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My son is going to spend two weeks this summer at the Rocky Mountain Talent Search Summer Institute in Denver, Colorado. Is anyone familiar with this program? Any thoughts?

Cool, My son is almost 10, and loved his gifted day camp last summer. I think yours will have a good time.

My son is also going to the Rocky Mountain Summer Institute (he's in the July session). We haven't done this before, but I am hopeful it will be an eye-opening experience--college campus, very bright kids, challenging classes. I hope he'll love it and want to do other talent search summer programs in future summers (Duke, Johns Hopkins, etc.) because literature says some kids "live" for these few weeks. Finally, to be among real peers and not feel so weird to be smart. That's what I'm hoping...

So, how was it? Did your son like it?

Our kids (8&9) are attending a Summer Institute for the Gifted in Las Vegas this summer for three weeks. They are in week two and loving it!

My husband and I have heard of the Talent Search in Denver, and would be very interested to know what you thought about it.

My daughter is attending Johns Hopkins CTY and not loving it. Doesn't seem to be dynamic or different or challenging enough. Anyone else experiencing this?

I have heard several negative things about the summer CTY before, but they had to do with behavior of kids/responses of staff to same, not so much about the academic quality. (I did hear one thing once re: there seemed to be an awful lot of down/fluff time, but it was a vague comment - I don't know specifics.)

Anyone in New England: experiences good/bad with SIG? Or Talcott Mt?

Also anyone in New England, if you happen to be considering KAST at the U. of CT., let me warn you off - the admin. is *extremely* hostile to PG kids and their families - to the extent of being incredibly unprofessional. (I'll skip the details unless you want them.) This does not extend to those instructors who are U. staff, but I still would recommend staying away - I'm happy to provide more details if anyone wants. Also, we've experienced 5 or 6 different modules, and the only one of any intellectual quality is archeology - the rest are at an early elementary level, not the 5th-10th grade that is stated.

Any other ideas for excellent, high-school or college level programs (for younger students) in New England?

"Any other ideas for excellent, high-school or college level programs (for younger students) in New England?"

I'd love to know the same thing. SIG day programs aren't really in driving distance for me (because I have 1 year old twins who wouldn't appreciate 4 hours a day in the car!). The thing is... from the course descriptions, if sounds like my 9 year old DS would need to be skipped quite a few grades (maybe less than in public school, but definitely at least a few) and although they seemed open to that SIG seemed open to that idea for the day program, I don't think I'd be comfortable letting him skip several grades in a RESIDENTIAL setting. I'm not sure how it would work for a PG kid, but although I'm comfortable with him going to high school, I wouldn't be comfortable having him live and sleep in a dorm with high schoolers.

We have yet to find a camp that seems appropriate. We did apply for a scholarship to the Summer Explorations program, because we figured if we couldn't find a good fit in a "gifted" camp at least this would be a fun alternative, because they mix up hands on academic stuff with regular fun camp stuff. However, he didn't recieve a scholarship... and the lady actually called me to tell me that the reason why they decided not to give him one was because his application was "too strong" - they were afraid that he was "too gifted" and, having been accelerated so much in school, would probably not benefit from the program as much as a kid for whom the academic components would be challenging. Anyway, if we could have afforded the full cost, that's where we would have sent him:-)

OK, that post was full of typos... I'm sorry, I need to make better use of that "preview post" ****on:-)

I have made quite a study of gifted summer camps for my sons who range from almost 12 to almost 8. I believe that until kids are ready for a residential program, stick to local opportunities (no driving 4 hrs!) that might not even have to do with academics. Sports camps, art camps, theater auditions, museums, day camps for cub scouts, etc. Even in my small town in the middle of nowhere there seem to be too many possibilities to take advantage of. For instance, my 8 yr old PG son who is so excited to learn about everything was delighted to do cub scout day camp, swim lessons, planetarium camp, and golf. Now he's at his first residential camp for 6 nights, which is not academically-oriented. At home we have done some art projects, science experiments and lots of reading. My 10 yr old enjoys his "down-time" between residential camps that are with age-mates and are mostly water sports. I just sent my almost 12 yr old off to RMTS (Rocky Mt Talent Search) Summer Institute at the Univ of Denver yesterday. He'll be there for 3 weeks. There are 91 residential students and 77 commuters in the second session. The campus is lovely and the staff appears very enthusiastic and safety-conscious, so we'll see how that works. I do believe in keeping them busy/occupied/stimulated, but it can also be physical exertion rather than mental, or just new and interesting experiences, depending on what's available.

SIG day programs only go up to "6th Grade" so I don't think they are going to fly for you Katie B. DS9 is so looking forward to being with "kids who like to learn." I'm hoping that will be enough for this summer, but I'm not confident. Next summer I think DH will be able to consious overnight camp. Any ideas for a "turning 11 boy's first overnight camp in the North East?

Hi Tiffany,

The NE has an abundance of camps. Check out www.TheEducationalRegister.com, a free guide to private schools & camps. Specifically for gifted, I suggest your son participate in one of the talent searches. Duke Talent Identification Program (TIP) or Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) cover that region (and offer summer institute at a variety of college campuses across the country, not just Durham or Baltimore), and encourage them to test using the EXPLORE or PLUS tests (5th & 6th grades) and then SAT/ACT (7th & up). My kids seem to really like taking these advanced level tests. Students with qualifying scores are invited to a choice of programs. We have only done the Rocky Mountain Talent Search program, but may consider TIP or CTY for subsequent summers. The talent searches also provide booklets with a million awesome camps all over the country which list ages and topics of interest to help you select. Many require that the student is 12 years old, but not all.

If you don't want to go this route, check out hoagiesgifted.com and they have a lot of information or check into the many esteemed universities (Harvard/Yale, etc.) because most of them offer some kind of pre-college program for gifted students.

"So, how was it? Did your son like it? "

My DS11 participated in RMTS Summer Institute in Denver. We did the commuter option, stayed at the hotel for 2 weeks while he took two courses : Introduction to Geometry and Egyptology nad Hieroglyphs. Geometry was from 8:30 till 11:30, then lunch break , then Egyptology from 1:00 P.M til 4:00 P.M. Interestingly, RMTS requires the highest number of points of all the other talent searches (Duke and John Hopkins)in order to participate in summer program. Also, DS11 had the highest verbal and math score for boys in his state that participated in the talent search - it turned out he had the highest math score in his age group for the whole region. I am writing this not to brag but for you to understand the situation as best as possible.
After the first day of Summer Institute, he was OVERWHELMED. He got in the car and started quietly sobbing. The experience was so intense that he just could not handle it and had to cry (he does that easily when he gets overhelmed and thinks that he won't be able to be the best - perfectionism???) I started probing ever so gently and it turned out that math was not a problem but Egyptology was a different story. He did not see any logic to it, he had to learn how to take notes,had to memorize things, most of the kids in his class had been passionate about Egypt for a long time (not my son) and already heard about the info that was an absolute news to my son. I suggested that he might drop the course, but he would not hear about it. He perserveered. Almost every night he had between 2-3 hours of homework plus reading, weekend had been taken by two big projects (one from each class). He finished Geometry first in his class and was one of the best students in Egyptology - his power point presentation on Khafre Pyramid was voted the best by his peers. But was he happy doing all of it? I don't think he truly was. My son has learned over the years that everything comes easily and with little or no effort from him. RMTS Institute was a different story. He had to make an effort, the courses were very fast paced, he hardly had any free time, and being a perfectionist he studied hard because he did want to be the best. I think it was an extremely valuable lesson for him. Yes, he is very smart, but there are others like him out there. Maybe not in his immediate neighborhood, not in his school, but he is not the only one. But at the same time this thought has been comforting to him. He absolutely loved associating with his peers. They played D&D and my DS finally got to play with people that were able to understand and appreciate his efforts.
The instructors at the institute were great, this comes even from my son. And, amazingly, he wants to go back next year......
So yes, he studied very hard and was under a lot of stress for two weeks, but the rest of the summer was totally laid back, travelling in Europe, visiting family, reading, reading, reading....

Wow Ania,
Sound like music to my ears! So glad that you got to be there and parent him through that difficult time - the idea that he wants to do it again next summer says a lot, yes?

Thanks for the details,
Trinity

I was happy to read Ania's description of the "away" experience. I have gone back and forth on this issue. My DH has a real antipathy toward sleep away camps...I don't know why (I knwo he has never been at one...movies perhaps?)Of course my DS9 really would like to do a sleep away camp.I have the same issues with keeping him with age-mates at sleep away camp as he is radically accelerated at school and I am not happy with him hanging out in a cabin/dorm with middle school boys. It is tough enough on him during the day!

I had considered doing the hotel/commuter thing at a few programs. We have family in CA so we visit there alot.I have friends in the Denver area, so that would be another possibility. Any ideas on GREAT commuter programs?I am so inspired by Ania's post (the ups and downs)that I will look into such an option soon.

Another RMTS review:
My son was 11 doing the residential option of Session 2 (I couldn't consider staying in a hotel because it's too expensive and I have 3 other kids to engage in summer activities). He LOVED it. He said it was the best thing he's ever done in his life (and we have given him many opportunities...camps, trips, etc.) He took Economics and Cell Biology classes and worked very hard in both and scored second highest in Econ, and also high in cell bio. His favorite was Economics and the small seminar discussions about complex theories and how they apply to things going on today in the world. He had to really apply himself (first time he didn't breeze through) and produced high quality papers/presentations. The teachers were great.
More than the academics, he loved the other students and marveled at how amazingly bright they were (his roommate would derive equations for fun, one girl was the highest score SAT in Nevada)--my son discovered how cool it was to be smart and how he's not alone. In our town he seems to have to play all that down. He loved spending hours playing RISK in the evenings--when are you ever going to have so many players passionate about world domination together so that there are simultaneous matches going on? He would run in the mornings, and enjoy the afternoon activities (lots to choose from). On the weekends they went to Six Flags, the Renaissance Festival, the Mall (and a movie), Fat City Fun Center. He reported that the food was great, the rooms had mini fridges and microwaves, they were allowed to go to with a group to the grocery store to restock snacks and drinks. He was intimidated about having to do his own laundry, but after doing it once, said it was easy. He called home every night and said he missed us but was LOVING it. My son has had overnight camp experience before but not in a college setting with academic classes. He also says he wants to do it again next summer.
He also came back asking to take a distance learning math course (EPGY) which he's currently doing--probably because of his roommate's influence. I really think the residential program has so much more to offer a kid than commuter--my son said the evening activities and dorm ping-pong games were so great, I'd discourage commuter if they're old enough/grade enough for residential. RMTS is also the lowest cost of the talent search summer institutes (except Davidson's THINK) and I like that you can take 2 classes (many of them only allow you to take one).