ROYAL CITY - When Perla Garcia's daughter McKenzie told her she wanted to be a professional soccer player, she went into action.

The result is a UK Elite soccer camp starting today and ending Friday at Red Rock Elementary School, going from 9 a.m.-noon daily. Perla needs 16 participants to ensure a return to Royal next year by UK Elite, but more are welcome.

The camp is for two age groups - 5-8 years and 9-16 years. The campers will be introduced to soccer games and activities from Brazil, England, Spain, Holland and the USA. For further information, you may call 206-406-5855.

Although the entry fee will be $120 each, Perla has signed up her children. She sent them to a camp in Ephrata organized by UK Elite recently, she was pleased and compelled to talk with UK Elite about coming to Royal.

Perla started her effort while "knowing nothing" about soccer. She started by learning from her husband and children. Then she started researching soccer camps after realizing her children's deep interest in the sport.

"McKenzie tells me she wants to become a professional player," Perla said. "That was when I realized I had to look into camps for my kids."

Perla didn't arrange for the camp on her own. She had help from Annalee Brown, whose children are also soccer lovers.

"We got together and asked the community and talked to the school about the camp," Perla said. "We were able to get the minimum of 16 children that the program requires for sign-up in order for them to come to Royal."

Perla said she came to realize the children in Royal City need these sort of camps in order for them to be as competitive as the other schools.

She noted the Garcias and Browns, as well as other families, travel out of town for camps.

"The problem is most parents cannot travel 45 minutes to take their kids to camp," she said.

Because of the distance, Perla had to have someone else take her children to Ephrata. She was working.

"If there is so much interest in this sport, why not bring the camps to Royal?" she commented. "I hope that the children who attend enjoy the camp and learn a lot so that we can keep bringing UK Elite back."