Community Connections
Summer is more than just a break from school. It’s an opportunity for growth, exploration, and connection. For children enrolled in the school-age summer program, the partnership with Texas A&M University creates a powerful platform for enrichment and engagement. This connection has the potential to be impactful.
BGCC Director
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Through collaborations with various departments at Texas A&M, children are exposed to hands-on learning experiences that go far beyond what traditional summer camps offer. Whether it’s exploring the wonders of science in a university lab, attending workshops led by future educators, or participating in campus-wide arts and cultural events, students get to see how learning applies in the real world. These immersive activities ignite curiosity and foster a deeper love of learning.
Role Models and Mentorship
College students, faculty, and staff serve as powerful role models for young learners. These interactions open doors and show children what’s possible when education is pursued with passion and purpose. For many young students, seeing someone who looks like them succeed at the university level can be powerful.
Community Engagement and Identity
Being part of the Texas A&M community, even temporarily, instills a sense of belonging and pride in young learners. Events on campus, joint service projects, and access to university resources help children and their families feel included in the larger Aggie network. This inclusion strengthens community ties and fosters mutual investment in the success of all learners—big and small.
A Two-Way Street of Growth
This relationship is mutually beneficial. University students, particularly those studying education, child development, or social work, gain practical experience and develop critical skills by working with children in the summer program. Faculty members can share their expertise in meaningful, tangible ways, and the university as a whole fulfills its land-grant mission of serving the public good.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Aggies
At its best, a summer school-age program linked to Texas A&M is more than just childcare. It’s a vibrant, evolving partnership that strengthens the community, uplifts families, and builds bridges to bright futures.