There is a huge buzz around Paget Titans these days — and for good reason.

The local youth football club, who play in the Bermuda Football Association Children’s League, will travel to Florida this year to participate in a summer camp being run by Major League Soccer expansion club Orlando City.

The purpose of the trip, according to Don Vickers, the Paget Titans president and head coach, is to “expose team players, coaches and parents to a high level of football”.

He said: “As US Soccer is perhaps one of the strongest national programmes in the Concacaf region, it makes sense from a financial viability aspect and a technical approach to learn from our neighbours, particularly if they are one of the best in the region. The Orlando City Soccer Club, who have acquired Brazilian great Kaká, has one of the elite academy programmes in Florida.”

Orlando will run 14 summer camps between June and August, with the Titans taking part from July 19 to 26.

“Our camp will start daily at 8am and finish at 3pm,” Vickers said. “We will have an opportunity to play matches against their under-ten and under-12 academy teams, view the professionals train and watch an Orlando City MLS home game.

“In addition to the camp being a great exposure for our players, our parents and coaches will also have the opportunity to observe their academy coaches work with the players at the camp. Our view is that our players develop more from participating in camps as they are constantly in touching the ball and are able to develop relationships with new players and other coaches.”

As many as 23 players and 14 parents, three of whom are coaches, will attend the camp.

“The kids are stoked,” Vickers said. “Particularly our players that might not always travel for various social reasons. We make it our mission to ensure that those players are definitely given an opportunity, as it keeps them motivated to continue in the sport.”

The bulk of the funding for the tour has been raised by the club while the Paget Parish Council has also provided assistance.

“The Paget Parish Council has been a vital community partner, supporting us since our inception,” Vickers said. “Our fundraisers include ‘Movie Morning’, car washes in the spring and summer months, an All-Night Soccer Wake-A-Thon and other smaller events.”

Paget Titans is the youth component of Paget Lions, who play in the First Division. The youth club was formed in 2009 with the purpose of using football as a pro-social outlet for youth in the surrounding Ord Road, Paget, community.

There are four age groups — under-six, under-eight, under-ten and under-12 — and the club operates out of Gilbert Institute Primary School and the Paget Primary School.

“With our overall philosophy being the development of wholesome young people, our technical philosophy is to develop technically proficient and tactical astute players that can be nurtured in an environment that encourages them to take risk without the fear of failure,” Vickers said. “We desire for our players to feel free and comfortable on the ball.”

In addition to football activities, Paget Titans have a weekly homework club and have been involved in many charitable causes in the community.

“We have partnered with Keep Bermuda Beautiful with community clean-ups and painting the Old Horse Troth on East Broadway, across from Mr Johnny Barnes,” Vickers said. “We also hosted our own Community Fun Day at Bermuda College for threes years prior to last year, with the aim of giving back to our community.”

Before travelling overseas the Titans will appear in next weekend’s Kappa Classic for the first time in five years.