It’s no secret that a ton of work goes into running summer camps, and the Youth Programs Team could not have done it without the help of our Summer Project Assistant, Naja Barrow. Naja joined us from May until August to help with all of the behind-the-scenes work- from printing rosters, to making name tags for campers and staff, to collecting release forms, to sorting through camp supplies- Naja did it all! You can see some of her hard work below (Naja was instrumental when it came to ensuring that each camp counselor had their own crate of essential camp supplies for art projects, science experiments, etc.).

You might have seen her onsite during camps helping with check-in and being a friendly, welcoming face to campers and parents! We are so thankful for her hard work and dedication this summer, and we wish her the best of luck as she starts grad school this fall!

For the past several years, the Youth Programs Team has been brainstorming ways to respond to our community’s youth mental health crisis. We have always been passionate about mental health and wanted to offer a program to our local youth to equip them with tools to thrive in school and in life.

During fall 2025 – spring 2026, the team took time to listen, learn, brainstorm, and build something intentional- a mental health camp called Headstrong: Empowering You to be the Best Version of Yourself. 

We launched Headstrong in July through partnerships with JMU's College of Health and Behavioral Studies and Thomas Harrison Middle School. This program was free for 26 rising 7^th – 9^th graders through generous donations provided by JMU’s Madison Trust donors and LD&B Insurance.

During the week, campers…

• Learned about others’ opinions and how to express themselves
• Designed a “dream school” for character and relationship building
• Made videos to educate their peers on healthy use of social media
• Learned how to deal with emotions, how to be confident, and how to overcome their fears
• Ate free lunch at D-Hall
• Visited UREC
• ...and so much more!

Headstrong was more than just a youth camp- it was an empowering adventure designed to help young people build lifelong skills for emotional well-being, resilience, and self-confidence in a fun and supportive environment. It provided a safe, judgement-free space while helping campers become the best version of themselves!

We are so greatful to those who made this program happen- JMU faculty Elena Savina, Amy Russell Yun, and Kirk Armstrong; Thomas Harrison Middle School Counselor, Nicole Yoder; and JMU students in the Combined-Integrated Doctoral Program in Clinical and School Psychology and Occupational Therapy Program. We couldn't have done it without you!

We couldn’t offer any of our programming without our amazing camp staff who make it all possible! Science Camp Counselor Musu went above and beyond to make campers feel welcome and to ensure that everyone had a great time! Here are some fun questions we asked Musu after Science Camp ended:

What was your favorite thing about being a camp counselor?

Being told by an 11 year old that I look 12 will definitely go down as a personal highlight for the summer; a close second was getting to work with such a great group! From the directors to all my fellow counselors, the two weeks I supported camp really felt like a team effort. Everyone was so funny, kind & overall very helpful.

What did you learn as a camp counselor?

1- Kids know what they like - use them! In both camp sessions, it only took ONE camper to suggest specific downtime activities, and other campers were typically on board/even excited the second time around. E.g Hip Hop Astronaut, Meet the Stars.

2- There is always a new way to get around the rules! Stay alert!

Can you share a favorite, funny, or heartwarming story about a camper?

Middle School Camp Week: One of our campers suggested we watch "Meet the Stars" in the afternoon while we were rounding up. This suggestion wasn't met with much enthusiasm, considering this was a nine-part video series! After some convincing, we all agreed to give it a try. Part 1 was a hit! By the end of the week, campers requested we watch a video whenever we had 5 minutes to spare. Watching them get excited when they recognized certain stars or celestial beings and singing the theme together was heartwarming. Seeing how they rallied together to tidy up if promised they could watch a video after was entertaining to say the least. Now if we take that scene, stick it into a kaleidoscope... how beautiful is it to observe children building community, that is safe for everyone, based on a newly discovered common interests!

Elementary School Camp Week: Winning over my special friend, "The Time Keeper", was such a great feeling at the end of the week. This particular camper had been "less than excited" to come to camp every morning and could NOT be more excited to leave at the end of the day (she liked to count down the hours). Seeing that excitement gradually reduce as the week went on - personal win... The Time Keeper staying with me, even after seeing their sister arrive, then to get a little squeeze as we are watching sister come down the stairs. Who is cutting the onions? 

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

This was a great experience. My first time as a camp counselor, and I'd do it again!

Thanks to all of our amazing Science Explorers Camp staff! You made camp a fun experience for all!

The 12^th annual Summer Honors Institute was a huge success! This unique program allowed 30 rising high school juniors and seniors to get a first-hand look at life as a JMU honors student by taking courses with faculty, exploring careers and academic majors, and learning about the JMU Honors program. Students attended from Virginia, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Idaho.

After a competitive application process, students were selected by JMU’s Honors College to experience this week-long program. They stayed in a residence hall and got to explore campus, all under the guidance of their camp counselors (current JMU Honors students Emma Megginson, Clara Kresse, Eleanor Sardinas, Laylah Petit, and Francisco Duran).

A core course titled Civic Purpose and Legacy was offered each morning. After the core course, students then took various courses of interest, such as Religion and Politics: Interpreting the First Amendment, Thinking Critically about Education and Society, Essentials of IT Project Management, and more! All courses were graciously taught by JMU faculty.

Photography from the Ancient World to the Digital Age taught by the School of Professional & Continuing Education’s Daniel Robinson offered students a hands-on experience while learning about the ancient roots of modern photography and the early development of the camera and photographic pictures. During this course, students made their own pinhole cameras to demonstrate the optical physics of a camera. 

During the week, there were also workshops that covered topics such as admissions, study abroad, college life, and major exploration. We concluded the week with a celebratory cookout.

The application for the 2027 Summer Honors Institute will open in October. Rising 11^th – 12^th graders can apply via the website here.