EMU Today

YPSILANTI - Eastern Michigan University Engage@EMU and Wayne-Westland School District will host an Excursion Camp for 800 fifth graders on EMU’s campus from May 1-12.

The camp aims to create an impactful and educational experience for students. Each week, more than 350 campers will explore two career paths of their choice from chemistry, health and fitness, theater, and more. Campers will attend daily morning and afternoon sessions Monday through Thursday related to their chosen fields of study.

“This is a great opportunity for Wayne-Westland fifth graders to learn about different career paths and get hands-on experience working on a project in those professions,” said Jaclyn Hassenzahl, program coordinator of Engage@EMU. “It exposes them to college life as they walk across campus, work in college classrooms and interact with college students and instructors.”

To get a feel of the college experience, students will eat lunch at the EMU’s Commons and at the on-campus Chick-Fil-A.

On the final day, campers and their families will celebrate their experience on Friday, May 12 at the George Gervin Center at 799 N. Hewitt Road in Ypsilanti. During the event, campers will showcase projects relating to their field of study, including dance routines, dramatic scenes, and creative art projects.

Hassenzahl reflects on a past camper’s experience, stating, “We had a student attend that was very shy and did not talk at his school or get involved,” said Hassenzahl. “He enrolled in the engineering session and by the end of the week, his teacher from Wayne-Westland was in shock and tears. The student was engaged, talking and interacting with others in the classroom. He had the biggest smile and was so enthusiastic about what he was learning and meeting new people.”

In addition to the Wayne-Westland Camp, Eastern will host a series of camps this summer, including the Wayne-Westland Math Camps, Girls In Engineering Academy Camp, Jalen Rose Academy Camp, Open Enrollment Drama & Math Camps, Flights of Imagination Summer Camp, Bits and Bytes Camp, Inkstains and EMU Sports Camps.

For more information about Engage@EMU and its camps, visit Engage@EMU.

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 14,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. Visit the University’s rankings and points of pride websites to learn more. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. To stay up to date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU Today.