Founded in 1948 by USC student Otis Healy, Troy Camp is an integral part of the USC community. As one of the university’s oldest and largest philanthropy organizations, we are committed to providing long-term mentorship for the youth of South Los Angeles.
Throughout the school year, we build relationships with local youth through the following programs: SMASH and SP, elementary school tutoring and extracurricular programming; Leaders in Training, a mentorship program for middle school students; and TC Leads, a high school mentorship program.
In the summer we host a week-long camp in the San Bernardino Mountains for 200 elementary school students and throughout the year we hold monthly events for returning campers at various places around Los Angeles. We're non-denominational, a nonprofit, and all of our programs are free for students.
Our organization is run entirely by student volunteers at the University of Southern California. We come from all over the world and have many different stories and backgrounds, but we're all committed to helping our campers achieve their dreams.
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Cinema & Media Studies - Class of 2019
"Troy Camp has become my home away from home, an organization nothing short of amazing. Whether it is camp or any of the programs Troy Camp offers, the support, time, and care we provide our children is one to be proud of, and one that I am ever so grateful to be a part of."
Business Administration - Class of 2016
"Troy Camp to me is all about being apart of a community. After being a cabin counselor, I considered all 9 of my kids part of my family. Troy Camp allowed me to become closer to not only all the counselors but also all of the kids and it was an amazing experience.
Computer Science - Class of 2018
Inside each and every one of these kids is the potential for unmeasurable greatness, and in Troy Camp we are given the precious opportunity to help and watch them attain it. At the end of the day it's more than color team cheers, Double Dare, and "Sodapops!"-- these kids become your biggest supporters.
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In 1948, USC student Otis Healy founded Troy Camp, a 10-day summer camp for underprivileged boys in South Los Angeles. More than six decades have passed since that first camp, which ran with just 15 counselors and 45 campers.
Camp traditions are passed down from generation to generation, each adding a little of their own unique spirit to the story of Troy Camp. We've expanded our reach and added many new programs over the years, and today we're the largest student-run philanthropy on campus, committed to working with elementary, middle, and high school students year-round.
