Don Boyd Summer Youth Camp Fosters Growth and Knowledge

A whistle blows and a classroom full of first and second graders quiets down as they continue to experiment with the plastic spoon catapults they designed during science class. Down the hall, nearly a dozen pre-teens work on their writing skills, and in an adjacent classroom, elementary age kids use pencils and paper to practice their math facts.

Certified instructors from Lufkin ISD spend five weeks each summer with more than 30 students, helping them bridge educational and social gaps that often happen when school is out. The Don Boyd Summer Youth Camp, a project of the Concerned Black Men of Lufkin, has served underprivileged youths in Angelina County for more than 40 years. During the month of June, the campers participate in educational activities to enhance English, math, science and computer technology skills and take field trips to go skating, to water parks and to the movies – many activities these children might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience. By giving them a safe space during the hot summer months, members of the Concerned Black Men of Lufkin believe they can decrease potential student involvement in petty crimes and other mischievous activities.

Many of the staff members come back to camp year after year, and their love for these children is evident. A grant from the Brookshire Brothers Charitable Foundation goes toward hiring certified instructors and pays for instructional materials in order to maintain the high quality standards set by the program. Many of the former campers, who spent long summer days at the Don Boyd Summer Youth Camp, now enroll their own children in the program – a true testament to its longevity and positive impact. Enrollment suffered following the COVID-19 pandemic, but Ralph Bean, a member of the Concerned Black Men of Lufkin and a volunteer since the camp’s inception, said they will continue to foster growth and knowledge in each child who walks through their doors.