EXCEL camps introduce students to future-ready skills

Visit our summer Camps, CLCs, and Safe Places page to find the full listing of summer 2026 sites!

For two decades, Milwaukee Recreation has used the EXCEL program to provide hands-on opportunities for youth at Milwaukee's summer Community Learning Centers (CLCs) and Safe Places.

First created in the summer of 2006, EXCEL (Exciting Camps for Enrichment Learning) was designed to boost participation of often underserved middle school youth in Milwaukee Recreation's summer CLCs by offering free, unique, engaging, and high-interest half-day camp experiences. The range of EXCEL camps is driven by youth interest and is developed in collaboration with an array of community partners.

During the summer of 2025, Milwaukee Recreation added 3D printing, graphic design, and camping essentials on top of traditional EXCEL offerings like dance, music, swim, cooking, and outdoor essentials.

“The number one reason [we added these camps] was to introduce students to new opportunities that might spark their interest,” Milwaukee Recreation manager Beth-marie Kurtz said. “In return, we hoped to foster holistic development, boost self-confidence, and give them the opportunity to build future-ready skills in a low-pressure environment.”

In a typical summer, 200-300 middle- and high-school youth from 10 or more CLCs and Safe Places participate across six or more EXCEL camps. Since 2006, more than 4,000 youth have participated in EXCEL camps

The program’s structure varies based on the partner involved. Typically, the EXCEL camp spans one week, running from Monday to Thursday for four hours each day. However, some camps, like the H2O Digital Music camp, extend over two weeks, allowing for greater flexibility. Certain professionals and partners may visit the sites, while some students take transportation to designated locations for camp programming, such as the Urban Ecology Center.

“The EXCEL program absolutely was beneficial for my students. Our students got to enjoy well-rounded programming they normally wouldn't get to experience. My students couldn't be more grateful to learn the techniques and skills they have.”

Retricia Byrd-Townsell
Carson Academy CLC site coordinator

For middle school students, this summer camp program also helps them choose an MPS high school that may offer related classes. Many EXCEL camps have exposed young people to career-focused skilled trades such as metal fabrication, carpentry, plumbing, cosmetology, fashion design, utility construction, and aviation. Other EXCEL camps have offered youth the chance to develop healthy life-long skills in swimming and water safety, cooking, karate, tennis, archery, and arts and music-focused experiences such as digital music production, theater arts, digital photography, and drawing.

“The EXCEL program actually started when I was working at the sites,” former Milwaukee Recreation supervisor Helen Hamilton said. “The kids learn a lot of skills, and they also learn a lot about careers that they could pursue.” Hamilton served as the primary lead coordinator for the EXCEL program from 2011 until her retirement in 2024.

As the program celebrates its 20th anniversary in the summer of 2026, Milwaukee Recreation continues to create new opportunities for young people. This year, Glow Up Academy, which teaches makeup artistry, is part of the curriculum for the EXCEL program, allowing Milwaukee youth to explore new passions, career interests, and life skills.