During the 1990s, when colleges and universities were enjoying increased enrollment during the traditional school year, attendance over the summer months declined. Dorm rooms sat vacant, classrooms unused and student common areas became quiet ghost towns. It wasn’t long until administrative leaders capitalized on creative opportunities to use the space and generate income. Schools rented out their dorms during summer months to local companies like Whirlpool, who in turn brought in international employees for retreats and trainings. Schools in high profile tourist areas, opened up dorms to families for rent while they visited the area. Still other campuses recognized an opportunity to invite prospective students to campus for overnight or day-camp academic and athletic programs.
The “new” summer camp option was born. Today, you can spend a few minutes and search the internet to find anything from a specific sports camp to a camp designed to introduce a highly competitive program to academic achievers. There are programs designed solely for fun and entertainment during the dog days of summer as well as programs to improve skills like reading, math or test taking. Make no mistake, there is something for everyone and attending one or more of these camps during high school is an excellent opportunity for the following reasons:
1. You are undecided about a future career path. If you are undecided about what to do after high school, it may be wise to attend a low-cost program at a local school. By visiting a local school, you’ll be able to see what is available on campus academically as well as socially. Larger, state flagship institutions offer options as well. The University of Houston offers high school students several options from STEM career camps to Saturday Physics. While this school may not be near you, the state school near you should have some options. I recommend checking school websites over a general internet search as many of these camps are not widely publicized due to seating caps and with short turn-around times to secure a spot, they go fast once posted!
2. You know your future career path. Another reason for students to attend a camp focused on their intended career path is to ensure the career is a good fit. Too many times students choose an intended “major” or career program and have only seen a glamorous side. For example, animal lovers may choose a veterinary program and during the first semester are bombarded with intense biology and anatomy programs. Alongside the academic work, some may realize there is often a downside to this field as not every animal can be helped.
Here are two camp options that focus on a specific path - many more are available with an online search.
Indiana University at South Bend (IUSB), offers a Midsummer Theater Camp which is a two-week immersive opportunity for young people interested in theater. There are different options but perhaps the most enticing part about this camp is the college audition preparation. Along with top instruction from IU faculty, students will receive individual attention as well as the opportunity to ask questions of those who have worked in theater or are working in theater now. The potential for mentorship and networking cannot be underestimated. For details contact Ansley Valentine at arvalent@iu.edu.
Roosevelt University in Chicago offers a one-week program for high school sophomores, juniors and seniors interested in Pharmacy. The Summer Pharmacy Academy is a day-camp style immersive program to introduce students to career paths in pharmacy, degree requirements and how to apply to Roosevelt University. For the 2023 camp, a generous grant donation from Walgreen’s waives the $100 registration fee for all students. For more information, contact Michell Miller at mlazaromiller@roosevelt.edu.
3. You are not sure if college is right for you. If you are not sure about what to do after high school, perhaps attending a “fun” camp will give you a sense of what could be. Lake Michigan College* offers several camps that are not only fun, but also accessible to different ages and skill levels. For the high school student, these camps provide access to the social spaces that may not otherwise be available on a standard college tour. Check out the opportunities and contact Chad Dee if you have any questions, cdee@lakemichigancollege.edu.
Perhaps you are considering going into a trade school after high school? Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan offers an Automotive Engineering camp that exposes students to the fundamentals of vehicle design and performance. The camp offers activities in the school’s engineering labs as well as visiting the automotive industry lab, currently used in manufacturing modern-day vehicles. For more information, contact Robert Gandolfo at rgandolfo@ltu.edu.
4. You are an athlete and hope to play collegiate sports. Many high school students are hoping to attend school and either receive an athletic scholarship or just play on the team. Getting scouted by D1 schools is challenging in post-COVID times, but attending an on-campus athletic camp may help. Meeting and working with the coaching staff at a college or university is important to see if the culture meshes with the athlete. Any higher education experience should be a good fit, regardless if a scholarship is awarded or not. A student’s academic performance may suffer if there is not a good relationship with the team or coaching staff. Some athletic camps in north central Indiana include:
Notre Dame athletics in South Bend offers several baseball camps for both prospects as well middle schoolers. Grace College in Winona, Indiana offers some excellent soccer camps for high school student athletes. Purdue University in Lafayette offers softball camps, although at the time of writing this blog, they have not been posted for summer 2023.
Other non-school affiliated camps are beneficial as well. I recommend speaking with your high school athletic director and your coach for his/her recommendations. Ryzer is a company that specializes in connecting athletes with events where they will have access to several college and university athletic programs at one location. Having attended one of the regional events with my daughter, I can say the experience for a student athlete is not only valuable for exposure to collegiate programs, but also meeting other student athletes. Due to funding, many schools no longer high schools or follow individual players. Instead, scouts and coaches are making the most of their time and money by attending tournaments over a weekend where several teams and athletes can be seen. A Ryzer event is one of many options available.
5. Not everyone needs to attend a summer camp. There are other beneficial activities the provide experience as well as improve a resume for college or program admissions. Working a summer (paid) job, earning volunteer hours, completing a summer course for high school or completing a course at the local community college will benefit a student’s resume. Aligning a summer job or volunteer opportunity with a future career path will also so dedication to a future goal - elite and competitive programs will use these factors as determinants when all other criteria are equal.
Shout out to College Transitions for creating this list of top summer programs for high school students.
*Please note that I am faculty and Political Science program chair at Lake Michigan College.
