Camp at College sparks young minds with VR and hands-on learning

By Tressa Presley McLeod, University Communications and Marketing

SARASOTA, Fla. (June 2025) — On the third day of “Camp at College: World of Wonder,” a rising seventh‑grader looked up from her recycled‑materials prototype and asked, “Can we just stay here tonight and keep working?”

For organizers, that single sentence captured the heart of the innovative summer program: Young minds so deeply engaged in learning that they didn’t want to stop. 

Hosted by the USF College of Education, Camp at College: World of Wonder brought 20 middle school students from Sarasota and Manatee counties to campus for a week of hands‑on discovery, real‑world problem‑solving and immersive learning through cutting‑edge virtual reality (VR) tools in the new COE Collaboratory space at the University of South Florida Sarasota‑Manatee campus. 

“This camp gave my daughter the confidence to try, to make mistakes and to grow without fear,” said Adriana Vianna, a USF doctoral student and parent of a camper. “She came home every day excited, saying, ‘Here, it’s OK to make mistakes; you just try again.’ It’s more than a camp. It’s a life‑changing experience.” 

Campers were introduced to the process of innovation through the IGNITE curriculum, developed by the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame. They studied real inventors, explored local issues and designed their own solutions through interactive group work, digital platforms and physical prototyping. 

What made the camp stand out was its use of virtual reality. Students engaged with apps such as First Steps, Beat Saber, Open Brush and Noda, learning how to collaborate and create in immersive environments. A highlight was testing a VR prototype app developed by USF faculty and students in partnership with the Advanced Visualization Center and supported by the Florida High Tech Corridor.

“Participants were consistently engaged and motivated, connecting big ideas to real‑world actions and potential solutions,” said Lindsay Persohn, an assistant professor in the Literacy Studies Program at the USF College of Education. “This camp allowed us to collaborate with young people in ways that traditional schooling rarely makes possible.” 

Some students aligned their projects with future career interests. One camper interested in fashion design partnered with a peer passionate about the environment to create garments from recycled materials. Another aspiring engineer designed a safety system inspired by challenges she sees at home. 

For many campers, stepping foot on a university campus was a first — and a spark. After a guided campus tour, several said they hoped to attend USF one day. In exit interviews, many spoke about how meaningful it was to work alongside college students, professors and researchers. 

“At the USF College of Education on the Sarasota‑Manatee campus, we are passionate about equipping youth with the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world,” said Cheryl R. Ellerbrock, campus dean. “This camp empowers students to think critically, collaborate and use creativity to address real community challenges. We are proud to lead the way in fostering inclusive, inquiry‑driven experiences that inspire the next generation of changemakers.” 

The camp’s success was a testament to collaboration. USF Sarasota‑Manatee and the College of Education provided space, staff and faculty support. The USF Foundation sponsored lunches and snacks, and the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame funded T‑shirts and materials. Key partners such as Booker Middle School and Dr. LaShawn Frost helped pilot the program in the spring, setting the stage for its expanded summer session. 

“This program is tackling real‑world challenges with state-of-the-art tools,” said Brett Kemker, interim regional chancellor. “It’s more than a camp. It’s a pathway to higher education that inspires students, connects families and showcases the strength of collaboration. We’re eager to build on its early success.” 

With a successful spring pilot and a growing summer program, the team, including faculty such as Csaba Osvath, an expert in literacy, artmaking and technology, aims to deepen the role of immersive learning and design in future camps, programs and academic offerings using the Collaboratory space. Osvath emphasized, “This isn’t the future of education or future tools — they are here and now. This is the present, and it is moving faster than ever.”

The team hopes to build on that strong foundation by inviting more students to experience the power of inquiry and hands-on design, making an enduring impact on the next generation of inventors, researchers and changemakers in the Sarasota-Manatee area and beyond. 

“This is a proof of concept,” said Vianna. “The tools, the support, the creativity; they work. Now we just need the resources to reach more kids.” 

For donors, community partners and families alike, Camp at College demonstrates what is possible when access, innovation and imagination intersect. And for the students? It just might be the beginning of a lifelong love of learning. 

Photography by Kathleen Castro, University Communications and Marketing