Texas A&M’s 2016 Fish Camp Begins Friday
Texas A&M University’s 2016 Fish Camp kicks off Friday (July 29) with the first of seven sessions during which thousands of incoming freshmen trek over to an East Texas encampment for a four-day orientation program that focuses on what it means to be Aggie and which also offers a host of tips on adjusting to college life.
Freshmen at Texas A&M are called “fish” and approximately 5,900 of them entering Texas A&M this fall will take part in Fish Camp. In addition to learning about college life generally and Aggie traditions, many of them will make life-long friends and have lots of fun doing it.
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.
Fish Camp Head Director Jacob Rice expressed his high hopes for the sessions this year and noted some fine-tuning regarding some of the key programs.
“We are so excited to be able to embark on the journey to impact 5,900 plus freshmen lives and help them transition into college and Texas A&M,” Rice said. “We took a really hard look at what freshmen have said in the past, and wanted to make sure that we cater to what they wanted–not only for a great four-day experience at Fish Camp but also for what they need for their transition into A&M as well. We all realize how difficult the transition between high school and college is, and want to make sure that they have everything they need to be successful.”
Donna Lee Sullins, Fish Camp adviser, said almost 550 scholarships to attend camp have been presented to students who need financial assistance to attend one of the sessions. She said this is believed to be the first time that all such high-need students have been provided Fish Camp scholarships, along some other students who were so accommodated on the basis of other circumstances. The scholarships are provided through donations.
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 2016 can be found at (http://fishcamp.tamu.edu/namesakes).
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 said 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.
“My favorite part of being a member of Fish Camp is showing the freshmen class every year what it means to be a member of the Aggie Family,” noted senior Parker Todd, the organization’s director of finance. “I love teaching the freshmen our traditions, our history, and the spirit, but I also love showing them that Aggies love and accept their fellow Aggies. Fish Camp is our chance to show the incoming class what it means to be an Aggie, and why we hold ourselves to a higher standard. Fish Camp helps keep the spirit alive, while providing freshmen with a universally accepting support system to help them get through their first semester and eventually all four years of their Texas A&M experience. Getting to see that transformation, along with the growth of our members as student leaders, is what has kept me involved in this organization for four years.
He said continuity this year is expected to be better than ever before.
“Freshmen will be going to the first midnight yell and first football game with their camps, along with a soccer game and volleyball game,” he explained. “There are multiple events throughout Gig ’em week that camps will go to together, including our own event with the MSC, Fish Crush. Additionally, camps will have a reunion, camp lunches every week for the semester all across campus, and weekly hangouts with their Fish Camp. However, my favorite Fish Camp continuity event every year is going to the first Silver Taps together. Silver Taps and Aggie Muster are our most sacred traditions at Texas A&M, and watching the freshmen every time we go to Silver Taps is incredible. It’s on us to show them why these traditions are so important, and ensure their attendance over the next four years at A&M.”
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 noted.
For more information, contact the Fish Camp office at (979) 845-1627 or go to http://fishcamp.tamu.edu/.
