Academic Immersion: Academic Camps
Vermont Summer Academy at Green Mountain College (GMC) is a co-ed academic program for rising eighth through 12th-grade students from around the globe. Located in Poultney, Vermont, GMC provides a wonderful backdrop for students looking for an amazing summer of transformative academic and personal growth. There is nothing like experiencing the academic environment at Green Mountain College. That is why Sierra Magazine has ranked GMC a “coolest school” and GMC received a perfect “99” green rating in the 2014 edition of The Princeton Review’s The Best 378 Colleges. Our Majors are a great way to have a top-precollege experience!
Academic Programs
Our fun and rigorous academic camps allow students to explore their academic interests. We introduce subjects that their schools may not offer, while encouraging them to experiment with classes to see if they would like to pursue one as a career. We offer two, two-week long sessions. Our staff has broken the day into four class-periods. Many times during the class day we will move about the campus as needed, going to the library, the computers labs, the science labs (for example, our Forensic Science class), other classrooms or even just sitting outside to conduct a class on a nice summer day in the shade on the quad.
VSA academic camps give rising eighth – 12th grade students the opportunity to immerse themselves in one course of study (our Majors) for a one-week period. Each curriculum is designed around student involvement. Faculty incorporate students’ needs and interests into the lessons so that each class becomes a unique exploration. All courses are hands-on and project based. In all courses, students practice the critical skills of collaboration, critique, project planning and presentation.
Students have the opportunity to study one course in depth. We call that their Major. In addition to the academic camps studies associated with their major, students will enjoy occasional seminars, which are designed to be short, fun introductions to interesting academic pursuits. Our events outside the classroom are a very special component to the experience.
We have gone to great lengths to ensure each class is fun, rewarding, intensive and hands-on … in short, awesome. And our Super Saturday trips are the best!
Sustainability for Every Student:
Sustainability is woven through every course at GMC during the regular academic year AND during the academic program at Vermont Summer Academy. Our program curriculum features sustainability for all courses and sessions. Our program-wide sustainability seminar reinforces these two important concepts.
The VSA Community:
academic programs for high school students at GMC
The community that the students and staff create is at the heart of the positive experience at VSA. Our skilled and enthusiastic staff is committed to teaching exciting and relevant courses, leading fantastic activities, and maximizing the unique experience of a residential youth program environment. In addition to being academic camps teachers and activity leaders, our staff members excel as role models and mentors.
The staff is typically comprised of our program director, academic director, residence life director, teachers, and resident advisors. The directors of our academic camps oversee all aspects of the program, making sure the students are engaged, growing academically and socially, staying safe and having fun. The staff lives in the residence halls with the students to ensure 24-hour availability and supervision.
We incorporate the college’s energy, expertise and community into the summer programs while giving students an opportunity to live and study in a real college environment. Join us for the summer of a lifetime and a college experience you will never forget.
There is an awesome video about the College that you can see by clicking right HERE!
