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Gates County Community Partnership (GCCP) is presenting “ACTivate Futures – Gates,” a free college readiness initiative, and “Digital Brilliance Hour,” a free game development and music production camp, to local students this summer.

“ACTivate Futures – Gates” is for rising 11th and 12th graders. The initiative is a one-week summer enrichment camp combining ACT Prep, youth development, and an overnight college tour in Virginia.

“ACTivate Futures – Gates” will take place June 24-28 at a yet to be determined location in Gates County.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to engage in a college prep program for a third consecutive year. As an organization, we desire the best for our students and we feel this initiative is invaluable,” stated Benjamin C. Saunders, Jr., President of Gates County Community Partnership. “We encourage local students to consider this program. It will be well worth it.”

The goal of “ACTivate Futures – Gates” is to influence and direct students towards a four-year degree from an accredited university. The objective of the program is to increase the number of students who obtain a postsecondary certification.

“Digital Brilliance Hour” is for rising 7th through 9th graders. The camp is a three-day immersion in game development and music production. The curriculum is carefully crafted to be engaging and hands-on. Participants will dive into a world of creativity through a series of activities that include training, practical work, product packaging, and presentations. The camp will also focus on nurturing essential life skills like collaboration, communication, and decision-making.

“Digital Brilliance Hour” will take place June 25-27 at Central Middle School.

“Summers are supposed to be about fun, and we are excited to offer this new opportunity to local students,” said Sandra Jordan Branch, Director of Gates County Community Partnership. “We would like to thank the Burroughs Wellcome Fund for funding this camp. I do not think there are many better ways to engage our local students in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) than using gaming and music.”

The goal of “Digital Brilliance Hour” is to rectify societal imbalances by strategically addressing economic, job market, and systemic disparities. It aims to provide the tools needed to elevate, fostering a more balanced and equitable society.

Space is limited for both camps, but Gates County Community Partnership will do everything possible to engage all youth who are interested.

“Gates County Community Partnership continues to honor its mission by delivering high-quality, innovative programs tailored for students. ‘ACTivate Futures – Gates’ and ‘Digital Brilliance Hour’ stand as testament to their commitment towards investing in students’ future ambitions and dreams, guiding them towards achieving their full potential,” stated Dr. Barry Williams, Superintendent of Gates County Schools.

Registration forms for both camps are located at https://gatescountycp.org/our-events/. Please return to gatescountycp@gmail.com. The deadline to apply is Saturday, June 1.

For more information, call 252-220-5051.

Gates County Community Partnership is a 501(c)(3) public charity whose mission is to inspire and increase community engagement by the citizens of Gates County for the educational and social development of its youth. More information about the organization can be found at www.gatescountycp.org.