2026 SPARC National Conference

Have you noticed your camp enrollment trending younger? Designing programs that appeal to older middle school students (Grades 7–9) can be a challenge—but with the right framing and strategic partnerships, you can capture this elusive demographic. In this session, Jim Patterson (Harvard Westlake) and Kat Yorks (Lakeside School) will share how they developed offerings that resonate with older students, including programs like Entrepreneurship Camp, Leadership Lab, and AI Innovators. You’ll learn how to leverage existing programs, faculty expertise, and community connections to expand and “level up” your current offerings. Participants will gain insight into our design process and leave with practical strategies for reimagining existing camps—or identifying untapped strengths within their own teams—to better engage older middle schoolers.