Engaging Future Students Through Summer Camps

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About the Episode:

Summer camps are an incredibly effective way to attract and engage students in your community to your institution, from a very early age. Typically, summer camps are hosted by academic departments, and the relationship building ends after the camp is done. Not at Siena College. Brianna Brown, Assistant Director of Marketing, shares how they launched a new career-focused summer camp called Aspire Camp to build engagement within their community — and ended up with an early action admitted student in the process!

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Key Takeaways

• Community Engagement Matters: Aspire Camp demonstrated how summer programs can highlight a college’s campus and resources, fostering stronger ties with the local community.
• Enrollment Connection: Unlike traditional summer camps, Aspire Camp tied directly to enrollment goals, offering a mini-college experience that converted interest into applications.
• Effective Planning is Key: Successful event execution relies on thorough planning, collaboration, and the flexibility to address unforeseen challenges.
• Interactive Learning Drives Interest: Incorporating hands-on activities like business analytics workshops, Spark Tank competitions, and campus life sessions keeps students engaged.
• Teenagers Need Nudging: Engagement strategies tailored to teens, including icebreakers and varied session formats, help draw out participation and enthusiasm.

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Episode Summary

What inspired the creation of Aspire Camp?

Brianna Brown explained that Aspire Camp was born from Siena College’s new strategic plan to engage the local community. With past summer camps paused due to the pandemic, the marketing team reimagined the concept to showcase Siena’s campus and academic resources. Brianna drew inspiration from her own experience attending career-focused camps as a child, designing Aspire Camp to offer a mix of fun and educational experiences.

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How did the camp tie into Siena’s enrollment goals?

While not initially designed for enrollment, Aspire Camp naturally aligned with Siena’s goals by offering high school students a genuine college experience. Participants—especially seniors—experienced hands-on learning, toured the campus, and interacted with faculty, staff, and admissions counselors. The result? Two out of three seniors stayed engaged after the camp, with one applying and being accepted early decision.

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What were the logistical challenges and solutions?

Brianna emphasized the importance of starting preparations early—ideally five months in advance—and securing campus facilities before they are fully booked. She created detailed spreadsheets to track tasks and outreach, securing faculty volunteers and adapting sessions to appeal to teens. Lessons learned included having more support staff on hand and always preparing a "Plan B" for cancellations or time gaps.

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How were the camp days structured?

Each day included four academic sessions, lunch in the campus dining hall, and engaging activities like Spark Tank, Siena’s version of Shark Tank. With a mix of business analytics, admissions, and student life sessions, participants rotated through interactive workshops tailored to their interests. Parents joined on the final day to watch students deliver elevator pitches reflecting on their experience—a proud moment for all involved.

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What advice does Brianna have for colleges considering similar initiatives?

Brianna encourages colleges to be flexible and embrace the learning curve when piloting programs. A detailed plan, strong campus partnerships, and a willingness to adjust on the fly are critical. She also recommends focusing on engagement strategies for teens, ensuring the experience is both informative and enjoyable.

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