yrs supporting Nonprofit Youth Programming + Instruction
BA Sociology + Anthropology Albion College
Certified Trauma Informed RYT ® 200 (Yoga)
Certified Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness Instructor
Albion College Women’s Soccer
Boston Marathon Qualifier
YouTube Grounded Healing
MEd Trauma & Resiliency Spring Arbor University 2025
Ready to Make a Difference?
Donate to Support:
Summer Programming | Clinics for Coaches | Equipment Costs
Let’s Stay
Connected!
Share your email to learn more about our programs, events, fundraisers, board, or community partnerships. We are looking to collaborate with community leaders interested in making a difference!