When the words 'summer camp' are used, inevitably some people will automatically assume those terms are associated with kids playing sports. However, there is no question that Virginia Tech has been very versatile in their options of summer camps and conferences that have been offered to guests.
"The (summer) camps and conferences hosted here at Virginia Tech are not at all a money making venture," said Kimberle Badinelli, a spokesperson for student programs. "They are used as more of a public relations tool for the university."
It is predominantly used to "finance the Conference and Guest Services, who provide housing and dining for all campers" wishing to stay in the residence halls at Virginia Tech for the duration of their summer camp.
Tech senior Dana Dobson, a hospitality and tourism management major who worked as a conference aide in Conference and Guest Services said the services provided by the department dealt with all the housing and dining aspects of the summer programs at Tech.
Some of the camps that have been held at Tech are day and recreation camps where a gamut of participants come for a plethora of activities, ranging from sports and dance to pottery and literature.
A majority of the camps held during the summer at Tech are overnight camps, which have allowed younger students to view the school's campus life directly.
Virginia Tech offers 29 camps for the summer on its grounds, with a wide variety of purposes as well as servicing many demographics.
"We are very proud of the organizations we have running here every summer at Virginia Tech because we offer a fine housing and dining program," said Badinelli.
"I feel our camps give the opportunity to view campus life firsthand to the people who stay with us. The majority of these kids usually end up applying to Virginia Tech during their senior year of high school."