Saturday kicked off Eastern’s alternative job as summer camp host while the first camp came to mark its stay. The Upward Bound Program, according to the U.S. Department of Education, is a program that focuses on fundamental support for students in their preparation for college entrance.

The program provides opportunities for students to succeed in pre-college performance and ultimately in higher education pursuits. Its ultimate goal is to increase the rates in which students enroll and eventually graduate from college.

The Upward Bound Program is targeted for high school students from low-income families, high school students from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor’s degree and low-income as well as first-generation military veterans who are preparing to enter college.

The educational summer camp Eastern is welcoming comes from Kankakee Community College. All the students coming are high school students ranging from grades nine through 12 from the urban Kankakee area.

Matt Boyer, Conference Service coordinator, said that all the facilities for the camp will be based on campus, everything from classrooms to room and board.

All 48 students and 13 staff members will be residing in Ford Hall for their stay at Eastern.

The six-week program is set to run until mid-July.

According to Boyer, staff for the program has already moved into Eastern, and students moved in Saturday, June 3.