A Two-Week College Readiness & Exploration Camp for Foster Youth & Foster Care Alum.

JULY 20th – AUGUST 1st

Dorm Days Camp– The College Experience is a transformative two-week residential summer program designed to empower and inspire youth in foster care as they imagine and prepare for their futures. This immersive experience introduces participants to college life, builds practical life and career skills, and creates space for meaningful mentorship and peer connection.

We’re excited to announce that youth participating in Dorm Days Camp are automatically enrolled in the First Star Academy program! This college-prep pathway is designed specifically for high school students in foster care. In addition to the two-week residential Dorm Days Camp, students take part in monthly Saturday sessions during the school year. These sessions offer academic support (including PSAT/SAT prep), life-skills workshops like budgeting and self-advocacy, and dedicated mentoring and caregiver involvement.

First Star Academy is a commitment of one Saturday per month during the school year.

Week 1, July 20th: Campus Life at ODU

Live like a college student at Old Dominion University!
Experience dorm living while building life skills, confidence, and community.
Activities include:

• Career field trips to local employers

• Financial literacy workshops

• Cooking & nutrition classes

• Resume & portfolio building

• Physical wellness sessions

• College readiness workshops

• Daily connection with foster care alumni mentors

• Opportunity to earn up to $500 of incentives for attending workshops

Week 2, July 28th: Virginia College Tour Adventure

Hit the road for a multi-campus tour across Virginia! Explore campuses such as:

• Virginia Tech

• James Madison University

• Radford University

• University of Virginia

• William & Mary

Plus: Fun surprise outings and team adventures along the way!

• All TFFC service eligible rising 9th to 12th graders in foster care or foster care alumni.
  
• NCPS rising 9th to 12th graders currently active in TFFC tutoring.
  
• These youth who are aged 18 years who are either in high school, earning a GED, or just graduated this year are also eligible.

All youth must sign a behavior contract.

This is an all-inclusive and immersive camp.
Everything is included; such as:

• All accomodations

• Food

• Activities

• Transportation to college tours and field trips

• Camp T-shirt
• Transport to & from camp from Richmond if needed
• Monetary incentives for attending workshops

We need a few things from you and your teen:

• $100 deposit per youth – this will be given to you youth to spend on the college tour (a limited number of scholarships are available for special circumstances)

• Youth must sign and adhere to behavior contract

• Youth must submit an approximately 100 word paragraph OR short video of themselves talking on the subject of their dreams and hopes for the future

• Caregiver & social worker must fill in and return requested paperwork by deadline

• Social worker agreement to participate if applicable
• Participation in First Star Academy activities – one Saturday per month during the school year

This camp is in addition to the 5 weeks of camp available to each youth.

Watch the video of our 2024 college campus tour trip to Philadelphia.