April 29, 2026
My practicum site was Camp Umoja. Camp Umoja is a summer camp for children that live in the subsidized public housing developments in Baltimore City, Maryland. This means that their families live below the poverty line, and must use subsidies from the government in order to live there. In my opinion, low income children should have the same opportunities to go to summer camp as children that may live more comfortably. This was the aim of Camp Umoja, to be able to give these kids the same opportunities as other kids. We as counselors taught them academics, gave swim lessons, provided arts and crafts activity time, free time in the gym with the athletic facility equipment, and free swim at the end of the day. As an intern, I oversee camp along with my co-intern, Jill Noss, and we make sure things are running smoothly. This job was very important to me because for the first two years of my Umoja involvement, I was a volunteer. I went to monthly Umoja “parties” held at my highschool for the kids to come and play for a few hours on Saturdays, along with the week-long summer camp. Each year there is a theme, and this year our theme was “Mad Scientists”, so each section of our days were science-themed in some way! Every child gets matched up with one counselor in a one-on-one relationship that fosters a friendship that changes not only the child’s life but the counselor’s. I know I will always remember my camper from my first Umoja year, and each year I go back, he runs off the bus to say hello to me! I feel endlessly proud to have altered his life in any way, and for the better.
My skills as a volunteer for this site definitely helped me to transition into the leadership position of the intern. I learned to communicate with my peers who were also working at camp, but also learned that I did have some type of authority and that people should trust what I had to say. It was a great way to teach me responsibility, especially when I cared so much about camp going well, and it was partially on me to make sure that happened.
As for how I found the site, I have been doing this for a few years so I knew that I’d want to use this as my practicum project. My site supervisor, Steve Pomplon, was always a great connection to have and made it clear to me that I could reach out to him and return to Umoja any time, and I am very grateful for that. For my advice for incoming Scholars, I’d say to build relationships with your professors, especially in your science classes, because many professors here on UMD campus actually have lab opportunities for undergraduates like us to join! They are always willing to hear from students who want to pick their brains, so I suggest if you’re even thinking about it, definitely email people expressing your interest and see where that gets you!
My experience with Umoja has always driven my passion for being involved in my community. In the future, I’d always hoped to get a job that deals somehow with kids, even though recently I have been leaning more towards a career in the science community. My biology degree will allow me to follow my passions for science and the natural world, while my experience at Umoja allows me to enhance my passions in service and helping children. This has made me want to be a better asset to my community and I constantly search for opportunities to serve.