UW-W welcomed 20,000 visitors for summer programming

Posted on: September 22, 2024

Written by Chris Lindeke and Kristine Zaballos | Photos by Craig Schreiner | Video by Kyle Winter

Fans fill stands in Kachel Fieldhouse for weightlifting on Saturday, June 8. UW-Whitewater hosted the Special Olympics Wisconsin Summer Games on June 6-8, 2024.

Thousands of people visited the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater during the summer of 2024 as the Whitewater and Rock County campuses hosted scores of events between the spring and fall semesters.

A total of 6,330 campers and 700 camp counselors participated in the university’s 67 summer programs. Another 5,538 people were served through events run by external partners, including the Special Olympics Wisconsin Summer Games and the Drum Corps International Whitewater Classic.

UW-Whitewater’s First Year Experience office welcomed 2,182 students and 2,493 guests for Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR). The Department of Admissions held three preview days and 126 campus tours over the summer for prospective students and their family members and guests, attracting another 3,279 visitors to campus.

“It was an incredible summer at UW-Whitewater, and I’m so proud that nearly 20,000 people visited our campuses,” said Chancellor Corey A. King. “We have a vibrant community, and it was on full display across the wonderful plethora of events we hosted. I’d like to thank our students, event volunteers, faculty, and staff, including our camps and conferences office, for fostering a welcoming, inclusive environment for learning and engagement.”

The above Youtube video that shows highlights of the summer may be viewed here.

With offerings in athletics, arts and STEM, camps remain a vital part of the campus experience at UW-Whitewater. Camps that continued strong traditions of participation in 2024 included band, football, volleyball, and tennis camps, while several camps emerged as popular choices in 2024, including musical theatre, piano, and college prep bowling. UW-Whitewater at Rock County’s all skills volleyball camp reached maximum capacity.

Camper Ivy Snow, front, sings a solo as performers behind her practice choreography. Musical theatre camp rehearsed on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, for its end-of-week performance. (UW-Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner)

Inclusivity and belonging are part of the priority mission of UW-Whitewater; summer camps put the mission into practice by providing events like wheelchair basketball camp, hosted by coaches who are national champion team members and 2024 Paralympians, and Chatter Matters, a camp serving individuals who use assistive communication devices and their families. UW-Whitewater maintains a 1:10 ratio of camp staff to camper for all youth programming and prides itself in youth protection training for all faculty, staff, coaches, and volunteers involved in leading programming.

Speech pathology graduate students and other student volunteers and instructors host Chatter Matters, an overnight camp for children who use augmentative or alternative communication (AAC) and their immediate family members, on June 22, 2024. (UW-Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner)

“Camp is a special place filled with new and old friends, familiar activities and new experiences, and opportunities for people of all abilities to build life skills,” said Morgan Anderson, director of camps and conferences. “For more than 50 years, we’ve worked hard to provide affordable, life-changing experiences for our patrons. We strive to have something for everyone to explore.”

Registration for the 2025 camps season will begin in January. Music, athletic and academic events for youth are also held throughout the academic year. Visit our camps website for more information.