Summertime may inspire visions of ice-cold lemonade and backyard hammocks for some, but it means camps, conferences and other experiences for fun and learning here on campus.

More than 7,000 people visit the campus in the summer season for cheerleading and dance, music or sports camps, science and engineering workshops, studying or just looking around, say university officials, and many of them live in campus residence halls during their stay.

“Hosting a campus visit is a wonderful opportunity for recruiting future students,” says Bobby Hodum, interim executive director of enrollment management. “If a student enjoys his or her time here and has fond memories of visiting TTU, it makes a huge impact on that student’s decision to enroll here.”

Charlie Macke, director of Residential Life, agrees, saying, “When you know you’ve helped create a positive experience for your campus visitors, you can’t help but catch the enthusiasm they have for being here too.”

Sports camps this summer will attract the singe greatest segment of visitors, accounting for about 2,500 high school students visiting campus, according to Rob Schabert, sports information director.

We host athletic camps for seven individual sports — baseball, boys and girls basketball, football, soccer, softball and volleyball.

Following athletic camps, the segment making up the second greatest number of visitors this summer will be 1,600 cheerleaders and dance camp participants from school districts throughout the Upper Cumberland.

Most recently, American Legion Boys’ State brought about 600 high school juniors from across the state for a week’s stay. Faculty, staff and administrators serve as counselors and organizers for the annual event, making themselves available to answer questions about the university.

About 110 musicians also recently attended the Southeast Chamber Music Institute, which has previously proven to be a successful recruitment opportunity, with some of our best student musicians enrolling after having attended the institute.

About 300 other campus visitors will be participating in some other type of summer music camp at the university.

We also hosts an annual Tennessee Governor’s School for Information Technology Leadership, which is a five-week summer residence program that’s designed to provide opportunities for gifted and talented high school students from across the state to develop a greater knowledge of information technology and business leadership. This year’s Governor’s School will bring about 40 participants to campus.

The President’s Academy for Emerging Technologies, a challenging 13-day residence program with sessions offered in both June and July, will bring a total of about 60 students to campus to stimulate and build their interest in engineering, technology, science and mathematics.

Engineering a Future 2007 — Summer Edition, a three-day residential mini camp with emphasis on engineering for young women in seventh and eighth grades, will bring about 20 girls to campus in July.

And the African-American College and Career Camp — or ACE Camp — will attract nearly 100 high school students to campus.

According to Macke, room is reserved in the campus residence halls for about 80 4-H campers and 30 Leadership Putnam participants too.

Not all summer visitors come for camps and conferences, however. More than 200 prospective students and their families schedule visits just for a look around the campus and its facilities, Hodum says. Another 1,400 students visit campus during the summer season for Student Orientation and Registration, or SOAR, activities.

In fact, this is an ideal location for many people’s summer activities, Macke says.

“We’re always looking for more great opportunities to help folks in our outlying communities by providing services and facilities for the conferences, workshops and retreats they’re planning and organizing,” he says.

For more information about booking us for a summer event, call its Residential Life at 3415.