Starting a new job or moving to a new city can spark a mix of excitement and dread—an emotional cocktail familiar to many adults. For young adolescents, the leap from elementary to middle school can stir similar unease, amplified by lockers, shifting schedules, and the social shuffle of new peers. Over the past decade, I’ve tackled this challenge head-on by running sixth-grade transition camps in Loudoun County, Virginia. What began with “Bridge to the Ridge” at Eagle Ridge Middle—my own alma mater—has grown to six additional schools, empowering thousands of rising sixth graders to step into middle school with confidence.
Purpose of the Camps
These camps aren’t thrown together on a whim; they’re meticulously planned to address students’ real needs. Surveys of fifth graders from feeder elementary schools revealed their top fears: mastering lockers, navigating class changes, finding rooms on time, and facing bullies. We also identified a gap they didn’t mention—academic skills like organization, time management, and studying—which are critical for middle school success. With multiple elementary schools feeding into each middle school, we saw a chance to spark early friendships. Balancing these priorities with a summer camp’s promise of fun, we crafted a curriculum that’s equal parts practical and engaging.
Structure of the Camps
Each camp follows a consistent framework, mirroring Loudoun County’s A-Day/B-Day, eight-block middle school schedule. Core classes—tailored to each school’s needs—typically include School Layout (tours and scavenger hunts), Middle School Basics (decoding schedules and expectations), Academic Success (organization, time management, study skills), PE (introducing routines), and Lockers (hands-on practice). Electives like Art, Music, Technology, Team Building, or Community Building add variety, while some schools weave in unique offerings—like Willard Middle’s “CLAWS Club” advisory intro or Trailside Middle’s “No Place for Hate” climate program—reflecting their distinct cultures.
After finalizing classes and lesson plans, I build a master schedule based on enrollment, capping classes at 15-20 students. Teachers pick their preferred subjects, and the puzzle comes together. Unlike many transition programs that herd students in fixed groups, I give each camper a personalized schedule to follow. Why? Students told us switching classes terrified them—so we let them practice it. It’s a logistical marathon—Excel wizardry and mail merges galore—but seeing kids master their schedules makes it worthwhile.
Do the Camps Work?
Absolutely! The proof lies in the flood of parent emails thanking me for banishing their child’s jitters, and in the transformation I witness by camp’s end: nervous glances morph into confident strides and laughter with new friends. In 2021, a post-camp survey of 247 Brambleton Middle attendees found 99% agreeing that “CLIMB Time gave me more confidence to start sixth grade at Brambleton,” with similar responses across the board. Teachers notice, too—early in the school year, they can spot camp alumni by their ease and readiness. The data and anecdotes align: these camps deliver.
Next Steps
No camp is static. Each year, I tweak the formula based on student and staff feedback, ensuring we stay aligned with our goals. Having expanded to seven schools, I’m eager to reach more in the future, refining and scaling this model to support even more rising sixth graders.
Special Thanks
This work wouldn’t be possible without visionary principals who took a chance on me—some when I was just a stranger with a pitch. Thank you to Bridget Beichler, Michelle Campiglia, Lenny Compton, Renee Dawson, Niki Diehl, Stacee Huffer, Chad O’Brien, Scott Phillips, and Jeff Rounsley for your trust and leadership. Together, we’re building bridges to middle school, one camper at a time.
Matt Hoyler is a Math Teacher and Camp Coordinator in Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia. He can be reached at Matthew.Hoyler@lcps.org.