Texas Border Business
BY Joey Gomez
McALLEN, Texas – From podcasting and poetry to welding and watercolor painting, South Texas College is preparing to welcome students of all ages back to campus this summer through a huge range of youth camps designed to inspire creativity, career exploration and hands-on learning.
Organized through STC’s Continuing Education and Workforce Development, this year’s summer camp season begins June 8 and will continue through early August across multiple campuses, offering low-cost and free opportunities for elementary, middle school and high school students.
“We have a lot of creative camps this year,” said STC Continuing Education Program Developer and Coordinator for summer camps, Xenia Munoz. “We have poetry, toy photography, watercolor painting…and a lot of these camps are at a low cost or completely free.”
Munoz, who is entering her third year coordinating STC’s summer camps, said the college has hosted camps for the community for more than a decade and continues to expand its offerings every year to reflect student interests and workforce trends.
One of the newest additions this summer is “How to Create a Podcast,” where students will learn scriptwriting, audio production and how to use professional podcasting equipment before showcasing their work during a listening party.
Another new addition is “Healthcare Heroes,” offered for elementary, middle school and high school students. The camp introduces participants to health and wellness topics such as hygiene, nutrition, physical activity, vital signs and basic safety practices through hands-on activities.
“We really place a priority on this because we want students to get a feel for different areas in the workforce,” Munoz said. “Camps like welding or biology for example give them a really good idea of what a career in that area might look like.”
STC is also preparing to launch additional Science ,Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)-focused camps later this summer after receiving a STEM grant to support new biology, cybersecurity and welding camps for middle school and high school students.
Other camps scheduled throughout the summer include sewing, public speaking and debate, poetry and watercolor painting, Dungeons and Dragons campaign building, career exploration, resiliency training and tabletop miniature wargaming.
Many camps will be hosted by STC faculty and staff with professional experience in their respective fields.
Munoz said the camps are designed not only to keep students engaged during the summer months, but to also encourage confidence, creativity and exploration in a welcoming environment.
“I would really invite the community to enroll their kids in these camps,” Munoz said. “It’s an excellent way for them to learn new things, have fun and be exposed to different fields.”
For more information, along with dates and times for the various summer camps available, visit southtexascollege.edu/youth-camps/.
