Right now, hundreds of North Carolina kids are learning to build campfires, making friendship bracelets, maybe conquering a ropes course or two—all because their credit union just made summer a whole lot more accessible.
State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) just hit a milestone worth celebrating. They’ve handed out $233,000 in summer camp scholarships to a record-breaking 466 young members. That’s not just the biggest year for their Summer Camp Awards program—it’s a pretty solid reminder that financial institutions can actually, you know, do cool things for their communities.
Five Years Strong and Growing
The program launched back in 2022, and it’s been picking up steam ever since. This year’s numbers blow previous years out of the water, with kids from 91 out of North Carolina’s 100 counties scoring scholarships. That’s some serious statewide reach.
“Summer camp is an excellent opportunity for children and teens to try new things, step outside their comfort zones, and form lasting friendships,” said SECU President and CEO Leigh Brady. “The goal of SECU’s Summer Camp Awards program is to help ease the financial burden on families so more young members can experience everything summer camp has to offer.”
Here’s how it works: Kids with FAT CAT® or Zard® youth accounts (yes, those are the actual names of SECU’s youth banking products) submit either an essay or illustration describing their dream summer camp experience. The best part? They’re not just writing about dreams—they’re actually making them happen.
Real Kids, Real Adventures
Take Riley Hines from Greenville, who channeled her artistic talents into a winning submission. Her mom Brianna couldn’t be prouder: “I am truly grateful that Riley was able to apply herself to do something she loves with drawing. But I also see it is something she is able to use to benefit herself by obtaining scholarships and encouraging her to continue to use her talents to build her future.”
Or Oliver Jernigan from Troy, who used his award to attend a wilderness adventure camp. He came back with camping skills, survival knowledge, and memories he’ll probably be talking about for years. “For SECU to support me in this endeavor means a lot, as this was most definitely a dream trip,” Jernigan said. “Trips such as this one are what most people will never experience.”
The Bigger Picture
Since 2022, SECU has invested more than $741,000 in getting 1,483 young members to summer camp. That’s a lot of s’mores, campfire songs, and life skills packed into five years.
The reality is that summer camp costs can be a real barrier for families. Between registration fees, equipment, and all the extras, what should be a fun experience can turn into a budget headache. SECU’s program tackles that head-on, making sure financial stress doesn’t keep kids from the kind of experiences that build confidence and independence.
This scholarship program is just one piece of how SECU supports young members. Their FAT CAT and Zard accounts come loaded with financial education resources designed to help kids develop smart money habits early—because nothing says “thinking ahead” like a credit union teaching eight-year-olds about saving.
Want to learn more about SECU’s youth accounts and what they offer? Check out their youth banking page for all the details.