{"id":69370,"date":"2025-07-14T07:51:16","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T11:51:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/?p=69370"},"modified":"2025-07-22T08:06:51","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T12:06:51","slug":"big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2025\/07\/big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps\/","title":{"rendered":"Big buddies, bigger hearts: UTC students make a difference at summer camps"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Brandon

Brandon Gomes Toste arm wrestles Maverick during a session of the Creative Discovery Museum\u2019s Friends\u2019 Discovery Camps. Photo by Angela Foster.<\/p><\/div>\n

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga rising senior Brandon Gomes Toste has spent the last few weeks constantly losing arm wrestling matches, swimming in the sun and taking trips to see giraffes.<\/p>\n

Along with a cohort of psychology students, Toste has worked at the Creative Discovery Museum\u2019s Friends\u2019 Discovery Camps and the Chattanooga Zoo\u2019s Camp ZooAbility.<\/p>\n

Campers at both camps have a variety of physical, developmental or intellectual disabilities. The Friends\u2019 Discovery Camps are tailored for younger children, while Camp ZooAbility helps build independence and confidence for teenagers with disabilities.<\/p>\n

At the Friends\u2019 Discovery Camps, Toste met a boy named Maverick who has Down syndrome. Over the three weeks at the camps, Maverick didn\u2019t lose a single arm wrestling match, and his bond with Toste continued to grow.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe (Maverick) had a bracelet for me that second to last week,\u201d Toste recalled. \u201cI forgot to bring it the first two days. I brought it that Wednesday and he loved it. That third week, which was the last week (of that camp), every day, he kept asking me about the bracelet and kept making jokes.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of the week, on Friday, we write letters and we start doing autographs. I wrote this very heartfelt letter and he\u2019s a sweet kid. He\u2019s really nice. He does take my affirmation very seriously. I wrote a whole letter saying I don\u2019t care what you call me. The one thing that I won\u2019t ever forget is you calling me my big buddy.\u201d<\/p>\n

The theatre acting major and psychology minor from California hopes to make a long-lasting impact on his \u201cbuddies.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re sweet, they\u2019re gentle, they\u2019re nice and they\u2019re compassionate,\u201d Toste said. \u201cThey talk to you. They love you. They really want to spend time with you.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey show you a light that you\u2019ve never seen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Psychology

Psychology student Joy David works with a Friends’ Discovery Camps camper at the Creative Discovery Museum.<\/p><\/div>\n

Elaine Gossett, who oversees both camps, serves as the therapeutic recreation manager for the city of Chattanooga.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a win-win situation,\u201d Gossett explained. \u201cWe get amazing mentors from UTC and then they also get real-world experience working with individuals who have disabilities.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the coolest things about that is the relationships. Not only the relationships students form with each other, but the fact that they get to make a huge difference in not only the lives of an individual with a disability, but also their entire family.\u201d<\/p>\n

After the camp day ends, Gossett reviews areas for improvement as well as what went well during the day. She hopes to offer a guiding hand to students who wish to advance their careers in the field.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all have such awesome potential,\u201d she said. \u201cSometimes we need a little bit of guidance or a little bit of a pep talk to say you\u2019re doing a great job.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey not only get to hear the excitement of their camper, but they get to see any of the ups and downs or struggles and accomplishments that their camper has made throughout the week.\u201d<\/p>\n

UTC Associate Lecturer of Psychology and Practicum Coordinator Libby Byers worked at the same summer camps in 2007 as a University student.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a need,\u201d Byers said. \u201cThey need individuals to help as camp counselors and people to support. They also need people who have knowledge of certain types of disabilities or individuals who are neurodivergent or typical. Our students have that because they\u2019ve gained knowledge in the courses they\u2019ve taken.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt just makes sense that we have worked in unison with them. They have a need and we have a need. Let\u2019s come together and let\u2019s make this work.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Creative Discovery Museum and Chattanooga Zoo are ideal locations for students to apply what they have learned at UTC, Byers said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey use every bit of knowledge that they\u2019ve gained when they are working within these particular conditions,\u201d Byers said. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that it\u2019s easy because it\u2019s a kid-friendly location. It just is more appealing to the kids.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joy David, a rising senior from Chattanooga, is a psychology major with a minor in child and family studies. She currently works as a registered behavioral technician and hopes to become a school psychologist.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really love people,\u201d David said. \u201cI love talking to people. I love conversations with people. I think whatever I do in the future, it will be with people. Kids are such a vulnerable population and being able to in any way positively shape a kid\u2019s life is incredibly worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said that the tools she\u2019s learning while working at these camps are preparing her for her career after UTC.<\/p>\n

Being able to see kids flourish after having a hard time when they first start the camp has allowed David to see the impact of her work.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy the end of the week, they\u2019re your friend. It makes the world,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Learn more<\/h4>\n

Visit UTC<\/a><\/p>\n

UTC Department of Psychology<\/a><\/p>\n

How to apply<\/a><\/p>\n

Friends\u2019 Discovery Camps and Camp ZooAbility photo gallery by Angela Foster<\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"Psychology <\/a>
Psychology students work with Friends Discovery Camp campers Thursday, June 12, 2025 at the Creative Discovery Museum. <\/div> <\/div>
\"ZooAbility <\/a>
ZooAbility camp Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at the Chattanooga Zoo. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Psychology <\/a>
Psychology students work with Friends Discovery Camp campers Thursday, June 12, 2025 at the Creative Discovery Museum. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Psychology <\/a>
Psychology students work with Friends Discovery Camp campers Thursday, June 12, 2025 at the Creative Discovery Museum. <\/div> <\/div>
\"Psychology <\/a>
Psychology students work with Friends Discovery Camp campers Thursday, June 12, 2025 at the Creative Discovery Museum. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Psychology <\/a>
Psychology students work with Friends Discovery Camp campers Thursday, June 12, 2025 at the Creative Discovery Museum. <\/div> <\/div>
\"Psychology <\/a>
Psychology students work with Friends Discovery Camp campers Thursday, June 12, 2025 at the Creative Discovery Museum. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Psychology <\/a>
Psychology students work with Friends Discovery Camp campers Thursday, June 12, 2025 at the Creative Discovery Museum. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Psychology <\/a>
Psychology students work with Friends Discovery Camp campers Thursday, June 12, 2025 at the Creative Discovery Museum. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Psychology <\/a>
Psychology students work with Friends Discovery Camp campers Thursday, June 12, 2025 at the Creative Discovery Museum. <\/div> <\/div>
\"Psychology <\/a>
Psychology students work with Friends Discovery Camp campers Thursday, June 12, 2025 at the Creative Discovery Museum. <\/div> <\/div>
\"ZooAbility <\/a>
ZooAbility camp Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at the Chattanooga Zoo. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Psychology <\/a>
Psychology students work with Friends Discovery Camp campers Thursday, June 12, 2025 at the Creative Discovery Museum. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Psychology <\/a>
Psychology students work with Friends Discovery Camp campers Thursday, June 12, 2025 at the Creative Discovery Museum. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Psychology <\/a>
Psychology students work with Friends Discovery Camp campers Thursday, June 12, 2025 at the Creative Discovery Museum. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Psychology <\/a>
Psychology students work with Friends Discovery Camp campers Thursday, June 12, 2025 at the Creative Discovery Museum. <\/div> <\/div>
\"ZooAbility <\/a>
ZooAbility camp Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at the Chattanooga Zoo. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

During the summer months, UTC psychology students have been working at the Creative Discovery Museum\u2019s Friends\u2019 Discovery Camps and the Chattanooga Zoo\u2019s Camp ZooAbility. <\/p>\n

Continue Reading <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1493,"featured_media":69371,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_slider":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_featurette":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[286,70,61,3,7712,64,781,8325,661,12776],"tags":[125751,124428,125752,123827,125754,125753,124369,123828,125755,124776,123829],"class_list":{"0":"post-69370","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-academics","8":"category-college-of-arts-sciences","9":"category-community","10":"category-faculty-and-staff","11":"category-news","12":"category-psychology","13":"category-scholarship","14":"category-service","15":"category-students","16":"category-theatre-speech","17":"tag-brandon-gomes-toste","18":"tag-carter-graham","19":"tag-chattanooga-zoos-camp-zooability","20":"tag-creating-the-mocs-experience","21":"tag-creative-discovery-museums-friends-discovery-camps","22":"tag-elaine-gossett","23":"tag-joy-david","24":"tag-leveraging-our-special-place-as-chattanoogas-university","25":"tag-libby-byers","26":"tag-mocs-learn-mocs-do-mocs-lead","27":"tag-operating-with-excellence","28":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\nBig buddies, bigger hearts: UTC students make a difference at summer camps | UTC News Archive: Jul 2007 - Oct 2025<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"During the summer months, UTC psychology students have been working at the Creative Discovery Museum\u2019s Friends\u2019 Discovery Camps and the Chattanooga Zoo\u2019s Camp ZooAbility.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Big buddies, bigger hearts: UTC students make a difference at summer camps | UTC News Archive: Jul 2007 - Oct 2025\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"During the summer months, UTC psychology students have been working at the Creative Discovery Museum\u2019s Friends\u2019 Discovery Camps and the Chattanooga Zoo\u2019s Camp ZooAbility.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2025\/07\/big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"UTC News Archive: Jul 2007 - Oct 2025\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/UTChattanooga\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-07-14T11:51:16+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-07-22T12:06:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/files\/2025\/07\/Maverick-and-Brandon_Summer-Camp-25-1159.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1846\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Chuck Wasserstrom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@UTChattanooga\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@UTChattanooga\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Carter Graham\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogarchive.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2025\\\/07\\\/big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogarchive.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2025\\\/07\\\/big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Chuck Wasserstrom\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogarchive.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/ba12ddef664be78c31809fda10eae4e5\"},\"headline\":\"Big buddies, bigger hearts: UTC students make a difference at summer camps\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-07-14T11:51:16+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-07-22T12:06:51+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogarchive.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2025\\\/07\\\/big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":915,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogarchive.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2025\\\/07\\\/big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogarchive.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/files\\\/2025\\\/07\\\/Maverick-and-Brandon_Summer-Camp-25-1159.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Brandon Gomes Toste\",\"Carter Graham\",\"Chattanooga Zoo\u2019s Camp ZooAbility\",\"Creating the Mocs Experience\",\"Creative Discovery Museum\u2019s Friends\u2019 Discovery Camps\",\"Elaine Gossett\",\"Joy David\",\"Leveraging Our Special Place as Chattanooga\u2019s University\",\"Libby Byers\",\"Mocs Learn Mocs Do Mocs Lead\",\"Operating with Excellence\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Academics\",\"College of Arts and Sciences\",\"Community\",\"Faculty and Staff\",\"News\",\"Psychology\",\"Scholarship\",\"Service\",\"Students\",\"Theatre and Speech\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogarchive.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2025\\\/07\\\/big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogarchive.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2025\\\/07\\\/big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps\\\/\",\"name\":\"Big buddies, bigger hearts: UTC students make a difference at summer camps | UTC News Archive: Jul 2007 - Oct 2025\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogarchive.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogarchive.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2025\\\/07\\\/big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogarchive.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2025\\\/07\\\/big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogarchive.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/files\\\/2025\\\/07\\\/Maverick-and-Brandon_Summer-Camp-25-1159.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-07-14T11:51:16+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-07-22T12:06:51+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogarchive.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/ba12ddef664be78c31809fda10eae4e5\"},\"description\":\"During the summer months, UTC psychology students have been working at the Creative Discovery Museum\u2019s Friends\u2019 Discovery Camps and the Chattanooga Zoo\u2019s Camp ZooAbility.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogarchive.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2025\\\/07\\\/big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blogarchive.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2025\\\/07\\\/big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogarchive.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2025\\\/07\\\/big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogarchive.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/files\\\/2025\\\/07\\\/Maverick-and-Brandon_Summer-Camp-25-1159.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogarchive.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/files\\\/2025\\\/07\\\/Maverick-and-Brandon_Summer-Camp-25-1159.jpg\",\"width\":1280,\"height\":923},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogarchive.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/2025\\\/07\\\/big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogarchive.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Big buddies, bigger hearts: UTC students make a difference at summer camps\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogarchive.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogarchive.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/\",\"name\":\"UTC News Archive: Jul 2007 - Oct 2025\",\"description\":\"Official news releases of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogarchive.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogarchive.utc.edu\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/ba12ddef664be78c31809fda10eae4e5\",\"name\":\"Chuck Wasserstrom\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/adff2964e628ba03f65fe21e0b0b94ca0667bdce5def0433d41884758501f284?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/adff2964e628ba03f65fe21e0b0b94ca0667bdce5def0433d41884758501f284?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/adff2964e628ba03f65fe21e0b0b94ca0667bdce5def0433d41884758501f284?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Chuck Wasserstrom\"},\"description\":\"Chuck Wasserstrom is the director of communications in the UTC Division of Communications and Marketing.\",\"url\":\"\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Big buddies, bigger hearts: UTC students make a difference at summer camps | UTC News Archive: Jul 2007 - Oct 2025","description":"During the summer months, UTC psychology students have been working at the Creative Discovery Museum\u2019s Friends\u2019 Discovery Camps and the Chattanooga Zoo\u2019s Camp ZooAbility.","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Big buddies, bigger hearts: UTC students make a difference at summer camps | UTC News Archive: Jul 2007 - Oct 2025","og_description":"During the summer months, UTC psychology students have been working at the Creative Discovery Museum\u2019s Friends\u2019 Discovery Camps and the Chattanooga Zoo\u2019s Camp ZooAbility.","og_url":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2025\/07\/big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps\/","og_site_name":"UTC News Archive: Jul 2007 - Oct 2025","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/UTChattanooga","article_published_time":"2025-07-14T11:51:16+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-07-22T12:06:51+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1846,"url":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/files\/2025\/07\/Maverick-and-Brandon_Summer-Camp-25-1159.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Chuck Wasserstrom","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@UTChattanooga","twitter_site":"@UTChattanooga","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Carter Graham","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2025\/07\/big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2025\/07\/big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps\/"},"author":{"name":"Chuck Wasserstrom","@id":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/ba12ddef664be78c31809fda10eae4e5"},"headline":"Big buddies, bigger hearts: UTC students make a difference at summer camps","datePublished":"2025-07-14T11:51:16+00:00","dateModified":"2025-07-22T12:06:51+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2025\/07\/big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps\/"},"wordCount":915,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2025\/07\/big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/files\/2025\/07\/Maverick-and-Brandon_Summer-Camp-25-1159.jpg","keywords":["Brandon Gomes Toste","Carter Graham","Chattanooga Zoo\u2019s Camp ZooAbility","Creating the Mocs Experience","Creative Discovery Museum\u2019s Friends\u2019 Discovery Camps","Elaine Gossett","Joy David","Leveraging Our Special Place as Chattanooga\u2019s University","Libby Byers","Mocs Learn Mocs Do Mocs Lead","Operating with Excellence"],"articleSection":["Academics","College of Arts and Sciences","Community","Faculty and Staff","News","Psychology","Scholarship","Service","Students","Theatre and Speech"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2025\/07\/big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps\/","url":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2025\/07\/big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps\/","name":"Big buddies, bigger hearts: UTC students make a difference at summer camps | UTC News Archive: Jul 2007 - Oct 2025","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2025\/07\/big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2025\/07\/big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/files\/2025\/07\/Maverick-and-Brandon_Summer-Camp-25-1159.jpg","datePublished":"2025-07-14T11:51:16+00:00","dateModified":"2025-07-22T12:06:51+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/ba12ddef664be78c31809fda10eae4e5"},"description":"During the summer months, UTC psychology students have been working at the Creative Discovery Museum\u2019s Friends\u2019 Discovery Camps and the Chattanooga Zoo\u2019s Camp ZooAbility.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2025\/07\/big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2025\/07\/big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2025\/07\/big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/files\/2025\/07\/Maverick-and-Brandon_Summer-Camp-25-1159.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/files\/2025\/07\/Maverick-and-Brandon_Summer-Camp-25-1159.jpg","width":1280,"height":923},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2025\/07\/big-buddies-bigger-hearts-utc-students-make-a-difference-at-summer-camps\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Big buddies, bigger hearts: UTC students make a difference at summer camps"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/#website","url":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/","name":"UTC News Archive: Jul 2007 - Oct 2025","description":"Official news releases of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/ba12ddef664be78c31809fda10eae4e5","name":"Chuck Wasserstrom","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/adff2964e628ba03f65fe21e0b0b94ca0667bdce5def0433d41884758501f284?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/adff2964e628ba03f65fe21e0b0b94ca0667bdce5def0433d41884758501f284?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/adff2964e628ba03f65fe21e0b0b94ca0667bdce5def0433d41884758501f284?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Chuck Wasserstrom"},"description":"Chuck Wasserstrom is the director of communications in the UTC Division of Communications and Marketing.","url":""}]}},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/files\/2025\/07\/Maverick-and-Brandon_Summer-Camp-25-1159-600x400.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/files\/2025\/07\/Maverick-and-Brandon_Summer-Camp-25-1159-600x600.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Carter Graham","author_link":""},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/files\/2025\/07\/Maverick-and-Brandon_Summer-Camp-25-1159.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69370","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1493"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69370"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69370\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":69401,"href":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69370\/revisions\/69401"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69371"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69370"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69370"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69370"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}