Throughout June and July, USC was a revolving door as we partnered with two neighborhood camps – the Arrupe Summer Camp and Wolf Camp for the Howl Child – to introduce Cleveland youth to squash. More than 50 fourth- through seventh-graders learned the basics of the game, from how to hit the ball to how to battle for points. Along the way, they discovered a lifetime and soon-to-be Olympic sport and, perhaps, an interest in becoming part of USC’s year-round youth development program!

Meanwhile, USC hosted four weeks of intentional summer programming for our own student-athletes. Our high schoolers focused on career and college exploration, while our middle schoolers explored literacy, nutrition, and USC’s Core Values of REACH: Respect, Exposure, Accountability, Community, and Healthy Choices.

Our high schoolers logged plenty of miles as they explored colleges and workplaces throughout Northeast Ohio. They toured college campuses, visited dorms and academic spaces, and talked with admissions officers, students, and faculty about the college experience. They also met with business leaders to learn about workplace skills and the wide variety of careers available right here in our region.

Three experiences stood out. Students traveled to Dalton, Ohio – where many had never been – to tour a high-tech manufacturing plant. They visited the Cleveland Clinic to learn about the many career opportunities in health care, from patient care to administration. And they met with leaders at the Greater Cleveland Partnership and Cuyahoga County Administrative Offices to learn how community partnerships support businesses and create professional opportunities throughout Northeast Ohio.

The high school summer camp culminated in a Mocktail Hour, when USC supporters from fields including education, law, human resources, banking, real estate, and health care joined our student-athletes for an afternoon of networking. Through guided activities, students and guests shared conversations, discovered common interests, and learned from one another, all while sipping tasty mocktails!

Our middle school student-athletes explored character, creativity, and community through programming centered on USC’s Core Values of REACH. They read Seedfolks, a novel about Cleveland neighbors who overcome their differences to transform a vacant lot into a thriving community garden, sparking conversations about community and belonging. They also explored local treasures, including West Creek Conservancy, where they learned about plants and their edible components and prepared a nutritious snack; Cleveland Metroparks’ Bedford Reservation, where they studied the local fish ecosystem and ways to care for our waterways; and United Skates of America, where they learned how science, technology, engineering, and math connect to everyday experiences – and fun, like roller skating! The middle school camp culminated in a “movie day,” when students created their own mini movie theater – complete with fresh-popped popcorn – for a screening of See Her, Be Her, a film highlighting the women of professional baseball. Through books, nature, art, STEM, and plenty of summer fun, our middle schoolers put REACH into action while discovering new interests and new ways to see their community and themselves.

From exploring college and career possibilities to discovering their community through books, field trips, and hands-on experiences, USC’s summer camps gave our student-athletes – and dozens of new potential teammates – a summer full of opportunities.