Students gain college experience, academic insight at GEAR UP Achieve camp

The prospect of college begins to feel a little more real in 10th grade, as students start connecting classroom learning to future academic and career goals. This summer, 23 GEAR UP Achieve students from across Alabama spent a week at summer camp on Auburn University’s campus engaged in hands-on learning, college exploration, and career discovery designed to help them take the next step forward. 

For many campers, the experience marks their first time living on a college campus, where they spent the nights in residence halls, sharing space with new roommates, and dining in university facilities. Beyond academics, the camp encourages students to step outside their comfort zones and begin imagining themselves as future college students. 

“The week went by fast, but I will never forget it,” said a rising 10th-grade student from Alabama. “I learned a lot about myself and my future goals. I look around at the friends I’ve made this week and see a lot of smart, successful people. It was great to be surrounded by other hardworking and curious people my age.” 

The annual residential camp is hosted by GEAR UP Achieve, a federally funded initiative led by Auburn University’s College of Education and University Outreach. Offered at no cost to participating students, the program combines academic enrichment, college planning, and career exploration during the day, while evenings are dedicated to social activities, team-building, and recreational experiences that help students build friendships and meaningful connections. Photos from each day of the camp can be viewed on the GEAR UP Achieve Flickr account.

Camp Highlights

Throughout the week, students participated in a series of interactive academic sessions and collaborative experiences designed to broaden their awareness of postsecondary pathways and strengthen college and career readiness skills. 

“Our GEAR UP Achieve summer camp goal is to provide our students with a wide range of resources and support to help them succeed in high school and beyond. We do that through partnerships with high-quality educational programming vendors and connections with postsecondary institutions in our region,” said Erika Rucker, director of GEAR UP Achieve.  

Through partnerships with GEAR UP Achieve collaborators such as the Connell School of Writing and College Admissions Made Possible (CAMP), students engaged in hands-on activities focused on strengthening writing skills and preparing for standardized assessments. Students also explored public relations and civil career pathways through a session facilitated by the Government and Economic Development Institute within University Outreach. 

A field trip to Southern Union State Community College provided students with an immersive look into healthcare and technical career fields. In the health sciences facilities, students stepped inside an ambulance to explore emergency response equipment, participated in X-ray demonstrations that allowed them to scan personal items, and were introduced to patient care procedures in a hands-on learning environment. The visit also included tours of integrated manufacturing facilities, where students observed training environments in refrigeration, welding, automotive technology, and mechatronics. 

Students continued their exploration of STEM fields through an interactive laboratory experience facilitated by UAB Center for Community Outreach Development (CORD), which brought STEM activities directly to Auburn’s campus. 

Many campers cited the Youth Motivation session, with special guest Jonathan Medina, as the highlight of their week. In one activity, Medina used an exercise involving pushups with a student on his back to illustrate the difference between short-term, mid-term, and long-term goal setting, with special emphasis on persistence, discipline, and incremental progress toward success. 

A field experience led by Auburn’s Department of Geosciences through GeoExplorer introduced students to outdoor, hands-on learning opportunities. Activities included drone demonstrations, fossil and rock exploration, and a scavenger hunt through the Davis Arboretum, allowing students to connect classroom concepts to real-world natural environments. 

The week concluded with a closing ceremony featuring a presentation from ALPHA EDU, reflecting on the week’s experiences and reinforcing themes of personal growth and future readiness. Students also participated in a professional headshot session and a guided personal branding exercise focused on future academic and professional opportunities. 

“What stands out each year is watching students begin to connect their interests with real academic and career possibilities,” said Rucker. “By the end of camp, many leave with a stronger sense of direction, greater confidence, and a clearer understanding of what their future can look like.” 

About GEAR UP Achieve

Established in fall 2023 at Auburn University, GEAR UP Achieve is a seven-year federally funded grant program that follows a cohort of students from middle school through their first year of postsecondary education or career placement. Scholarships to accredited institutions of higher education will be available to students who complete the GEAR UP Achieve program. GEAR UP Achieve at Auburn offers a wide range of summer camp experiences to expose students to college campuses and help expand academic skills at no cost. 

GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a national initiative designed to increase college readiness and success among students. By providing early exposure to academic pathways, career opportunities, and college environments, the program supports both individual student achievement and broader workforce development across Alabama and beyond.