Troy Camp
Troy Camp summer camp site in the San Bernardino Mountains, 3607 Trousdale Parkway, San Bernardino, CA 92401
About
Troy Camp is a USC student-run philanthropy that offers activities such as hiking, horseback riding, swimming, arts & crafts, campfires, Color Team Olympics, cooked holiday feasts, and visits to places like the LA Zoo, Disneyland, and museums in Expo Park. The program also includes PE, Dance, Theatre, Art, Science, Creative Writing, Music, leadership activities, group discussions, community service activities, and workshops on college applications, interview skills, public speaking, and social media. Troy Camp runs a week-long camp in the San Bernardino Mountains for 200 elementary school students and offers after-school programming on-campus at USC.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: a week-long camp, plus year-round after-school and specialized programming; originally founded as a 10-day summer camp in 1948
• Price: all programs are completely free for students
Troy Camp was founded in 1948 by USC student Otis Healy as a 10-day summer camp for underprivileged boys in South Los Angeles, and it has run every year since then, entering its 77th year of programming and celebrating 77 years of friendship. It is described as the largest student-run philanthropy on campus and one of the university’s oldest and largest philanthropy organizations, and it is a non-denominational nonprofit run entirely by student volunteers at the University of Southern California. The organization provides long-term mentorship for kids throughout South Los Angeles, works with 20 local schools, and is committed to working with elementary, middle, and high school students year-round through programs such as SMASH, Specialized Programming, elementary school tutoring and extracurricular programming, Leaders in Training for middle school students, TC Leads for high school students, and monthly events for returning campers at various places around Los Angeles.
Campers are selected from the 20 local schools Troy Camp works with and build mentor/mentee relationships with college students who attend the University of Southern California. Specialized Programming focuses on extracurricular subjects and often ends with a showcase for friends and family at the end of the semester. Counselors are knowledgeable about the process of moving into higher education, and Troy Camp’s advisors include current USC faculty and staff such as Dr. Celso “Abuelo” Delgado, Jr., Robert “Sensei” Hernandez, Gabriel Valenzuela, Adlai “Zip a Dee Doo Dah” Wertman, Christina Mireles Martin, and Taylor “Panda Express” Serafin.
The leadership team includes Mariah “Gatekeep” Nava and Joel “Chop Chop” Morales as Co-Executive Directors, along with directors for areas such as A&I, Camp Programming, Camper Recruitment, Communication, Counselor Affairs, Finance and Donor Relations, Fundraising, Grants and Itemized Gifts, Middle School Programming, Public Relations, School Programming, High School Programming, and Yearlong Programming. Troy Camp notes support and partnership from The University of Southern California, USC Alumni Association, Troy Camp Alumni Association, Trojan Family Weekend, The Ettinger Family, Otis Healy, The Welborn Family, USC Athletics, and Indra & Company.
Testimonials from past counselors describe Troy Camp as “home away from home,” emphasize being part of a community with close relationships between counselors and campers, and highlight the chance to see kids’ potential, as shared by Martin “Rotisserie” Torres (Class of 2019), Nausher “Manatee” Walia (Class of 2016), and Annie “Table Tennis” Song (Class of 2018).
Last updated June 25, 2026.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: a week-long camp, plus year-round after-school and specialized programming; originally founded as a 10-day summer camp in 1948
• Price: all programs are completely free for students
Troy Camp was founded in 1948 by USC student Otis Healy as a 10-day summer camp for underprivileged boys in South Los Angeles, and it has run every year since then, entering its 77th year of programming and celebrating 77 years of friendship. It is described as the largest student-run philanthropy on campus and one of the university’s oldest and largest philanthropy organizations, and it is a non-denominational nonprofit run entirely by student volunteers at the University of Southern California. The organization provides long-term mentorship for kids throughout South Los Angeles, works with 20 local schools, and is committed to working with elementary, middle, and high school students year-round through programs such as SMASH, Specialized Programming, elementary school tutoring and extracurricular programming, Leaders in Training for middle school students, TC Leads for high school students, and monthly events for returning campers at various places around Los Angeles.
Campers are selected from the 20 local schools Troy Camp works with and build mentor/mentee relationships with college students who attend the University of Southern California. Specialized Programming focuses on extracurricular subjects and often ends with a showcase for friends and family at the end of the semester. Counselors are knowledgeable about the process of moving into higher education, and Troy Camp’s advisors include current USC faculty and staff such as Dr. Celso “Abuelo” Delgado, Jr., Robert “Sensei” Hernandez, Gabriel Valenzuela, Adlai “Zip a Dee Doo Dah” Wertman, Christina Mireles Martin, and Taylor “Panda Express” Serafin.
The leadership team includes Mariah “Gatekeep” Nava and Joel “Chop Chop” Morales as Co-Executive Directors, along with directors for areas such as A&I, Camp Programming, Camper Recruitment, Communication, Counselor Affairs, Finance and Donor Relations, Fundraising, Grants and Itemized Gifts, Middle School Programming, Public Relations, School Programming, High School Programming, and Yearlong Programming. Troy Camp notes support and partnership from The University of Southern California, USC Alumni Association, Troy Camp Alumni Association, Trojan Family Weekend, The Ettinger Family, Otis Healy, The Welborn Family, USC Athletics, and Indra & Company.
Testimonials from past counselors describe Troy Camp as “home away from home,” emphasize being part of a community with close relationships between counselors and campers, and highlight the chance to see kids’ potential, as shared by Martin “Rotisserie” Torres (Class of 2019), Nausher “Manatee” Walia (Class of 2016), and Annie “Table Tennis” Song (Class of 2018).
Last updated June 25, 2026.
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