Southern Oregon University Youth Programs

Southern Oregon University Youth Programs Since 1981, SOU Youth Programs has offered day & overnight camps, academic competitions, after school programming and college credit opportunities.

SOU Pre-College Youth Programs is part of the Division of Outreach and Engagement, the self-support outreach arm of the University, and has a long-standing, positive relationship with many of the educational institutions and agencies in southern Oregon. The department began in 1980 directing programs for students in grades K-12. Funding is provided through grants, private donations, contract servi

ces and fees paid for program tuition. Program offerings include enrichment classes, academic competitions, summer residential camps, and high school credit programs.

ALUMNI ROLL CALL!To everyone who has ever been a part of Youth Programs: this one is for you. We are doing an official a...
06/04/2026

ALUMNI ROLL CALL!

To everyone who has ever been a part of Youth Programs: this one is for you. We are doing an official alumni roll call, and we need your voice!

If you attended or been a part of any of our summer camps, afterschool programs, academic competitions, conferences, or college credit courses over the last 45 years, please drop a comment below!

Let us know the year(s) and the program(s) you participated in.

We want to celebrate your experience—and yes, we definitely want to see those throwback photos! Share your memories and pictures in the comments below! 🥰

We are very excited to announce that our department has received fiscal support from the Reed and Carolee Walker Fund du...
06/04/2026

We are very excited to announce that our department has received fiscal support from the Reed and Carolee Walker Fund during their Spring 2026 grant cycle!

This is an except from the full press release, which you can access at oregoncf.org/press-room:

Southern Oregon University Foundation received a grant to support culturally specific youth summer camps.

Russell Zook, Director of Outreach and Engagement for SOU, said the funding will enable the university to continue to offer overnight camps that demystify the college experience, cultivate leadership and foster belonging.

"We are deeply grateful for the Walker Fund’s ongoing support of these vital programs,” said Russell Zook, Director of Outreach and Engagement for SOU. “We appreciate Oregon Community Foundation’s continued partnership in creating opportunities where youth can truly flourish."

SOU will receive $135,000 in the first year of the three-year grant.

“The Walker Fund has backed Southern Oregon University’s youth programs for many years, and as SOU undergoes a financial transformation, we’re proud to offer a stable source of support for the next three years,” Drake said. “Academia Latina, Konaway Nika Tillicum and the Black Youth Summer Institute are critical for the youth they serve, creating cultural experiences and providing access to the university and to programming that the students may not otherwise experience.”

Since its founding, the Walker Fund has invested more than $43 million in Jackson County organizations working to create greater opportunity and stability for local children and families.

Thank you, again, for your continued support of our programming!

👏We are so proud to show off our graduating class of Pirates to Raiders students at Phoenix High School Pirates! The Lat...
05/28/2026

👏

We are so proud to show off our graduating class of Pirates to Raiders students at Phoenix High School Pirates! The Latino programs coordinator, Katie Mena, wrote that “It has been such a rewarding experience watching these students work year after year to achieve their goals. It was an honor to celebrate their many accomplishments with them and their families. Within this group are valedictorians, scholarship recipients, future college athletes, and so much more. Congratulations, Class of 2026!”.

Estamos sumamente orgullosos de presentar a nuestra clase de graduados del programa "Pirates to Raiders" en la Phoenix High School Pirates! La coordinadora de programas Latinos, Katie Mena, escribió lo siguiente: "Ha sido una experiencia sumamente gratificante ver a estos estudiantes trabajar año tras año para alcanzar sus metas. Fue un honor celebrar sus numerosos logros junto a ellos y sus familias. En este grupo se encuentran estudiantes con los promedios más altos de su generación, beneficiarios de becas, futuros atletas universitarios y mucho más. ¡Felicidades, Clase del 2026!"

We would love your support!Ashland Co-Op's Change for Good program is a monthly register round-up that benefits local or...
05/18/2026

We would love your support!

Ashland Co-Op's Change for Good program is a monthly register round-up that benefits local organizations—and SOU Youth Programs is on the ballot! Co-op members vote to choose which organizations are featured the following year.

If you’re a Co-op member, please consider voting for SOU Youth Programs during the voting window from May 18th to June 8th!

If you’re not a member, you can still support us by liking or sharing this post to help spread the word.

If selected, these funds will directly benefit youth throughout our Ashland and Rogue Valley communities. ❤️

You can learn more about the program at ashlandfood.coop/change-good. Thank you for helping us make a difference!

Our Black Youth Summer Institute (BYSI) application is closing soon! Be sure to submit yours before our deadline THIS Fr...
05/11/2026

Our Black Youth Summer Institute (BYSI) application is closing soon! Be sure to submit yours before our deadline THIS Friday. ✨

To apply or complete our application today, visit youth.sou.edu/bysi

After many months and numerous Brain Bowl competitions we have our winners!At the Southern Oregon PBS studios in Medford...
05/01/2026

After many months and numerous Brain Bowl competitions we have our winners!

At the Southern Oregon PBS studios in Medford, the Cascade Christian Challengers defeated the South Medford Panthers to win the 49th annual Southern Oregon University Youth Programs Division “A” Varsity Brain Bowl Championship.

Then the Chesterton Saints overcame the Rogue River Chieftains in a knowledge faceoff to become the Division “B” Varsity Brain Bowl Champions.

Earlier, the Logos Legends beat the Ashland Grizzlies to win the 2026 JV Brain Bowl Championship.

All three teams have earned the right to represent Southern Oregon in this summer’s National Brain Bowl competitions.

Congratulations to the 49th annual SOU Youth Programs Brain Bowl Champions: Cascade Christian Challengers, Chesterton Saints, & Logos Legends. Good luck at Nationals! 👏

Division “A” Varsity Championship:
Cascade Christian Challengers - 47
South Medford Panthers - 29

Division “B” Varsity Championship:
Chesterton Saints - 52
Rogue River Chieftains - 20

JV Championship:
Logos Legends - 53
Ashland Grizzlies - 28

04/30/2026

Reminder to families: SOU Academia Latina and SOU Academy applications will be closing tomorrow, May 1st, at 11:59 pm. Be sure to get your camp applications submitted before the deadline!

Have questions? Reach out to our team at [email protected] or 541.552.6452.

Recordatorio para las familias: las solicitudes para SOU Academia Latina y SOU Academy cerrarán mañana, 1 de mayo, a las 11:59 p. m. ¡Asegúrense de enviar sus solicitudes para el campamento antes de la fecha límite!

¿Tienen preguntas? Comuníquense con nuestro equipo a través de [email protected] o llamando al 541.552.6691.

To our wonderful Black Youth Summer Institute families, we are thrilled to introduce the heartbeat of our program. As we...
04/24/2026

To our wonderful Black Youth Summer Institute families, we are thrilled to introduce the heartbeat of our program. As we prepare for a summer of growth, connection, and joy, we want you to get to know the two leaders dedicated to your children’s success and safety: Marvin Woodard and D.L. Richardson.

Marvin Woodard brings a wealth of experience and a deep heart for mentorship to his role as a program coordinator. Having been with the Black Southern Oregon Alliance since its 2019 inception, Marvin’s commitment to our youth is unmatched. Outside of camp, he has spent nearly 25 years at Southern Oregon University, where he serves as the Coordinator for Student Belonging & Engagement. Marvin’s career is dedicated to creating spaces where students of color find their voice, and he brings that same passion to BYSI. He is most looking forward to seeing how our students have evolved since last year, urging new campers to "own the experience" and returners to take the lead. And to the parents? Marvin wants you to take a well-deserved breath and "enjoy your week of freedom!"

Joining him is D.L. Richardson, one of the original founders of BYSI seven years ago. As the President of our partner organization, Black Southern Oregon Alliance, D.L. is a tireless advocate for Black students and families throughout the region, working closely with educators to ensure our children have safe, supportive environments in school. This summer, D.L. is especially excited to share a historic production of A Raisin in the Sun at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival with our campers—an experience he knows strikes a deep chord with students as they see their own culture celebrated on stage. “OSF actors have been known to say that the [BYSI] students being at the play means more to them than they can truly express in words.”

We know that for many parents, especially those joining us for the first time, sending your child to camp can come with a mix of nerves and excitement. D.L. wants to offer you his personal assurance: "We GOT your kids." Our team’s highest priority is the safety and well-being of your children.

Join in on celebrating these two incredible men and their tireless work for BYSI!

Set the clocks! The Southern Oregon University's 49th annual Brain Bowl Finals will be streamed via the Southern Oregon ...
04/23/2026

Set the clocks!

The Southern Oregon University's 49th annual Brain Bowl Finals will be streamed via the Southern Oregon PBS channel and online at pbs.org/show/brain-bowl. Tune in on Sunday, April 26th at 4:00 pm to watch the following matches:

Junior Varsity: Ashland v. Logos Charter
Varsity Div. A: South Medford v. Cascade Christian
Varsity Div. B: Rogue River Jr/Sr v. Chesterton Academy

Congratulations to all the teams for their hard work during the in-person competition in March and for their progression to the finals competition at the SOPBS broadcast station this weekend!

The YOUNG faces of the Youth Programs team who live and breathe summer allllll year long! 👏
04/10/2026

The YOUNG faces of the Youth Programs team who live and breathe summer allllll year long! 👏

Address

1250 Siskiyou Boulevard
Ashland, OR
97520

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Southern Oregon University Youth Programs posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Southern Oregon University Youth Programs:

Shortcuts

Share

Category