Tech's Ross Reading Camp helps young readers build confidence, lifelong love of reading
For 55 young readers from across the Upper Cumberland, Tennessee Tech University's Ross Reading Camp offered more than a week of summer activities.
It provided opportunities to discover new books, meet authors, explore a college campus and build the confidence to see themselves as lifelong readers.
Hosted by Tech's College of Education and Human Sciences, the free weeklong camp welcomed children ages 4 to 11 from 14 public, private and homeschool settings. Designed to combat the "summer slide" in reading, the camp combined literacy instruction with hands-on learning experiences, community partnerships and opportunities to foster a genuine love of books.
"We wanted children to have access to books, positive role models and opportunities to improve and love reading. Access to books declines during the summer across demographics, and we wanted children to associate reading with joy," said Amber Spears, associate professor of curriculum and instruction, who organizes the camp each summer.
"When children have access to engaging books, encouraging adults and meaningful experiences around literacy, they're much more likely to continue reading long after camp ends," she said.
This year's theme, "The Next Chapter," encouraged campers to reflect on perseverance, creativity, growth and teamwork through daily readings and guided discussions.
Each morning opened with a shared read-aloud, including Jabari Tries by Gaia Cornwall, The Idea in You by Questlove, Don't Think of Tigers by Alex Latimer, The Power of Yeti by Rebecca Van Slyke and G. Brian Karas, and Chooch Helped by Andrea L. Rogers.
Those stories became the foundation for each day's activities.
After enjoying a meal provided by Chartwells, campers participated in experiences ranging from the university's STEM Center Virtual Theater and StarLab to Disney Imagineering challenges, iMakerspace projects, rocket launches, recreation and art. Each activity reinforced the lessons and themes introduced through the morning's featured book.
"We tried to pick books that centered on curiosity, perseverance, and confidence," Spears said. "Every activity connected back to the books we read."
The camp also helped children discover books they might never have selected on their own. During daily visits to the camp's book room, campers explored eight to 10 titles through interactive activities and games, creating positive reading experiences while building confidence as readers.
One of the week's highlights was a visit to Plenty Bookshop in downtown Cookeville, where campers met children's author Rachel Tawil Kenyon and received signed copies of her picture book, You Can Sit with Me.
Written for children ages 4 to 8, the book explores the power of kindness and friendship. Meeting an author, asking questions, learning about the writing process and receiving signed books are experiences Ross Reading Camp provides.
Rather than simply listening to the story, campers were encouraged to put its message into practice by writing cards to friends and discussing ways they could make others feel welcome.
"It wasn't just a read-aloud by the author," Spears said. "The campers left with action steps."
Receiving personalized books made a lasting impression on many campers.
"They couldn't get over the fact that their names were written in a real book from a real author with her name signed in it," Spears said.
Throughout the week, every child also selected books to begin or expand a home library through Tennessee's Governor's Early Literacy Foundation book packs and community donations. By the end of camp, approximately 1,650 books had been distributed—an average of 30 books per child—ensuring every camper left with books of their own.
For many participants, the opportunity to spend a week on Tennessee Tech's campus was equally meaningful.
"The camp offered an opportunity to spend time on a college campus, helping make college feel familiar and welcoming," Spears said. "Authors and college professors become real people."
Ross Reading Camp was created through an endowment honoring Elinor Ross, a longtime literacy professor at Tech.
The camp's success was made possible in part through partnerships with organizations including Plenty Bookshop, Kainos Church, Feeding the Future, Vivid Sign Art, Citizens Bank of Sparta and Sam's Club.
Eight community guest readers also visited the camp to share stories, talk about their careers and express their enthusiasm for reading.
In addition to distributing books, the camp served 300 meals, giving children the nourishment they needed to learn and engage each day. Parent surveys reflected the program's impact, with every participating family saying they would recommend Ross Reading Camp to others.
Spears believes the camp's success reflects a community-wide commitment to literacy.
"It takes a community to put books into children's lives," she said. "It's no one person's responsibility to make sure children are reading. Reading is important for school, but it's also a basic human right. When children have access to books, caring adults and joyful reading experiences, those are things they'll carry with them for the rest of their lives."