Camp Coug: College Access for Youth
Camp Coug: College Access With Cougar Mentors
Camp Coug is a one-day college access experience for high school students. A program of Believe in Me, it connects campus tours, volunteer mentors, and practical workshops with youth resources students can use online now.
✔ Explore campus life and ask practical questions about your college plans.
✔ Connect with WSU students, alumni and local community volunteers
✔ Explore MentorBoost Kits and youth resources you can use beyond a camp day.
Explore Camp Coug Together
Campus experiences. Practical skills.
Volunteer mentoring
MentorBoost Kits encourage youth
Explore college and career pathways.
Discuss access needs with us.
Help Build the Next Stage of Camp Coug
Donate Through Win-Win
Help fund the next stage of Camp Coug and youth mentoring.
Use Youth Resources
Visit the Resource Hub now, or contact us about referral interest.
Partner or Sponsor
Discuss school participation, collaboration or practical support.
What Is Camp Coug?
College access through campus visits and volunteer mentoring.
Camp Coug brings high school students to campus to explore college life, ask questions and meet volunteer mentors. Tours and workshops introduce applications, financial aid, scholarships and academic support. Schools and community contacts can discuss participation, transportation and access needs.
1
Campus Experience
Two one-day camps introduced students to campus life in a way that felt welcoming, practical, and achievable.
2
Round-Robin Workshops
Students explored the college application process, financial aid, scholarships, academic support, and myths about college.
3
Resources After Camp Coug
The experience extends beyond the event through MentorBoost Kits and the Cougs 4 Kids Resource Hub.
Reported Reach
An April 2026 snapshot of program participation.
~200
Students Served
7
Spokane-Area High Schools
WSU
Student Mentors
200
MentorBoost Kits
2
One-Day Camps
How Camp Coug Works
Campus tours, mentors and resources you can use.
Campus Tours
Students explored Education, Agriculture, Business, Engineering, and Communications through tours led by current WSU student mentors.
Layered Mentorship
Student and alumni volunteers offered guidance alongside Communities in Schools contacts. Participation is confirmed site by site.
Practical Workshops
Sessions addressed academic support, application deadlines, financial aid, scholarships, on-campus living, and assumptions about college.
Logistics Solved
Transportation, permissions, lunches, and school coordination were handled through partnership so students could focus on the experience.
MentorBoost Kits combine practical items, encouragement, educational tools and enrichment to support students after camp
The Cougs 4 Kids Resource Hub has youth resources available now for learning, planning and next steps.
What Makes Camp Coug Different
Explore college. Plan your next steps.
Camp Coug combines a campus visit, conversations with student and alumni volunteers, take-home tools and youth resources online. Students can explore their options and ask questions about college.
Explore and reflect
Students can see campus life, ask questions, explore academic departments and talk with mentors. The visit starts conversations about college, careers, interests and future plans.
Use the Resource Hub and youth-focused blog articles to keep exploring interests and planning your own next steps.
Planning for access needs
Schools and caregivers can discuss access needs before an event. Confirm transportation, permissions, meals and support arrangements for each participating group.
Participation and support arrangements are confirmed for each event with schools and local contacts.
Partnership Model
Schools, mentors and partners help shape each day.
Local Schools
Coordinated field trip logistics, student participation, permissions alignment, and special needs support.
Cougs 4 Kids has worked with Communities in Schools contacts and local participation is confirmed site by site. Discuss your local role.
Assembled and distributed MentorBoost Kits, created name tags, and led a workshop on assumptions about college and college students.
WSU students and alumni share campus experience and practical guidance. Participation does not imply institutional endorsement by the university.
The MentorBoost Kit
MentorBoost Kits: practical support through five caring pillars.
Basic Human Needs
T-shirt, water bottle, bottled water, and rain poncho.
Love & Belonging
Handwritten note of encouragement from the partnership team.
Community Support
C4K Resource Hub card and key tag for continued access.
Education
Pen, day planner, and USB thumb drive.
Enrichment
Two Flatstick Pub mini golf passes and an inflatable Butch.
Co-Branded Visibility
Sponsors can discuss support for backpacks, notes, bottles, resource cards and shirts. Available recognition is confirmed for each event.
Voices from Camp Coug
What the experience felt like.
Before Camp Coug, college felt like something other people did. After talking to students on the tour, it felt like a place I could actually belong.
Student participant
Designer
You could see students relax as the day went on. Once they realized they could ask honest questions, their confidence started to rise fast.
Mentor
Designer
This model works because every partner owns a clear role. It is practical for schools, meaningful for students, and highly replicable for future campuses.
Program partner
Designer
Sponsors & Collaborators
Help build the next Camp Coug experience with practical support.
Help build the next stage of Camp Coug by supporting materials, campus visits and youth resources. Schools, nonprofits and sponsors can discuss a practical role with our team.
T-Shirts
Water Bottles
Resource Cards
Encouragement Notes
Backpacks
MentorBoost Kits
FAQ
Camp Coug questions for students, families and partners.
What is Camp Coug?
Camp Coug is a one-day college access and mentorship program that brings high school students to campus for tours, workshops, and guidance on applications, financial aid, and academic success.
Who is Camp Coug for?
Camp Coug is for high school students exploring college and their next steps. Schools and caregivers can ask about local participation and student access needs.
What resources can students use after camp?
Students can use the Cougs 4 Kids Resource Hub and blog articles now. MentorBoost Kits offer practical tools and encouragement beyond the camp day.
How can schools or universities partner?
Schools, nonprofits and campus contacts can discuss student groups, volunteers, materials and logistics. Local participation is confirmed site by site.
What makes this model different?
Camp Coug connects campus exploration, volunteer guidance, MentorBoost Kits and online resources. It is a starting point for students to plan next steps.
How do we discuss accessibility and support needs?
Contact us before an event about access needs, transportation and school support. Arrangements are confirmed for each participating group.
Youth Resources You Can Use Now
Explore the Resource Hub and these articles for practical ideas you can use before or after Camp Coug.
Bring Camp Coug to Your Community
Start a partnership conversation.
Schools, nonprofits, campus contacts and sponsors can help build the next stage of Camp Coug. Tell us your goals so we can discuss participation and useful support.
✔ Campus experiences
Explore a campus, meet mentors and ask college questions.
✔ Built for collaboration
Designed to align schools, campus leaders, nonprofits, and sponsors.
✔ Plan next steps
Discuss event plans and local participation with us.
Share your inquiry to the Camp Coug team. We will follow up to discuss next steps.
Final Call to Action
Let's expand access together.