Lucretia Carter Berry, PhD • May 13, 2025
As a kid, I loved summer camps—especially the ones that gave me something different than the traditional classroom experience. I thrived in spaces where learning felt like an adventure—where we explored big ideas with our hands and hearts. That’s why I’m so excited about returning this summer to help lead the HUES OF YOU Summer Camp in partnership with UNC Charlotte’s Camps on Campus.
HUES OF YOU is the kind of camp I wish every child could attend. It’s full of creativity, connection, and curiosity. We craft, paint, color, read, share, and play—but more than that, we grow. Campers learn how to describe and celebrate the beautifully diverse characteristics that make us uniquely human. Through scaffolded lessons and joyful activities, we explore identity, culture, fairness, and connection in ways that are age-appropriate, meaningful, and fun.
Whether we’re mixing primary colored paint to match our skin tones in our Hues of You Portrait Painting activity, diving into our family origin stories, or giggling through The Name Game, every moment is designed to build language, connection, and confidence. Our goal is to help campers see themselves and others with respect and awe—and to help them feel seen in return.
What makes this camp especially impactful is how it’s designed to meet children where they are—developmentally, emotionally, and creatively. We offer two age-specific sessions: Cool School for rising 1st through 4th graders (Jul 14th to the 18th) and 49er Minors for rising 5th through 8th graders (Jun 23rd to the 27th). This allows us to tailor activities and conversations in ways that feel both accessible and empowering for each age group. Whether campers are just beginning to explore questions about identity and fairness, or are ready to dive deeper into social concepts and critical thinking, HUES OF YOU creates a space where every child can grow in understanding and confidence.
HUES OF YOU is inspired by my TED Talk, Children Will Light Up the World if We Don’t Keep Them in the Dark, and my children’s activity book, Hues of You: An Activity Book for Learning About the Skin You’re In. We believe that when kids have the vocabulary, understanding, and courage to celebrate diversity and cultivate justice, they become powerful forces for good in their homes, schools, and communities.
This will be the camp’s fourth year—and our second year in partnership with UNC Charlotte’s Camps on Campus. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with their phenomenal team along with Dr. Tehia Starker Glass as we continue to expand this experience.
If you’re looking for a summer experience that’s creative, affirming, and transformational, this is it. I hope to see your camper there!
Let’s raise up a generation of kids who see one another—who know how to honor and celebrate every hue in our shared humanity.
Because when children feel safe, seen, and supported, they light up the world.
And the learning doesn’t stop when camp ends.
To help extend the impact of HUES OF YOU Summer Camp, we invite caregivers and educators to join a post-camp virtual Caregivers’ & Educators Cohort. Through guided conversations and practical resources, this follow-up experience empowers adults to continue nurturing what their campers began—deepening understanding, modeling curiosity, and creating space for meaningful dialogue at home and in the classroom
It’s an opportunity to grow in confidence and connection, ensuring that the seeds planted during camp keep growing strong. Because when children are supported by adults who are also learning and growing, the transformation multiplies—and so does the hope for a more just and connected world.
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