Arkansas has numerous employment opportunities in the human sciences sector, with workforce demand spanning retail, production, food and beverage service, nutrition, and family and consumer sciences

The University of Arkansas received a $150,000 Project Grant award dated September 15, 2025, from the National Institute of Youth, Family, and Community under the Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants (SPECA) program (CFDA 10.226). The primary deliverable is the creation and operation of a mobile Human Sciences Summer Camp serving high school students in two rural Arkansas communities in Pope and Franklin counties through September 14, 2027. The camp will provide hands-on, experiential learning activities focused on apparel, nutrition, and hospitality with emphasis on entrepreneurship and waste reduction from food and textile industries. All camp materials, including sewing machines, cooking supplies, and restaurant-style plating kits, will be transported to venue locations close to participating students.

The project will be jointly managed by faculty at the University of Arkansas, Arkansas Tech University, and the Cooperative Extension Service in Pope and Franklin counties. University of Arkansas undergraduate students enrolled in the Human Sciences program will design camp activities and serve as mentors, thereby providing dual benefits of leadership development for undergraduates while offering role models and professional mentorship to high school participants. Camp participants will gain career-ready skills and professional competencies aligned with Arkansas workforce demands in the human sciences sector, preparing them to pursue postsecondary education and careers in food, agriculture, and related fields.

Workforce preparedness and strong community engagement within arkansas are strengthened by timely educational interventions during critical stages such as high school. High school students in rural arkansas often experience fewer opportunities to engage in meaningful, high-quality learning that provides them with important career-ready skills and directly affects their local needs and economy. To meet the critical need for improved access to educational resources, the project team will create a mobile human sciences summer camp. The camp will provide hands-on, experiential learning activities in key areas of human sciences, with a special focus on entrepreneurship and waste reduction from food and textile industries. The camp activities reflect crucial concepts in apparel, nutrition, and hospitality that help students understand real-world issues and identify innovative and sustainable solutions. The project will benefit high school students in two communities in rural arkansas. College students enrolled in the human sciences program at the university of arkansas will design camp activities and serve as camp mentors. This dual approach enhances leadership and service experience for undergraduates while providing mentorship and role models for high school camp participants. Camp participants will be prepared to demonstrate professional competencies that benefit arkansas students, families, and communities. The mobile human science summer camp will be run by faculty at the university of arkansas, arkansas tech university (ATU), and the cooperative extension service in pope and franklin counties. The project team will bring all camp materials, such as sewing machines, cooking supplies, restaurant-style plating kits, and other supplies to the campers to camp venues close to where they live. The mobility of the camp invites rural communities to access university resources without having to travel to the university's physical location. The project outcomes will advance curriculum in human sciences, enrich immersive, hands-on learning experiences, and increase interest in pursuing a bachelor's degree among high school students by creating meaningful, lasting connections to the university. Moreover, the summer camp will better prepare high school students for future careers in human sciences and help them learn how to reduce textile and food waste in arkansas and globally. This project is aligned with the USDA's mission to support rural development, sustainable practices, and leadership development. Ultimately, IT will prepare the next generation of young leaders to address important societal challenges such as reducing waste and strengthening rural communities.