Another Stellar Year For Fish Camp

Texas A&M University’s Fish Camp this summer will be attended by an estimated 6,100 entering freshmen — incoming students who elect to attend the unique orientation program and get a running start on being Aggies.

Freshmen at Texas A&M are called “fish” and Fish Camp gives them the opportunity to quickly learn Aggie traditions, make life-long friends and have lots of fun doing it.

The first of seven four-day sessions of Fish Camp is scheduled to start July 31 and the last session will begin Aug. 18. Fish Camp is conducted at Lakeview Methodist Conference Center near Palestine.

More than 1,200 Aggie upperclassmen — men and women — will be on hand to make the camp experience memorable for the new students. Underscoring their sense of giving back to their university, they will pay their own camp expenses to lend their helping hands by providing leadership and advice based on their Aggie experiences.

Counselors, crew and staff members have been working since last October to create a special experience for the members of the Class of 2019.

The days at camp are filled with information sessions and fun. They also include team-building exercises such as intramural sports and small group discussions.

“We are excited to introduce some new presenters and programs at camp this year,” says Sarah Brien, a senior who is the head director for this year’s Fish Camp. “We are welcoming presenters representing Greek Life, Student Employment Services and Student Health Services.”

Donna Lee Sullins, Fish Camp adviser, says 402 scholarships to attend camp have been presented to students who need financial assistance to attend Fish Camp. The scholarships are provided through donations. The need still exists and donations are still being accepted, she notes.

Each session has seven individual camps, and each of those camps is designated by a different color and a namesake. Namesakes are individuals nominated by Texas A&M students, faculty, staff and friends of Fish Camp. It is considered an honor to be selected as a Fish Camp namesake. A list of namesakes for 2015 can be found here.

Along with being told about Aggie traditions, the new students will also learn about the university’s core values – integrity, excellence, leadership, loyalty, respect and selfless service. They also will learn about the school’s 1,000 student organizations – and how to join one or more of them. Additionally, they learn how to find the help they may need while on campus, along with other useful information to help them adjust to college life.

In addition to welcoming the new freshmen, the student leaders and counselors work to create a support system that allows the new Aggies to build relationships and share in the Aggie Spirit. The Fish Camp staff and counselors say they are aware that they are role models, as well as leaders for the freshmen class and, as such, the importance of acting with utmost integrity and set an example.

The student leaders say they still have the same goal that they have always had: to ensure the new freshmen have a successful transition to college and to keep Texas A&M’s traditions and values alive for years to come.

Fish Camp began in 1953 when the late Gordon Gay, a former YMCA director, took a few students camping as a way to help them adjust to life at college. The program has evolved over time, and the result is the record number of participants this year.

Fish Camp is still unique, even though other schools across the country have discovered the value of such a positive program and have begun somewhat similar programs in recent years, university officials note.

Dates for Fish Camp 2015 are: Session A, July 31-Aug. 3; Session B, Aug. 3-6; Session C, Aug. 6-9; Session D, Aug. 9-12; Session E, Aug. 12-15; Session F, Aug. 15-18; and Session G, Aug. 18-21.

For more information, contact the Fish Camp office at (979) 845-1627 or go to http://fishcamp.tamu.edu/.