When dozens of 7th to 10th graders headed off to summer camp this past July, their destination was a New Hampshire community college campus rather than a lakeside retreat. They came to learn about early childhood education at a free, three-day Future Early Educator’s Summer Camp. Participants learned about child development, worked with children in an early childhood program, talked about careers in the field, and learned about Registered Apprenticeships and grant opportunities to fund education to pursue these careers.
The Future Early Educator’s Summer Camps are an innovative approach to cultivate interest in future careers in a field facing long-term workforce shortages. “Participants had a great time, and we had strong turn-out for a pizza lunch where parents were invited to hear presentations about Early College and early childhood education apprenticeships in New Hampshire,” said Lisa Furman, Early Childhood Education Program Coordinator at Nashua Community College (NCC).
A grant from the NH Department of Health and Human Services funded the camps in 2025, the first year of the program. Initially available at all seven of New Hampshire’s community colleges, camps were held where enrollment was highest at NCC, River Valley Community College (RVCC), and White Mountains Community College (WMCC).
