Rocky's Residents

Rocky's Residents is a new residential add-on to your child's day camp purchase, offering an immersive college experience. This 4-night option, available during two weeks in the summer (June 23rd and July 14th), includes housing at Juniper-Poplar, all meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), and exciting nightly activities. Campers will have the opportunity to interact with USF student organizations, explore USF recreation and wellness programs, engage with USF admissions, and tour the USF Tampa campus

• You must be 15 years old by June 1, 2025.
• You need to sign up for Rocky's Residents as an add-on to an eligible day camp taking place during the weeks of June 23rd or July 14th.

Rocky's Residents is an add-on experience to eligible day camps. During the registration process for your chosen day camp, you will be prompted to add the Rocky's Residents experience. Simply follow the steps to include it with your camp registration.

Campers will stay at the Juniper Poplar Residential Hall on the USF Tampa campus, located at 12030 USF Beard Drive, Tampa, FL 33620.

Each room in Rocky's Residents measures approximately 11'6" x 14'6" and is furnished with a built-in closet, bed, desk, chair, and dresser for each student.

Campers have access to WiFi, an Ethernet connection in each bedroom, a laundry facility on the first floor, and a kitchen on every floor (note: the kitchen is for light use only, as meals are provided). There is also a study lounge with WiFi and Ethernet on each floor, along with 24-hour, on-call emergency maintenance.

All of our camps adhere to American Camp Association guidelines for the supervision of minors, ensuring a 10:1 camper-to-counselor ratio.

Rocky's Residents ensure camper safety through a robust residence hall security program supported by staff supervision and University Police (UP) assistance.

• Hall Security: Exterior doors of each residence hall are secured 24/7. Campers will not receive keys to any doors; instead, counselors supervising throughout the night will manage access and ensure safety.
• University Police (UP): UP is a full-service law enforcement agency with jurisdiction in Hillsborough County. Officers regularly patrol the residence halls and surrounding areas and are available 24/7 to provide assistance.

By combining staff vigilance with professional law enforcement, we create a safe and secure environment for all campers.

Beginning with lunch on Monday, all meals—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—will be provided at USF Dining Halls. Since your child's day camp may vary in location, the dining hall they will visit will also vary. We suggest that if there are specific snacks your child would like to bring, they can store them in the dorm room for easy access.

• A night with student organizations at USF
• A guided USF campus tour
• Recreation and wellness activities including Slip’n Slide, moonlight canoeing, challenge courses, intramural sports, shooting hoops, esports gaming, sports clubs, and fitness challenges
• A session on USF Admissions and Student Success, including presentations on the admissions process, financial aid, and the services available to students at USF

We have prepared a list of items to assist you in packing for the Rocky's Residents experience. Please see the list below for items you should bring:

• Clothing Items (Required)
  • Underclothes
  • Pajamas
  • Comfortable shoes
  • Clothes hangers

• Bathroom Items (Required)
  • Bath Towels/Wash clothes
  • Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, shampoo, comb, brush. Shaving needs, etc.)

• Bedroom Items (Required)
  • Pillows/Pillow cases
  • Bed sheets/Blanket (twin XL size)

• Personal items (laptop, cell phone, assistive devices, etc.)
• Any medications you might need, both prescription and over the counter.

Juniper-Poplar Halls has a laundry facility located on the 1st floor for students to use. It costs $1.50 per load to wash and $1.50 to dry. Residents can pay for laundry using coins.

• Check-in for Rocky's Residents will be on Monday, June 23rd or Monday, July 14th, depending on the week you choose. Please arrive at Juniper-Poplar Hall, located at 12030 USF Beard Drive, Tampa, FL 33620, between 7:45 AM and 8:15 AM. For directions, refer to the Juniper-Poplar Hall Map. Upon arrival, park in the Juniper-Poplar Parking Lot, and our staff will guide you to the residence hall for check-in.
• Check-out day will be on Friday, June 27th or Friday, July 18th, between 4:30 PM and 5:00 PM, at Juniper-Poplar Hall, located at 12030 USF Beard Drive, Tampa, FL 33620. For directions, please refer to the Juniper-Poplar Hall Map. Parents should plan to park in the Juniper Poplar Parking Lot and assist their child with the move-out process.
  • Please note, some camps may end earlier on Friday. If this applies to your child’s camp, you will receive specific information about modified check-out procedures.

The cost for Rocky's Residents is $995 per camper. This includes:

• 5 days and 4 nights of accommodation at Juniper-Poplar Residence Hall
• All meals provided at USF Dining Halls
• Supervision and activities led by trained counselors
• Recreation and wellness activities, including sports, fitness challenges, and more
• Access to campus facilities, such as recreational fields and study lounges
• A campus tour and presentations from USF Admissions and Student Success
• Evening events with student organizations and USF faculty
• Laundry facilities for campers' use
• 24-hour on-call emergency maintenance and support

This all-inclusive experience ensures a fun and educational stay at USF!

To contact your child during the Rocky's Residents program, we encourage you to reach out to them directly on their personal phone. Additionally, we will provide the phone numbers of the overnight counselors working that week. If you need to get in touch with a counselor or have any urgent concerns, please call our office at 813-974-3355, and we will assist you.

Parents, guardians, and siblings are the only approved visitors during the summer component of Rocky's Residents. We ask that visits be limited to Monday Move-In and Friday Check-Out. All visits must be pre-arranged with a USF Office of Youth Experiences staff member to ensure smooth logistics and proper coordination.

If a camper becomes sick or injured during the Rocky's Residents program, our first priority is their health and well-being. We have trained staff and counselors who are prepared to handle minor illnesses and injuries. For any medical concerns, the camper will be taken to the appropriate medical facility or USF Health Services if necessary. Parents/guardians will be promptly contacted in the event of a serious illness or injury. We will work closely with healthcare providers to ensure the camper receives the care they need.

Campers may leave the Rocky's Residents program early only with prior approval from the USF Office of Youth Experiences. If a camper needs to leave early due to illness, family emergency, or other extenuating circumstances, parents/guardians must contact the program staff to make arrangements. Proper documentation and coordination will be required to ensure the camper’s safe departure from the program.

Campers are allowed to bring electronics such as phones, tablets, and gaming devices; however, these items must be used responsibly and in accordance with program guidelines. Electronics should not interfere with camp activities or the camper’s engagement with others. During scheduled group activities, campers will be encouraged to keep certain electronics stored safely in their rooms. Please note that the program is not responsible for lost or damaged items.

Cancellations made up to 15 business days before the start date of Rocky's Residents are eligible for a full refund, minus a non-refundable processing fee. Cancellations within 15 business days of the start date are non-refundable. If a camper needs to withdraw due to medical reasons or emergencies, please contact the USF Office of Youth Experiences for assistance. Refunds will not be issued for early departures or no-shows.

For additional questions, please contact the USF Office of Youth Experiences at 813-974-3355 or email us at youthxp@usf.edu. Our team is happy to assist you with any inquiries.