A summer camp that gives elementary school children their first taste of college life at historically Black colleges and universities just got a big boost. Beyoncé's BeyGOOD foundation has handed a $25,000 grant to Camp HBCYouth.

The funding lets the program welcome more kids to HBCU grounds, add more college students to its paid staff as counselors and keep the program affordable for families. The grant extends BeyGOOD's past support for HBCU scholarships and Black beauty schools to kids who are still years away from college.

Founder and executive director Reagan Fresnel publicly thanked Beyoncé, her mother Tina Knowles and the foundation staff. She said the money means more young children will get to walk onto an HBCU campus.

Built by HBCU graduates

Fresnel graduated from Spelman College in 2018. She started the camp with Brian Wright, a Morehouse College alumnus. Their seven-week program has now served 2,000 children from kindergarten through fifth grade.

Fresnel says her own time in college, full of Black pride and a strong sense of belonging, inspired her to give younger children something similar long before they fill out an application.

Chants, history and STEAM

The camp blends classroom learning with HBCU traditions. Campers study Black history, learn college chants and hear about Black pioneers. Days also include reading, STEAM projects, art, music, sports and wellness activities.

HBCU students and graduates serve as mentors. Visits to academic departments and other parts of campus help children picture possible careers. The camp counts Spelman, Morehouse, Clark Atlanta and Tennessee State among its partner schools.

The foundation said it chose the camp because it opens HBCU history and opportunity to the youngest learners through school lessons, health, creative arts and athletics. Education is one of the foundation's three focus areas along with entrepreneurship and community response.

Growing to Houston

The grant arrives as Camp HBCYouth gets ready to add a site at Texas Southern in Houston. Families can sign up at an early-bird rate starting Nov. 9.

For parents, the camp offers a summer of fun. For the children, it can plant an idea that lasts a lifetime: that a college campus is a place where they belong.