User:Natalie.trebes/Troy Camp

Category:Student organizationsCategory:Children's charities

USC Troy Camp is a student philanthropy organization at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, California. The organization predominantly works to provide committed, mentoring relationships to children attending elementary schools near USC . It additionally provides more focused programming for a smaller number of local middle and high school students. Troy Camp is USC's oldest, largest, and most diverse philanthropy.

History
USC's Beta Sigma chapter of the Kappa Alpha fraternity began Troy Camp as a community service project in 1948, "partially motivated by the obvious need of the communities surrounding USC and partially as an answer to rival UCLA’s own community outreach philanthropy (Unicamp)." In the camp's first year, the fraternity took 90 elementary school boys from the East Side Boys Club (now the East L.A. Boys and Girls Club) to summer camp for a week of outdoor education, fun and bonding activities outside of the Los Angeles area. One of the project’s founding members, Otis Healy (USC Class of 1950), has remained a major source of support for Troy Camp’s continuation and growth.

The project grew rapidly in popularity among students, opening its membership to women and non-Greeks a few years later. Coupled with this growth was a change in the nature of the organization: in 1967, Troy Camp counselors Harry Grant and Bobbi Godfrey decided that the one week of camp did not suffice. They wanted to foster stronger relationships with the campers. In order to do so, Troy Camp began handling its own recruitment of children in the USC neighborhood. The organization was then able to incorporate events throughout the year, beginning with a Christmas party and later adding a beach trip and a USC football game. By 1970, the "Follow Up" (now referred to as "Yearlong") Programming included an event for the children at least once a month. In 1970, Troy Camp expanded its focus beyond elementary school through the institution of a Junior Counselor program for former campers now in high school. The inaugural class of 16 junior counselors included former camper Allyson Allen, who went on to attend USC and serve as the Director of Troy Camp in 1977.

Around the same time, Troy Camp began to increase its fundraising endeavors to support its rich and diverse programs. The organization developed Pass the Can, a fundraising event held every year at the USC homecoming football game. To continue supporting itself, Troy Camp has more recently begun grant-writing efforts in 2001 and a charity auction in 2003, now transformed into its current fundraising Gala. The growth in funds has allowed Troy Camp to deepen and expand its work with children in USC’s community. Yearlong programming now includes bimonthly events as well as a variety of in- and after-school programs. Additionally, Troy Camp has sought and seen an increase in the number of schools it serves and the number of campers that its members mentor. A new program entitled "Leaders In Training" was added in spring of 2006 for camper alumni in middle school to stay connected with the organization, form more personal relationships with counselors, and prepare for high school and higher education.

Troy Camp's week of camp is held at Idyllwild Pines campground in Idyllwild, CA from the early 1990s until 2008. From 2008-2011, it relocated to Forest Home campground in Forest Falls, CA. As of 2012, it has returned to Idllywild.

Elementary School Programming
The main focus of Troy Camp is its work with local elementary school children, beginning with a week of camp at the end of May each year and continuing throughout the following year with a variety of programming and events.

Application Process
Troy Camp members run the troy camp application process by working with local elementary school administrators and coordinators. Today, camper recruitment operates in approximately 19 elementary schools within five miles of USC. As a result, Troy Camp maintains a strong reputation in the neighborhood surrounding USC. All students must be nominated by a teacher in order to receive an application. The organization encourages teachers to nominate both children whom they believe are struggling in some way and need the support of good role models, as well as those children whom they believe should be rewarded for good behavior or performance. Funding determines the number of spaces available for children at camp. In 2008, 470 children applied, but only 214 were able to be taken to camp.

Participating Schools (2009 Applications)
32nd Street Elementary School

52nd Street Elementary School

Accelerated Elementary Charter School

Dr. Theodore T. Alexander Science Center School

Esperanza Elementary School

Hoover Street Elementary School

James A. Foshay Learning Center

John W. Mack Elementary School

Lenicia B. Weemes Elementary School

Magnolia Avenue Elementary School

Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School

Menlo Avenue Elementary School

Normandie Avenue Elementary School

St. Agnes School

Synergy Charter Academy

Trinity Street Elementary School

Vermont Avenue Elementary School

West Vernon Elementary School

Camp
Children begin their Troy Camp experience by attending a week-long summer camp at the end of May. There are on average 20 cabins, each with two counselors. The cabins are divided into five color groups, each with three to four "family" counselors who assist the cabin counselors. A group of "specialist" counselors provide camp programming based upon various talents or skills they may have, including performing arts, arts and crafts, sports, swimming, community service, and hiking. Additionally, all children get the opportunity to ride a horse, spend the night outside under the stars, and eat s'mores with their counselors. There are also camp wide activities and campfires every night. Above all, the experience of camp is a child and a student finding themselves as individuals by discovering each other. Camp provides the opportunity for counselors to motivate and educate, and to encourage and inspire. Each day is given a theme (such as friendship, respect, trust, etc.) to help facilitate those conversations.

Troy Camp's week of camp is held at Idyllwild Pines campground in Idyllwild, CA

Yearlong Programming
Troy Camp follows the camp experience with various events during the following school year. These "Kids Events" occur on a monthly basis. Examples of recent activities include a trip to the LA Zoo, a Halloween party, a USC football game, and an outing to Disneyland's California Adventure.

2008-2009 Yearlong Events

 * Trip to Disney's California Adventure
 * On campus water games and pool day
 * On campus "Amazing Race" imitation relay
 * Attending a USC football game as part of Pass the Can
 * Thanksgiving dinner with campers' families
 * Trip to Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
 * Rollerskating
 * Aquarium visit and tide pool exploration
 * On campus career exploration day
 * "Clash of the Trojans" relay and game day, held by RSLH of USC
 * Overnight final event

Cabin Events
Cabin counselors are encouraged to hold their own events (with at least three counselors in attendance) for their own cabins. These have included movie nights, water games, barbecues, and sporting events.

S.M.A.S.H.
Student Mentoring and After School Help (SMASH), started in 2002, is Troy Camp's after school tutoring and academic exploration program. Counselors who are available meet at an elementary school for a few hours to assist children with their homework and lead them in an art or science project.

SMASH is offered at five of the Troy Camp elementary schools, meeting once per week at each of the five schools. Though often the majority of students at a session attend the host school, all SMASH sessions are open to all Troy Camp students and alumni.

Specialized Programming
Specialized Programming (SP) is an effort to answer the extracurricular deficiencies that many local schools face. Working with West Vernon Elementary School in Spring 2009, Troy Camp counselors have coordinated and implemented a series of after-school workshops and in-class assistance. These include weekly mini-classes taught by a few counselors each in the fields of dance, music, physical education, science, and drama. Individually, counselors can arrange their own times with a teacher to assist in the classroom with one-on-one literacy instruction for students who struggle with reading.

Middle School Programming
For former campers in the 7th and 8th grades, Troy Camp provides a smaller and more focused yearlong program titled Leaders In Training (LIT) that emphasizes leadership development, high school preparation, and community awareness. This program further encourages lasting relationships between counselors and campers through team building exercises, leadership development, and goal setting.

High School Programming
Graduates of the LIT middle school program can apply to become a junior counselor (usually later in high school). A small number of these students work with some of the counselors to assist in running camp.

Pass the Can
Pass the Can, instituted in the late 1970s, occurs annually at the USC Homecoming Football game. Troy Camp counselors take the children into the game while several hundred volunteers pass empty milk jugs through the crowds to collect donations.

Gala
In 2008, Troy Camp held its first annual fundraising Gala, featuring dinner and a live auction.

Songfest
Troy Camp has been a major beneficiary of the annual Songfest show since the 1960s. The show features the sororities and fraternities of the Panhellic and Interfraternity Councils. Troy Camp maintains a strong relationship with the Greek community and interacts with its members for the purpose of student outreach/recruitment, event programing and funraising.

Today, Troy Camp is the official philanthropy of Gamma Phi Beta sorority and has worked with other Greek organizations for smaller fundraisers as well as workshops or events with the campers. In recent years, IFC and PHC have coordinated to produce Food Truck Wars, a fundraiser that brings food trucks on campus and has a portion of the trucks' proceeds donated to Troy Camp at the end of the day. As an organization run entirely by students, Troy Camp is excited to integrate with prominent student leaders in the Greek community and hopes to continue the relationship in the future.

Organization
As an organization, Troy Camp is often recognized by USC students and staff, having received: 1995 Student Organization Volunteerism Award, USC Volunteer Awards

2005 Student Organization of the Year Award, The Tommy's: USC Student Organization Awards

2006 Student Organization of the Year Award, The Tommy's: USC Student Organization Awards

2007 Student Organization of the Year Award, The Tommy's: USC Student Organization Awards

Membership
Any current undergraduate or graduate students at USC are eligible to apply for Troy Camp. The admissions process takes place within the first few weeks of each school year, traditionally including a written application and a three-part personal and group interview. In Fall 2008, over 400 students applied for 75 available positions (~18% acceptance rate). While there are no official criteria for potential new counselors, through a long and competitive recruitment process, the organization strives to achieve a great diversity of personalities, extra-curricular involvements, academic disciplines, and racial and ethnic backgrounds in order to best provide a wide range of role models for the children to relate to.

Leadership
Troy Camp is run collaboratively by a member-elected executive board, their appointed assistants, and committees composed of general members.

Current Executive Board (2013-2014)

 * Co-Executive Directors: Jason Hoffman and Eliza Scofield
 * Director of Camp Programming: Devra Traiman
 * Director of Yearlong Programming: Timothy Heidorn
 * Director of School Programming: Liv Sapin
 * Director of Leaders in Training: Annie Lee
 * Director of High School Programming: Nidhi Sheth
 * Director of Camper Recruitment: Schessa Garbutt
 * Director of Counselor Affairs: Patrick Mazuca
 * Director of Public Relations: Meggie Howell
 * Director of Communications: Zach Vega-Perkins
 * Director of Finance: Matt Arechaederra
 * Director of Fundraising: Pass The Can John Ingram
 * Director of Fundraising: Gala Jackie Rosen
 * Director of Grant Writing: Rachel Rehert

Notable Alumni
America Ferrera, actress.

Links to check out for content

 * http://www.usc.edu/ext-relations/ccr/programs/fos/about/programs.html
 * http://www.usc.edu/uscnews/stories/8059.html
 * http://www.dailytrojan.com/news/pass-the-can-raises-money-for-troy-camp-1.212267
 * http://www.usc.edu/uscnews/stories/3919.html
 * http://www.gammaphibetausc.org/page.php?parent_id=&page_id=12317
 * http://www.usc.edu/uscnews/stories/6886.html