An academic summer camp is a program for children and teenagers that takes place during the summer months and it is aimed to further educate participants in the areas they are interested in.
The children and adolescents who take part in an academic summer camp are usually known as campers.
The traditional view of a summer camp as a place surrounded by nature with campfires, hiking and all sorts of sporting activities has evolved with the introduction of academic summer camp. It offers a wide range of activities that include:
- computers
- language learning
- performing arts
- mathematics
- music
In 2006, the American Camp Association announced that new programs were added in over 70 percent of the camps. This was done to counter the decreasing participation in summer camps, brought by an increase in the supplemental education programs and the major popularity that the electronic media has gained. All of these made children stay inside more and kept them occupied much easier then in the past. The goal of an academic summer camp is to counter those problems by bringing people together and provide cultural and educational development.
In most camps, the children and teenagers participating are supervised by adults known as counselors. The counselors are assigned to smaller groups of campers that they have to guide or lead in all sorts of activities. A counselor for an academic summer camp is usually a high school or college student.
Some summer camps are called day camps, as the campers go home each night, while others offer overnight stay. A summer camp with overnight facilities is often the first extended period of time children spend away from home.
In the US there are numerous types of academic summer camps that give and educational experience to participants of different age and interest. Some camps simulate the college experience for it’s participants. High school students attend summer classes run by college faculty and live in college dorms. These models of academic summer camp are provided by colleges as an introduction to the real college experience. For example, the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan offers a computer camp targeted on preparing high school students in areas like computer science and computer engineering.
Some academic summer camps are focused on educational activities, like debate, journalism or history. An academic summer camp is different than summer school as it offers a significant amount of non-academic activities. Another type of academic summer camp focus on a specific domain, like mathematics for instance. Admission at these camps is pretty selective, as applicants might have to pass a test involving problem solving or writing an essay about their interest in that specific field.
Some academic summer camp programs offer training for the SAT Test, mixing learning with summer fun. Usually the SAT preparation is offered in the morning, while the afternoons and evenings are used for recreational purposes.
All in all, attending an academic summer camp is a great way to mix learning with pleasure.
You will spend your summer break in an educational environment, while having access to fun activities at the same time.
