Frog Camp is back, and faculty and staff facilitators are eager to help incoming students connect with the Horned Frog community.
A TCU tradition since 1993, Frog Camp is an off-campus adventure that gives participants an inside look at TCU traditions, what it means to be a Horned Frog and how they can make a difference at TCU. Students leave Frog Camp with new friends, faculty/staff resources, upper-division mentors and unforgettable memories.
Daniel Pullin, the John V. Roach dean of the Neeley School of Business, said the shared experience equips incoming students with a sense of discovery that is built on a foundation of trust and respect for others.
“For many students, learning about the various backgrounds and life experiences of their classmates is eye-opening. You can see dreams forming instantly as their confidence builds throughout Frog Camp due to these foundational and enduring friendships,” said Pullin, who is facilitating an Alpine camp this summer.
Pullin first participated in Frog Camp in 2019, shortly after his arrival on campus.
“It was a way for me to listen and learn from our amazing students and administrators responsible for this fabulous tradition. I learned so much about how to be a great Horned Frog while walking away from the experience both impressed and inspired by the aspirations of our students,” Pullin said.
“It’s important for me to connect with our students directly, so I can learn what is on their mind and how I can help them. Once I get to know them, I’m in a good position to share some of the things that have worked for me — and some of the things that haven’t — as I’ve built a career in the context of life. I will always jump at the chance to meet students and do all I can to help them start strong on such an important and special chapter of life,” Pullin added.
This summer, five different camps make up the nine Frog Camp sessions stretching across June, July and August.
A trio of three-day local camps introduce students to area attractions. All-Stars includes a Texas Rangers game, an AT&T Stadium tour and a behind-the-scenes look at TCU athletics. Cultura highlights some of the more modern sides of Fort Worth, along with fun in the sun at Burger’s Lake. Casa Nueva includes local favorites like the Stockyards, Sundance Square, the Fort Worth Zoo (named #1 in the country by USA Today) and Joe T. Garcia’s.
Held at campgrounds in Bruceville, Texas, the three-day Challenge camp invites students to stretch themselves through the challenge course, Grimy Games, Big Frizz competition and more outdoor fun.
The five-day Alpine camp in the Colorado Rockies takes the Horned Frog adventure to 10,000 feet, where campers can rock climb, whitewater raft, hike, tackle a high ropes course and experience a unique wood-burning sweat lodge.
Across the five different Frog Camps, incoming students enjoy a similar small group experience. Small groups include two upper-division facilitators and a faculty/staff mentor and provide a home base where campers explore and discuss many aspects of going to college and becoming a Horned Frog.
Jude Kiah, Ph.D., assistant vice chancellor for student affairs administration, is facilitating Alpine and Challenge camps.
“I love the opportunity to bond with students early in their time here, and it gives me a connection to them all the way through their college careers,” Kiah said.
“I think that students come with an open heart but guarded mind as they enter a new world. Frog Camp allows them the opportunity to connect with other students and the university in a way that makes them feel welcome and part of something greater. It’s a great place to start,” Kiah said.
“Frog Camp, aside from orientation, is the first welcoming to campus. It’s an opportunity for incoming students to build relationships in a smaller setting, making the transition to campus a little ‘easier’ by having a sense of familiarity — versus arriving and not knowing anyone,” said Aaron Harris, a career consultant in the TCU Career Center, who facilitated the second Casa Nueva camp.
“I find it almost miraculous how new students meet and bond during Frog Camps,” said Dan Williams, Ph.D., the Honors Professor of Humanities and director of the TCU Press, who has served as a faculty facilitator since 2005.
“Frog Camps allow new students to come together and connect with each other and with TCU. After a Frog Camp, new students feel so much better about starting at TCU, knowing other new students and knowing they are part of a community that welcomes them,” Williams said.
This summer, Williams helped with All-Stars. “I got to know a marvelous group of new TCU students. Helping new students is always gratifying,” he said.
Longtime facilitator Clark Jones, Ph.D., a senior instructor in TCU’s biology department and an assistant professor at the TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine, also helped with All-Stars.
“It is amazing how in 2½ days the students form such quick bonds and feel comfortable sharing their experiences and stories. First-year students get to really know a small group of classmates and a member of the faculty/staff, which provides students a foundation for building deeper friendships and opens the door for impactful mentorship opportunities. I have taught and mentored many students I met at Frog Camp. Being able to make those initial connections at Frog Camp increases their social and academic engagement and establishes long-term relationships that enhance their time at TCU and beyond,” said Jones, who is also a TCU alumnus.
“Getting a chance to tour the AT&T Stadium and see a Rangers game was fun; however, touring the TCU athletic facilities and walking on the football field in the Carter (Amon G. Carter Stadium) got the students really excited about attending TCU football games and other sports this year,” Jones added.
For specific dates and more information, visit the Frog Camp webpage.