Caption for photo above: GEAR UP campers gather for a photo at this year’s event. (Photo courtesy of GEAR UP Wyoming)
Sixty high school students from across Wyoming gathered at the University of Wyoming this June for a transformative week of college preparation, personal growth, and community-building during the annual Camp GEAR UP. The residential summer program, organized by GEAR UP Wyoming, is designed to help low-income and first-generation students not only imagine college—but prepare for it.
“GEAR UP, especially this camp, has not just changed my outlook on life after high school, but life itself,” one student shared. “We have such good and motivational speakers and staff that I feel supported in no matter what I do or say.”
Funded by a federal grant through the U.S. Department of Education, GEAR UP Wyoming supports students from seventh grade through their first year of college, with the goal of increasing high school graduation, postsecondary enrollment, and long-term academic success.
This year, GEAR UP Wyoming received more than 70 student applications for 80 available camp slots. Ultimately, 60 students traveled—some from over 400 miles away—to attend the camp in Laramie. Participants were drawn from high schools connected to GEAR UP’s seven partner community colleges statewide.
Eligibility is determined primarily by household income, with most students qualifying through the federal free and reduced-price lunch program.
Campers participated in a wide range of workshops and classes designed to build both academic and life skills. College application and scholarship essay writing, financial literacy, admissions counseling, and information literacy were central to the curriculum. This year, new sessions on wellness and career readiness were added to better support students’ holistic development.
“The most important thing I learned at Camp GEAR UP is that no matter what happens, you always have the power to turn your life around and make it better,” said one participant. Another added, “I learned how to manage my stress better and how to more precisely choose a college for me.”
Many students said the camp helped them see possibilities for their future that they hadn’t considered before.
“So I’m a first gen student and before GEAR UP I kind of really didn’t have a lot of hope about what I would do after high school, but since joining GEAR UP it’s really changed how I perceived that and they really showed me the opportunities that I have and they helped me realize things that I can do and they’re willing to do for me so they’ve been a really big resource,” one camper explained.
The week wasn’t all lectures and paperwork. Campers learned through creative, interactive activities such as:
- Escape rooms with college-readiness themes
- Vision board creation to imagine long-term goals
- A campus-wide scavenger hunt to familiarize students with university resources
- Lip sync battles, commencement speeches, and original poetry readings to build public speaking skills
- A line dancing lesson to simulate campus life and social clubs
- A college-readiness game show to reinforce key knowledge in a fun, team-based environment
A highlight of the week came from guest presenters brought in through the national youth organization CoolSpeak. These speakers—Juan Cangas, Zach Gowan, Donray Bennett, and Cecilia Perales—shared stories of personal resilience, college success, and overcoming adversity.
Each speaker represented a different path to college and career success, resonating with students facing similar struggles and uncertainties.
GEAR UP Wyoming has been tracking student outcomes over the course of the program. From 2017 to 2024, the initiative has delivered strong results:
- 96% of GEAR UP seniors graduated from high school
- 62% enrolled in postsecondary education
- Students collectively received over $13.6 million in GEAR UP and Hathaway scholarships
GEAR UP also consistently boosts FAFSA completion and college persistence rates, helping students stay enrolled once they start college.
“GEAR UP has definitely changed how I think my life after high school is going to be like,” one camper said. “I believe I can make it through college with all the help that I’m going to get.”
For many students in Wyoming, physical and financial barriers can make college feel out of reach. Some campers came from remote towns where staff must drive hundreds of miles to provide in-person support. Others are the first in their families to consider postsecondary education at all.
To help overcome these challenges, GEAR UP provides year-round services, including ACT prep, scholarship support, tutoring, application help, and even parent education. Support continues through students’ first year of college to increase persistence.
Camp GEAR UP is just one part of a broader statewide initiative. The program is funded 100% through a $4 million annual grant from the Department of Education, with an additional $4 million in in-kind and scholarship contributions.
“Camp is planned, organized, and conducted by GEAR UP Wyoming’s administrative team at UW in partnership with staff from all seven of GEAR UP Wyoming’s community college partner sites in collaboration with various UW departments and outside entities. Katrina Bradley, the Student Programming Coordinator and primary point of contact for camp, hosted her first Camp GEAR UP this year, bringing a Master’s degree in Community Counseling, over a decade of education experience, event planning expertise, and a history of organizational leadership. The team’s collaborative efforts ensured a meaningful, well-supported camp experience for its participants,” said Christian Cabral, Professional Development Coordinator for GEAR UP Wyoming.
GEAR UP leaders say they are committed to improving and expanding their offerings each year.
And for many students, the difference is already clear.
“Before GEAR UP I thought I wouldn’t make it to college,” one student said. “After going to GEAR UP and touring colleges and stuff I understand that it’s not all that hard.”
A wonderful article! Thank you for highlighting the awesome impact of GEAR UP Wyoming and Camp GEAR UP. Stories like this help shine a light on the powerful, often life-changing support that programs like GEAR UP provide to students across our state—especially those who might not otherwise see college as a possibility. Thank you for helping tell this story—it means a lot to the students, families, and staff who are part of GEAR UP.