Other library systems in Colorado have added summer camps to their program offerings in recent years that are typically fee based. While these experiential camps are a great way to help combat the “summer slide” students experience when they’re out of school, JCPL recognized that offering them at a cost to patrons was creating an experiential gap for families who could not afford it, limiting their access to educational and social resources. Furthermore, most traditional week-long educational summer camps open for registration in January or February, before many parents are thinking about summer experiences, and they tend to fill up very quickly. There are also fewer programs offered for neurodivergent children and English Language Learners, who often fall behind their peers in grades and test scores.

To bridge the opportunity gaps created by standard summer camp registration, JCPL decided to make camp registration free like all other Summer Challenge programs. Registration did not open until May 1 to be closer to the actual camp start dates, when summer break is more likely to be on parents’ and caregivers’ minds. In 2025, many of the programs were also offered in Spanish for the first time.
Numerous partnerships made the camps possible. To name just a few:

• Denver Center for Performing Arts gave the Cosplay Camp a makeup tutorial

• Jeffco Public Schools chefs and teachers led cooking and robotics classes

• Local artist Cal Duran and arts educator Val Ponce facilitated an art workshop celebrating Indigenous and Latin American cultures

• Author and illustrator Saki Tanaka taught an art camp guiding school-age children through an underwater diorama creation

• Local ceramicist Jessi Gerak led a program called Autism Creates: Pottery tailored for neurodivergent participants

A total of 1,582 kids, tweens and teens participated in 23 different camps in just two months at no cost to their families. They received opportunities to learn technical programs, creative expression, cultural expansion and practical skills. They also benefited from socialization with peers who shared similar interests. Feedback from parents and caregivers was overwhelmingly positive. Highlights include:

• “My daughter has loved [culinary camp]! Last night she showed me the correct way to cut an onion.”

• “These camps have been a lifesaver. [Participant] has really been enjoying coming to the camps this summer.”

• “Thank you so much for this opportunity! [Participant] is so, so excited for this and to show off their cosplay and handmade gloves.”