Frog Camp is celebrating its 20th anniversary and is continuing to build TCU tradition and spirit.

In honor of Frog Camp’s 20th anniversary, a dinner and reception will be held on Friday, Oct. 17 starting at 6:30 p.m. on the third floor of the Brown Lupton University Union. 

Barbara Herman, creator of Frog Camp and associate vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of student development, said she aimed to develop a camp where incoming freshman could feel a sense of pride in becoming a Horned Frog.

“I wanted students to identify as Horned Frogs,” Herman said.

The first Frog Camp was held in August 1994. There was one camp with 107 students in attendance. This past summer 1,445 students attended Frog Camp. Students were able to choose from over 12 camps that were located in Savannah, Ga., Costa Rica, Paris, and other destinations. 

“Over the past 20 years I know Frog Camp has changed a lot,” senior strategic communication major and supplies and logistics co-chair of Frog Camp 2014, Victoria Thomas said. “But I think the beautiful thing about Frog Camp is that the consistency with it is the love everyone involved has for it.”

Brittany Hudson, sophomore marketing major, said she felt more confident about starting classes at TCU and was able to recognize familiar faces on campus after attending Frog Camp. 

“The biggest impact [Frog Camp] has made on my TCU experience is through the people I have gotten to meet because of it,” said Thomas. “Frog Camp also helped me discover what I want to do once I graduate, which [is to] work in student affairs at a university.”

Michael Walton, executive director of Frog Camp 2014 and senior entrepreneurial management major, said the vision of Frog Camp this year was to be a story of the camper’s life. 

“I wanted to impact the stories of other frog campers just like it has impacted my life,” said Walton.

Herman said the key to Frog Camp’s success has been its student staff.

“It amazes me how much [the student staff] care and give for a voluntary position,” Herman said. “It takes pride and maturity to run the camp.”

Walton said he has learned valuable life lessons through his experience with Frog Camp. Specifically, he said camp has taught him the importance of making and maintaing relationships. 

“At Frog Camp I met my one of my best friends who is now my roommate,” Walton said. “I make sure to not taking those [relationships] for granted.”

Thomas said that being a part of Frog Camp has taught her to be more confident in her leadership skills and how to lead by example. 

“Frog Camp is a place to be silly and vulnerable and learn a lot, but it is also a place to fall in love with TCU for everything it is and all of those who make up the community,” Thomas said. “Frog Camp taught me that TCU is truly the best school in the country.”