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Great Books Summer Program

Summer Camps > Academic and Pre-College Camps > Gifted > Great Books Summer Program

Summer Address:

   Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
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Off-Season Address:

   Fairfield, Connecticut, USA
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Imagine spending the summer walking the paths of Amherst College or Stanford University talking about Plato, Hemingway and Jefferson with distinguished professors and outstanding young people excited about literature and ideas;

... joining a discussion on Abraham Lincoln led by Pulitzer Prize-winning authors Doris Kearns Goodwin, Joe Ellis, Debby Applegate, Emmy Award-winning journalist Chuck Scarborough and other Guest Discussion Leaders.

... enjoying a preview of college life on one of the most beautiful campuses in America under the supervision of our  caring and dedicated staff.

The Great Books Summer Program is an experience like no other in American education. For the past seven years, the Great Books Summer Program has gathered exceptional middle and high school students from across the nation to read selections from the greatest works of literature, experience college-level discussions and seminars and enjoy summer fun with other literary-minded students. This summer, we’ll read from Shakespeare, Dante, Jefferson, Homer, Hemingway, Tolstoy, Jamaica Kincaid, George Orwell and others.

You can choose from three campus settings — Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts, Stanford University in Palo Alto, California or The College of William and Mary in Wiliamsburg, VA. Amherst College, founded in 1821, is widely regarded as one of the premier liberal arts colleges in the world. The College of William & Mary, the second-oldest university in America educated US Presidents Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and John Tyler, as well as 16 signers of the Declaration of Independence. Stanford University opened its doors in 1891 and has been one of the most highly regarded American universities ever since.

Camp Type:  Residential  Day
Year Established: 2000
Gender: Coed
Age of Campers: 11 to 17 years old
Cost/Week: $1001.00-$2000.00/wk
Religious Affiliation:
Camp Owner(s): David Ward
Camp Director(s): Paula Abate
Nearest Large City: Hartford
Off Season Rental: No
Camp Focus:
Academic and Pre-College Camps: Creative Writing
Academic and Pre-College Camps: Gifted
Academic and Pre-College Camps: Literature
Academic and Pre-College Camps: Other Academics
Art Activities:
  •  Acting
  •  Drawing and Painting
  •  Music
  •  Theater

Academic Activities:
  •  Creative Writing
  •  Other Academics
  •  SAT Prep

Miscellaneous Activities:
  •  Talent Show

Session Information Length Dates Tuition
Intermediate Program (entering grades 6-8 in Sept. 2008)
Amherst College One Week June 22 to June 28 $1,550
Amherst College One Week June 29 to July 5 $1,550
Amherst College One Week July 6 to July 12 $1,550
Amherst College Two Weeks June 22 to July 5 $2,900
Stanford University One Week June 22 to June 28 $1,750
Stanford University One Week June 29  to July 5 $1,750
Stanford University One Week July 6 to July 12 $1,750
Stanford University Two Week June 22 to July 5 $3,300
William & Mary One Week June 22 to June 28 $1,550
William & Mary One Week June 29 to July 5 $1,550
Senior Program (entering grades 9-12 in Sept. 2008)
Amherst College One Week June 22 to June 28 $1,550
Amherst College One Week June 29 to July 5 $1,550
Amherst College One Week July 6 to July 12 $1,550
Amherst College One Week July 13 to July 19 $1,550
Amherst College One Week July 20 to July 26 $1,550
Amherst College Two Weeks June 22 to July 5 $2,900
Amherst College Two Weeks June 29 to July 12 $2,900
Amherst College Two Weeks July 6 to July 19 $2,900
Amherst College Two Weeks July 13 to July 28 $2,900
Stanford University One Week June 22 to June 28 $1,750
Stanford University One Week June 29  to July 5 $1,750
Stanford University One Week July 6 to July 12 $1,750
Stanford University Two Week June 22 to July 5 $3,300
Stanford University Two Week June 29 to July 12 $3,300
Amherst College One Week June 22 to June 28 $1,550
Amherst College One Week June 29 to July 5 $1,550
Amherst College Two Weeks June 22 to July 5 $2,900