A Look at a Less-Known Period on Campus

By Lauren Brown

The University of Maryland wears another identity in the summer. Most students, and many faculty members, have vanished. A thick layer of heat and humidity coats the campus, replacing the fresh breezes of spring and crisp temperatures of late fall. Gone is the traffic.

But that’s not to say Maryland has been deserted. Besides summer classes, the university hosts dozens of camps for children and teens, focused on sports, the arts and culture, science and business. Faculty and staff still at work here loosen up and dress down, even as they prepare for the next academic year. Freshman orientation sessions attract wide-eyed new Terps wearing matching backpacks and following their advisors like ducklings.

We sent staff photographers out to document this period on campus. Take a peek:

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Warm weather and strong trees attract students looking to take a lazy swing in a hammock.

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Mitchell Pitts, of Residential Facilities, paints in Harford Hall. Resident Facilities and Facilities Management workers also spend this season scrubbing classrooms and furniture; caring for and repairing the grounds, trees and other landscaping; and working on other projects that would be too disruptive during the busier academic year.

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Eppley Recreation Center’s outdoor pool, which isn’t open during the traditional academic year, is hopping in the summer. It hosts children from TerpQuest and other day camps, along with swimming lessons. Students, staff and faculty and other members of RecWell also come by to lounge poolside on sunny days.

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More than 600 children ages 5–16 attend the summer program hosted by Gymkana, the gymnastic and acrobatic organization based in the School of Public Health.

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A lone sedan has Lot 1 all to itself on a June weekday—unheard of during the academic year.

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New student orientation sessions extend across the summer, helping to ease incoming Terps’ transition. During the program, they learn their way around campus, register for classes and get introduced to future friends.

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Maryland’s football team works with its strength and conditioning coaches to prepare for the season. The team is also heavily involved in community service in the summer; its annual Lift for Life fundraiser on June 23 to support the rare disease community raised almost $10,000.

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Gail Rupert M.L.S. ’10, photo archivist in the Office of Marketing and Communications (and a Terp magazine team member) participates in the university’s summer intramural softball league. The eight teams comprise students, staff and faculty and come from around campus, including the Alumni Association, the Stamp and Hillel.

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