Arkansas Northeastern College

Arkansas Northeastern College employees with school-age children identified summer childcare as a barrier to staying in the workforce. Some told college leaders they were considering other opportunities because they did not have care once their children had completed kindergarten and school was out for the summer.

“We had several employees who came to me and said, ‘I’m going to have to think about looking at other opportunities because I don’t have child care during the summer, and that’s really an obstacle for me,’” said Courtney Fisher, Camp College co-founder.

ANC launched Camp College, a summer day camp for the children of faculty and staff who have completed kindergarten through fifth grade. Offered through the college’s community education program, Camp College provides a safe, structured and engaging place for children while their parents work.

The camp operates on campus Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. throughout June and July.

To create the program, ANC renovated a large unused classroom and furnished it with kid-friendly furniture already available through a recent donation from The Delta School. The college made a few additional purchases to finish preparing the space.

ANC hired four part-time counselors, with two working at a time, to lead the program. In its first year — the summer of 2025 — 15 campers participated, representing 13 ANC employees. Camp College serves an average of 10 to 12 children each day.

The program cost about $15,000 to launch, with counselor salaries accounting for most of the expense. Parents pay $35 per week to help cover snacks and supplies, and children bring their own lunches.