What Did YOU Do This Summer

by Renee Ford

“What did you do this summer?” That’s often one of the first questions asked when students return to school in the fall. We can tell you what Bright Lights did! We spent our summer vacation hosting over 1,000 students during our five weeks of hands-on, engaging camps. Highlights include: 

  • Meeting 70 Japanese students from Senshu Matsudo Junior High during our International camps held at Lux Middle School. It was so much fun to watch the language and cultural exchange between the 50 American students and our Japanese friends as they interacted in and out of camps. 
  • Offering a wide variety of camps thanks to partnerships with entities like The Bay, Makit Takit, UNL, Turpin Outdoor Education Center and LUXE Dance. That variety is what gives students different experiences each summer and allows them to explore interests, with the outcome often being new hobbies, areas of study or career interest. Special shout out to our amazing teachers who lead the camps with enthusiasm and often years of teaching experience. 
  • Awarding nearly $31,000 in scholarships to students who otherwise could not attend Bright Lights due to financial barriers. Thank you to the generous individuals, foundations and corporations who believe in our mission and funded these scholarships.  
  • Seeing happy students come to Bright Lights for the first time and find passionate teachers, new friends and a caring staff to help them have fun while learning.  

We have already begun planning for Summer 2025– our 38th summer! Have an idea for a camp? Send an email to info@brightlights.org. And watch BrightLights.org for an announcement regarding our camp dates, plus subscribe to our monthly eNewsletter to make sure you don’t miss any Bright Lights news.