By Janice Robinson-Celeste
Here is news worth sharing at the dinner table. Beyoncé’s BeyGOOD foundation has given $25,000 to Camp HBCYouth, a summer camp that brings children in kindergarten through fifth grade onto HBCU campuses, TheGrio reports. The goal is simple and powerful: let kids picture themselves in college long before their first application.
Key Takeaways
- Camp HBCYouth is a seven-week summer camp for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade.
- It runs on HBCU campuses, including Spelman, Morehouse, Clark Atlanta and Tennessee State.
- HBCU students and alumni serve as mentors, and the camp has served 2,000 children.
- The BeyGOOD grant will bring more kids to campus, hire more HBCU students and help keep the camp affordable.
- The camp is expanding to Texas Southern University in Houston, with early-bird enrollment listed for November 9.
What Kids Do at Camp HBCYouth
Campers mix reading, STEAM, arts, music and sports with HBCU traditions, including Black history lessons and college chants. They tour academic departments, which gives them an early look at careers they may never have heard of.
The camp was founded by Reagan Fresnel, a Spelman graduate, and Brian Wright, a Morehouse graduate. Their mentors are college students, so campers spend the summer with young people who look like them and are already on the path.
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Why Early Campus Visits Matter
Children who walk a college campus at age seven talk about college differently at seventeen. It stops being a far-off idea and becomes a place they already know. If college is on your family’s radar, our guides on the 2027-28 FAFSA and Alabama’s new HBCU wall of honor are good next reads.
How to Plan for Summer 2027
- Mark November 9 if your family is in the Houston area and you want an early-bird spot at the new Texas Southern site.
- Ask about cost and any scholarships when you reach out.
- Save summer camp receipts. A Dependent Care FSA can help with day camp costs for children under 13.
Questions to Ask Before Choosing an HBCU Summer Camp
Camp HBCYouth is one of several ways to put a college campus in front of your child early. The National Center for Education Statistics explains what makes a college an HBCU and how enrollment at these schools has changed, which can help you start a family conversation about the campuses near you.
Before you enroll in any camp, ask:
- What does a typical day look like, and how much time is spent learning versus playing?
- Who are the counselors and mentors, and how are they screened and trained?
- How many campers does each counselor look after in my child’s age group?
- How are meals, medications, allergies and pickup handled?
- What does the camp cost, and are scholarships, sibling discounts or payment plans available?
Kids who love camp often carry that confidence into the school year. Our stories on how summer camps can empower Black children and why sleepaway camps help Black youth thrive share more ideas for planning a summer that builds your child up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ages does Camp HBCYouth serve?
Children in kindergarten through fifth grade.
Where is the camp held?
On HBCU campuses including Spelman, Morehouse, Clark Atlanta and Tennessee State, with Texas Southern in Houston coming next.
How much did BeyGOOD give?
BeyGOOD gave the camp $25,000.
Is Camp HBCYouth only in Atlanta?
No. Along with Spelman, Morehouse and Clark Atlanta, the camp runs at Tennessee State, and Texas Southern University in Houston is the next site.
Photos and some content may be AI generated.
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