Camp ARCH Celebrates 20 Years of Inspiring Future Aggies in the Built World

Before they had even finished high school, Camp ARCH students were already working like future Aggies.

Hosted from July 6-11, Camp ARCH welcomed nearly 100 students from across Texas and beyond for a residential week of hands-on learning at the Texas A&M University College of Architecture. Campers explored one of four pathways — architecture, construction science, landscape architecture or urban planning.

“Camp ARCH 2026 exemplified the Texas A&M College of Architecture’s commitment to inspiring the next generation of designers, builders and innovators,” said Paul Bandini, camp director and undergraduate recruiter. “Watching these talented young people discover new possibilities for their futures was incredibly rewarding, and we are excited to see the impact they will make in the years ahead.”

Now in its 20th year, the competitive program gives prospective students an early look at both built-environment careers and life at Texas A&M. Campers live in dorms, learn from faculty and current students and experience what studying at the College of Architecture can be like.

“This year is especially meaningful, as we celebrate the official 20th anniversary of Camp ARCH,” Dean Lingqian “Ivy” Hu said at the camp’s closing ceremony. “For two decades, this camp has introduced high school students to the exciting disciplines of the built environment.”

Real Projects, Real Possibilities

Leticia Sampaio, 17, traveled from Brazil to attend Camp ARCH, still unsure whether pursuing architecture was the right fit for her. By week’s end, she had her answer.

“I came here wondering if architecture was really what I wanted to do,” Sampaio recalled. “This week proved that it is.”

Sixteen-year-old Samuel Penaranda Seba expected architecture to be more hands-on in a traditional sense, such as drawing or making models. Instead, he found himself drawn to the field’s digital side.

“I was actually surprised to learn that a lot of architecture is very digital-focused,” Penaranda Seba said.

Sampaio described how her architecture group began drafting a storyboard inspired by WALL-E, imagining a future shaped by design and technology. Then, they experimented with software also used by professional architects: Rhino3D and Grasshopper. 

Sampaio said it was challenging at first, but exciting to learn. Peraranda Seba agreed that learning the same software used by current architecture students was important for his future.

In the landscape architecture track, seventeen-year-old Abigail McKinley spent the week helping design a campus space focused on supporting student mental health. Together, her team researched the site, visited it in person, created drawings and even built a model to envision a place where students could pause and recharge. 

The project also gave her a clearer sense of the field itself. “It’s definitely taught me how to work with teams,” McKinley explained. “Especially when people have different ideas about what should go into a space.”

In Francis Hall, seventeen-year-old Parker Pfeiffer split the week between construction science projects and job-site learning. Pfeiffer said campers practiced estimating, scheduling and also building small-scale structures together.

They also toured active construction sites around Bryan-College Station, including the upcoming Aplin Center and a student housing high-rise near Northgate. His favorite was the latter. 

“We were 20 stories up, and you could see everything,” Pfeiffer added. “That was awesome.”

In the urban planning track, campers worked on a project to improve Downtown Bryan. They started with a guided tour of the historic district, then looked for places that could be improved. Working in teams, students came up with ideas to help the area grow, including new building concepts and incentives that could encourage more people to live nearby.

Ishann Bhatt, 16, said the project helped bring the profession into focus by connecting planning ideas to real community needs. By the end of the week, he and his team were preparing to present their work to local planning officials at the College Station City Hall.

“In urban planning, we’re making changes for the community,” Bhatt emphasized. “To be able to present what we’ve been working on was a great opportunity.”

Finding Their Place in Aggieland

Camp ARCH also gave students a glimpse of life on campus. As a residential camp, prospective students experience living in a dorm, navigating campus and learning Texas A&M traditions alongside their studio work and field projects.

Their preview of college life begins right at check-in. Sampaio recalled she arrived early, too excited to wait in her dorm room, and spent the time in the hallway meeting other architecture campers before her roommate arrived.

Penaranda Seba also reached his room well before his roommate. Before long, a counselor knocked on his door and invited him to join about 15 other campers for an impromptu FIFA World Cup watch party in another room. He later met his roommate there.

“We were able to watch the game and do icebreakers,” Penaranda Seba said. 

Pfeiffer and Bhatt also joined the gathering, which quickly became an early bonding moment for students across different tracks.

“I could feel the community from within 10 minutes of being here,” Bhatt shared. 

For McKinley, one of the most valuable parts of camp was meeting students who shared her interest in landscape architecture, a field she said can be hard to find other students interested in during high school.

“Landscape is a really niche major,” McKinley explained. “It’s really cool to see others with similar interests.”

Beyond the residence halls, campers toured Texas A&M and visited iconic campus landmarks like Kyle Field. They also explored historic structures, such as the Academic Plaza and the Memorial Student Center, through an architectural perspective, learning how the built environment reflects the university’s history and traditions. 

After days of learning, there was still plenty of fun to be had. Campers also spent evenings together at activities like game night, where they connected over board games, cards and puzzles, before wrapping up the week with a visit to Grand Station Entertainment for bowling and arcade games. 

Seeing Texas A&M in a New Way

But the residential experience was only part of what made the week feel like college. 

Campers said the people around them — faculty, staff and current-student counselors — helped turn that first glimpse of Aggieland into something more personal.

Throughout the week, students learned from faculty leading each pathway, gaining a closer look at how the built environment is studied and practiced. Pfeiffer said the instructors helped make complex concepts more approachable. 

“The professors have been teaching us a lot, and the two professors we’ve worked with are awesome,” Pfeiffer added. “They’re really good at making it fun for us.”

McKinley said she also appreciated learning from passionate instructors who were generous with their time and knowledge, especially when students had questions. 

“It really makes you believe in the work that we’re doing,” Bhatt said.

Current students in the College of Architecture also served as near-peer mentors. As camp counselors, they helped answer questions about the college application process and navigating college, while also helping campers settle into the rhythm of campus.

Pfeiffer said the counselors helped make the college experience feel more approachable. “They’ve been walking us through what it’s going to be like and giving us tips that are going to help us,” he said.

Several campers agreed that Camp ARCH made Aggieland feel less like a place they had visited and more like a community they could imagine joining. 

“I see a lot more for the culture and who the people are,” Pernaranda Seba explained. “I really like the environment. It’s somewhere I want to be.”

Even for students who already felt connected to Aggieland, the week offered something new. Pfeiffer, who said he grew up around Texas A&M, said Camp ARCH only strengthened that bond.

“I’ve always wanted to go here, but I think this sealed the deal,” Pfeiffer said. 

Could Camp ARCH be your next step?

Explore more info about the program experience, key dates and application process on the Camp ARCH webpage.

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