Camp Catanese

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Camp Catanese

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Camp Catanese is a week-long summer camp experience for first-generation students living in Phoenix,

At Camp Catanese, campers are at the center of everything that we do. The Camp Catanese Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides a comprehensive college-preparation program for first-generation Phoenix high school students. Our program consists of a one-week science, math, and college preparatory camp held annually at Arizona State University's West Campus, weekend retreats held throughout the year, free ACT prep tutoring sessions on Saturdays, and educational field trips. Campers will learn about college access, experience a STEAM education, build trust and confidence through sports and team-building games, and enjoy the night through evening programs full of dancing, swimming, and fun! Each program helps our high school students to receive information on how to access college in a fun and engaging setting.”

09/30/2026

Winter Camp Catanese 2027 staff applications are officially open! 💙💚

We couldn’t be more excited for our sixth-ever Winter Camp, and we’re hoping you’ll be part of this life-changing weekend with us again this January!

Training starts the evening of Thursday, January 15th. Camp runs Friday the 16th through Monday the 19th. Those interested in counselor, volunteer, and program staff positions are welcome to apply! Applications close November 1st at 11:59 PM PST. Link in bio!

We can’t wait to see you there! 💙💚

08/31/2026

As summer comes to a close and a new school year begins, we’re looking back at one final unforgettable moment from Camp Catanese 2026: Graduation Night! 🎓💙💚

This summer, we celebrated our largest graduating class in Camp Catanese history, honoring 102 incredible members of the Class of 2026 surrounded by the families, friends, counselors, mentors, and staff who have cheered them on throughout their Camp Catanese journeys.

Now, our graduates are officially beginning their next chapters at colleges and universities across Arizona and around the country, including MIT, Yale, Brown, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, the University of Pennsylvania, Notre Dame, ASU Barrett Honors College, and so many more! Others are proudly beginning careers in the skilled trades, technical education, and serving our country in the military.

To the Class of 2026, we could not be prouder of you. As you settle into your new campus, meet new people, and walk into your first college classes, remember that your entire Camp Catanese family is cheering you on every step of the way!

Work hard! Ask for help when you need it! Take care of your minds! Find reasons to smile! Make time for the people and things that bring you joy! And no matter how difficult things may get, DON’T GIVE UP! DON’T EVER GIVE UP! AND DON’T QUIT YOUR DAYDREAM!

Camp Catanese doesn’t end at graduation, and neither does our belief in each of you. We love you, we’re proud of you, and we can’t wait to watch everything you accomplish next!

Congratulations again, Class of 2026! Go change the world!

08/12/2026

‼️ATTENTION ALL RETURNING CAMPERS!‼️

We can’t wait to see you at our Back to School Rally on Saturday, August 29th!

This is one of the most important events of the year, and if you are planning on attending summer camp or winter camp this year, make sure you come sign up to be a part of the Camp Catanese 2026-2027 programming this school year! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out, we’re excited to see you there! Please RSVP using the link in our bio!

07/30/2026

As we wrap up our third and final summer camp session recap, we’re ending with one of our most exciting weeks yet... our largest Pathway Camp ever! 💙💚

This summer, more than 150 students joined us at ASU West for an immersive week of career exploration through our Engineering, Medical, and Education Pathways. After the success of last year’s inaugural Engineering Pathway, we were excited to introduce brand new pathways in Medicine and Education, giving students even more opportunities to discover where their passions can take them!

Students in our Engineering Pathway explored computer science, mechanical, aerospace, biomedical, and semiconductor engineering through hands-on projects that included coding simulations, building powered cars, designing exoskeleton arm prototypes, and learning alongside TSMC interns, Arizona State University, and the Kessler Foundation!

In our Medical Pathway, campers stepped into the role of healthcare professionals by learning CPR and AED fundamentals, taking vital signs, using stethoscopes and ultrasound technology, performing neurological exams, and exploring the many educational pathways that lead to careers in medicine!

Meanwhile, campers in our Education Pathway learned that if you can teach you can do anything! Students strengthened their public speaking and networking skills, participated in mock interviews, debated real education policy, designed and taught their own lessons, and learned from an incredible panel of teachers, principals, superintendents, nonprofit leaders, and education advocates!

When classes wrapped up, campers cooled off at the pool, competed in classic Camp Catanese sports and activities, and built friendships with students who shared many of the same interests. Evenings included a trip to Castles N’ Coasters, an unforgettable Glow Night, and a special closing celebration where everyone came together to watch the Session 3 camp film!

Thank you to our students, instructors, volunteers, mentors, and industry partners for making our largest Pathway Camp in Camp Catanese history possible! Stay tuned as we wrap up our biggest summer ever with our 2026 Graduation recap! 🎓💙💚

07/22/2026

Session 2 brought another incredible week of learning, laughter, and memories to Camp Catanese, and we’re excited to look back on some of the moments that made it so special!

This year, we welcomed more than 200 rising 8th graders, freshmen, and sophomores to our largest Session 2 ever! Throughout the week, campers explored future careers through hands-on experiences that brought learning to life. Students stepped into the role of scientists, using microscopes to examine the world around them! They became medical professionals, using stethoscopes, reflex hammers, ultrasounds, building model lungs, and even sculpting brains as they learned about the human body. Campers also became journalists, delivering breaking news right from our own classrooms, and business executives, working together to manage the Phoenix Suns through departments like marketing, finance, and operations! The learning continued beyond the classroom as campers connected with staff members and alumni from around the country during our College Fair and College Panel, giving them an early look at the many opportunities that await after high school!

Afternoons were packed with Camp Catanese favorites, including Just Dance with Mr. Cat, pool parties, billiards, board games, and plenty of classic camp sports and activities with friends! The fun continued into the evenings with Carnival Night, Quinceañera Night, our 2026 Camper vs. Counselor Soccer World Cup, and a special trip to Chase Field to cheer on the Arizona Diamondbacks together!

Thank you to our incredible Session 2 campers for bringing so much energy, curiosity, and excitement to camp each day. We loved watching you try new things, make new friends, and create memories that will last long after the summer ends!

Stay tuned as we continue looking back on our biggest summer ever with highlights from our Pathway Camps and Graduation! 💙💚

07/07/2026

As our biggest summer in Camp Catanese history comes to a close, we’re excited to look back at the memories that made it so special. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing highlights from each session, starting with Session 1!

This year, we welcomed 260 rising juniors, seniors, and recent graduates to the ASU West campus for an unforgettable week of learning, leadership, and community. Campers explored future careers through brand new classes like Filmmaking and Public Speaking, alongside favorites including courses in the fields of Medicine, Engineering, Education, Law, Business, Journalism, Computer Science, and so much more!

Afternoons were filled with sponge dodgeball, slime making, foosball and ping pong tournaments, along with all of the classic Camp Catanese sports and activities! Evening programs brought everyone together for Superhero Carnival Night, Serenade Night, Quinceañera Night, and our 2026 Camp Catanese Olympics, where campers proudly represented mythological countries inspired by some of our favorite movie franchises!

Throughout the week, students gained new skills, worked together in team-building exercises on the ropes course, explored future career paths, learned about college through different panels and school fairs, and built friendships that will last well beyond camp!

We also celebrated our largest graduating class in Camp Catanese history, recognizing 97 graduating seniors as they crossed the stage and prepared for the next chapter of their journeys! We can’t wait to share more from Graduation, so stay tuned!

This summer also gave us the opportunity to welcome friends from Arizona’s Family, ABC15, and Teach For America to camp. We’re excited to share more from their visits as well! Thank you to our campers for making Session 1 such an incredible week, and to our counselors, volunteers, donors, and supporters who make experiences like this possible year after year.

Stay tuned as we continue looking back on our biggest summer ever with highlights from Session 2, our Pathway Camps, and Graduation! 💙💚

06/22/2026

Our campers’ stories are their parents’ stories. Who our campers are, their dreams, and their efforts are shaped by their parents.
Graduate Erick Alvarez shared his father’s story and how it has shaped him and made him proud to be a first generation student.
The guidance and resources that we give to our campers is for generational change that impacts both them and their families. Hearing stories like Erick’s father’s story is a reminder that what impacts our campers impacts their families. Our campers are inspired by their parents, and we are inspired by our campers and their families.💙

To all of our campers, we are forever proud of you and will believe in YOU!

06/12/2026

Session 2 Recap!

Session 2 ended a few days ago, but we’re not done yet!! Stay tuned for our Engineering, Medical, & Education camp in the upcoming weeks😃 Campers, we will see you soon!

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Phoenix, AZ

Website

http://campcatanese.com/

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