Published
This year, NYGEAR UP hosted a Summer Academy, a five-day, four-night camp for NYGEAR UP students to experience life on a college campus. From June 28th to July 2nd, 2025, we held the Third Summer Leadership Academy at Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY, for over 100 10th-grade NYGEAR UP students and 25 chaperones. Every year, we have a different focus, and this year it was "Designing Your Future." Through this annual camp, NYGEAR UP aims to inspire a new generation of innovators who will be ready to tackle tomorrow's challenges with curiosity, creativity, and confidence.
Students were encouraged to tailor their camp experience to their interests, choosing between a wide variety of activities and designing their path to pursue their dreams. On the first day, students were welcomed by Dr. La Jerne Terry Cornish, President of Ithaca College, who spoke about the importance of being persistent in pursuing personal educational goals. Students then attended orientation, toured the campus, and settled into their dorms.
Throughout the camp, students had the opportunity to explore various elements of game design with GX Studio LLC, choosing from board game design, trading card game design, and digital retro game design, and then creating their own games. Students also learned about textile engineering and marketing through hands-on workshops with the CHVD JUSTIN Team. Students worked in groups to develop a custom-designed backpack to utilize in their chosen careers. In addition, students attended workshops of their choice led by Ithaca College Professors from the Health Science & Human Performance Department, The Park School of Communication, the School of Humanities & Sciences, and the School of Music, Theater, & Dance. These workshops enabled students to explore careers in theater and dance, design a health care solution for a patient with a chronic condition, produce a game show, and hike Ithaca College's natural land trail.
Added activities for students included a visit to the Corning Museum of Glass, which houses the largest display in the world of contemporary art and design in glass. At the Museum, they learned about careers in museums through guided museum tours and witnessed live demonstrations of glass blowing, flameworking, and glass breaking.
The camp culminated in a banquet, where the keynote speaker, Ithaca College's Vice President, Rock Hall, encouraged students to pursue their dreams. Students then had the opportunity to present their work and celebrate each other's achievements. On the last day of the camp the Ithaca College Career Center tied the student experience together by connecting their learning styles to selecting college majors and careers.
