Our Mission
The mission of Ross Reading Camp: A Legacy of Literacy is to provide a joyful, research-informed summer reading and learning experiences that help children build confidence, skill, and enthusiasm as readers.
The program honors the legacy of Dr. Elinor Ross, her family, and their longstanding commitment to literacy and serving the children of the Upper Cumberland Region.
Vision
Our vision is that every child who attends Ross Reading Camp will leave with a stronger sense of themselves as a reader, a deeper love for books, and a clearer picture of their own potential.
We aim to be a trusted, high-quality summer option for families, a meaningful learning experience for children, and a model of how universities can partner with communities to support literacy and learning in practical, encouraging ways.
What Camp Looks Like
Ross Reading Camp is a half-day, one-week experience that blends high-quality literacy instruction with the feel of a fun summer camp.
Children attend Monday through Friday, either in the morning (for 1st–3rd) or afternoon (for 4th–6th), and each session follows a carefully designed routine.
Every part of the day is intentionally structured so that children are reading, talking about books, and using language in meaningful ways.
A typical day includes a lively community gathering, an engaging interactive read-aloud, small-group book clubs, a literacy mini-lesson, fluency-building activities such as readers’ theater, and hands-on STEM, athletics, or art projects connected to the books they read.
Campers have regular opportunities to choose the books they read, to work in small groups with supportive adults, and to share their ideas and creations with others.
The atmosphere is energetic and encouraging, with plenty of movement, creativity, and celebrations of progress.
Curriculum
Ross Reading Camp uses a locally designed curriculum developed by Tennessee Tech literacy faculty.
Our team selects high-quality, age-appropriate books and creates lessons that build vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, and reading confidence.
Because we are not tied to a single external program, we can choose texts and design activities that best match the interests, reading levels, and needs of the children we serve each summer.
The curriculum includes interactive read-alouds, small-group book clubs, short skills-focused mini-lessons, and hands-on projects that connect reading to science, art, and the world around us.