Plan a Summer Camp It’s Easier Than You Might Think

PRESENTED BY:

Anna Batie, WA GEAR UP

Lyndsey Howe, FOCUS Training

• APR requirements

• College readiness + non-cognitive skills

• Networking

• Exposure Campus life

• Successful camps lead to greater participation in GEAR UP programs during school year

Why Hold a Camp

•Location

•Students to attend

•Partner for programming & content

•The details Logistics

Agenda Planning

Suggested Timeline

Checklist

It’s Easy If You Do These Things

First Decisions

• # of days

• # of students – Cohort or Priority

– 1:50 trainer to student ratio

• Size of program dictates cost & space requirements

• Goals of summer program

FOCUS Training

Leadership Experiences

Middle School Early High School Upperclassmen & Educators 7th Year

• Communication

• Self-advocacy

• Vision

• Teamwork

• Life & Career Skills

• Learning &

Innovation

• Media & Technology

• College Fit1

• Admissions Process1

• Financial Aid1

• First Year Survival2

• Personal

Responsibility2

• Time Management2

• Critical

Conversations

• Communication

• Building a

Mentorship

Culture

Site Selection

• Central location to schools

• Consider: – Cost

– Lodging

– Campus environment

– Meeting with university event planner

– Building in a campus tour or SSS presentation

Sample Program

• 15 hours of programming

• Track schedule

• Access to commons areas

• 2-3 students per dorm

• Green space

Recruiting Students

• Start early!

• Flyers and posters

• Coordinators identify students & promote in schools

• Application Packet – Student info, emergency contacts, medical info, signed

waiver, media release

– Anticipate challenges receiving medical info

• 1:10 chaperone to student ratio

• Coordinators or affiliated with GU school

• Include in participant count

• Role at camp – Transport students

– Evenings, lunch & free time

– Interact during programming

– Have a plan for students sent home

Chaperones

• College students from campus

• Student panel

• Encourage participation

• Interact with students

Near Peer Mentors

• 15 hours of dedicated programming

• Built from Leadership Experience selected

• Meal times

• Nightly entertainment

• Be flexible

Agenda Development

• Build off learning targets & agenda

• Personalized

• Mistakes we have seen

• Recruiting a dozen speakers

• Relatable message

• Lectures

Curriculum Features

• Jan/Feb – introduce program to coordinators & GEAR UP staff to promote to students

• April – applications due• Prior to event • 10 weeks– draft agenda & activity plan• 6 weeks– review proposed curriculum • 4 weeks– review workshop materials• 3 weeks – final agenda• 2 weeks – finalize space requirements, final participant

list, evaluation tool

Timeline

• Evaluations

• Local media coverage

• Pictures & media

• Graduation session

• Completion Certificates

• Parent engagement

End On a High Note

• Camp swag – t-shirts, water bottles, lanyards

• Down time

• Snacks & breaks

• Non-summer months

• Balance classroom with interactivity

Tips to Consider

Presentation online at –

info@focustraining.com

www.transition.focustraining.com

Lyndsey Howe – lyndsey.howe@focustraining.com

Anna Batie – AnnaB@wsac.wa.gov

Questions?