The first week of June 2016, twenty-two middle school aged youth participated in the fifth annual Arts & Athletic Camp sponsored by Florida State University College of Social Work at Florida State University. Five MSW students served as the camp counselors and worked with partners across the university to expose the youth to various forms of arts, activities, and sports in efforts to increase their self-esteem and confidence, thus promoting positive youth development. An additional goal of the camp is to expose the youth to college and to promote post-secondary education. The camp is for at-risk youth and this year, for the first time in the camp’s history recruitment efforts targeted youth in foster care. Several of the campers were from local group homes.

Each day, youth had the opportunity to try different creative and artistic activities. This year at camp, the youth created papier-mâché masks that expressed their strengths. Graduate students and faculty guided the week-long creative process where youth designed, made, and decorated the masks which they showcased at the end of the week. Throughout the week, youth also collaboratively created a zine, a small handmade magazine that featured collages and artwork depicting who they are. The youth also worked with Dr. Nick Mazza and learned about poetry and self-expression. Together and individually, the youth wrote several poems, one of which is highlighted in the camp’s zine. Youth also were exposed to music therapy one afternoon where they learned about lyrics and expression. The youth also had the opportunity to tour Florida State University’s radio station, V89 (WVFS), and learn about broadcasting and recording.

Youth were exposed to various athletics on campus. Kickball was one of the favorite activities as was flag football. Youth also played various games and team building activities on Landis Green. One of the days, a “meet and greet” was held with the Florida State University’s Swim Team and youth were able to talk with the athletes and ask them questions about college, getting scholarships to play a sport, and how to balance school with sports. Scholar athletes shared with the youth that getting good grades in school was necessary to get scholarships to attend college. This was something that clearly made an impression on the youth as many of them reported it back to counselors.

The camp’s primary goals of developing self-esteem and confidence as well as an interest in college were accomplished through various activities throughout the week. Camp counselors facilitated team building and self-awareness building activities throughout the day, sometimes during the times youth walked from one scheduled event to the next. Youth participated in PeaceJam workshops where they learned about communication and leadership through interactive activities. One of the favorite activities was collaboratively building a structure according to a specific design entirely with gumdrops and toothpicks. Florida State University Career Center hosted the youth a couple of days and shared the resource library where youth learned about potential careers as well as the requirements of such careers. Youth were encouraged to examine their values and strengths and match them to potential careers. Many of the youth shared with counselors their specific plans including what their college degree would be to pursue their dreams.

The camp concluded with a celebration at Crenshaw Lanes Bowling on campus where the youth and their families were joined by more than a dozen Florida State University scholar athletes from the football, basketball, and swim teams.

This camp was made possible through the support of the Community Outreach Fund endowed by Guy and Delores Spearman. The Arts & Athletics Camp was developed under the leadership of Dr. Nick Mazza, Dean Emeritus of the Florida State University College of Social Work, who retired November 2015. Since then, Dr. Lisa Schelbe assumed the responsibilities for coordinating the camp and closely works with Ms. Nicole Jones and other Florida State University College of Social Work staff and partners across campus to plan the camp. This year’s collaborators from Florida State University include the Center for Academic Retention and Excellence (CARE), the FSU Art Therapy Department, PeaceJam, the FSU Career Center, the FSU Athletic Department, FSU University Housing, and Florida State University’s radio station, V89. Additionally, the camp worked with community partners including Capital City Youth Services, Capital Regional Medical Center’s Behavioral Health Center,  Florida Department of Children and Families, and local group homes. For more information about the Arts & Athletics Camp, please contact Dr. Lisa Schelbe: lschelbe@fsu.edu.