ABSTRACT
Summer camps are known to increase knowledge and engage children during the summer holidays. However, the COVID-19 pandemic placed a freeze on all activities that required face-to-face interaction during the summer of 2020. The purpose of this paper is to describe the planning, implementation, and evaluation of a virtual summer camp for children. Our virtual camp “Whimsical Wednesdays" was hosted by a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) that is dedicated to changing children's lives and providing service to the community. We recruited children aged 6-12 to attend the virtual summer camp through informational flyers posted on the institution’s website, Instagram, Facebook, and other social media networks. The camp ran for five consecutive Wednesdays during July 2020 and engaged children in 60-minute sessions between 11:00 a.m. and noon. An average of 20 children participated each week in topics such as performing arts, reading, STEM, health and wellness, and cultural awareness. Overall, the camp demonstrated that children and facilitators were able to engage and interact using the online platforms Zoom and Nearpod. All participants expressed satisfaction with the program through survey evaluation instruments. Lessons learned include successes and challenges with technology, evaluation, and data collection methods. These lessons will be used to improve future programs.