In August 2025, Charitable Trust’s staff and board members visited the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) during its inaugural Early College Summer Boot Camp, a weeklong initiative designed to prepare incoming students for college success. Held on CSM’s La Plata Campus, the program offers students immersive, hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) experiences with college professors, alongside engaging sessions on “Leveling Up in College and Life,” led by the CSM Admissions Team.
Throughout the week, students participate in interactive workshops, share meals in the campus cafeteria, and build connections with faculty, staff, and peers. These shared experiences help students ease into the college environment while developing essential academic and life skills.
Charitable Trust representatives had the opportunity to observe several classroom sessions. One session, led by two experienced professors, introduces students to strategies for improving reading retention and succeeding in college-level coursework. To help reduce the fear of asking questions in class, professors encourage students to start small—such as raising their hand to ask a simple question like, “What’s today’s date?” They also advise arriving early to class to ask questions in a low-pressure setting. Building familiarity with the material and with faculty expectations, they explain, is key to long-term academic success.
During a math-focused session, the Charitable Trust team learned that approximately one-third of students experience math-related anxiety significant enough to require behavioral health support. This anxiety often hinders participation and performance. This session highlights the importance of proactive learning experiences, like this Boot Camp, which builds confidence and reduces test-related stress. Students are also informed about the free academic resources available through CSM, including tutoring and counseling services.
The Early College Boot Camp program was made possible in part through funding from the Charitable Trust’s Fiscal Year 2026 Grant.
To learn more about programs for high school students at the College of Southern Maryland, visit: Get Started at the College of Southern Maryland (CSM)