Summer Enrichment Program At Uva

The University of Virginia Summer Enrichment Program seeks to offer gifted and/or high ability students (entering grades 5-11) a rich and rewarding learning experience. Modeling best practices in curriculum and instruction, the SEP staff works as a community to maximize potential in each student and foster a passion for lifelong learning. Find out more! Academics Students in the program spend the morning and afternoon engaged in learning experiences designed to foster critical thinking, creative thinking, and inquiry processes. Instruction is differentiated to meet the individual readiness, learning profile, and interests of each student. A variety of course offerings across fields and disciplines offer students the opportunity to engage in authentic learning experiences that model the work of experts. The teaching staff of SEP utilizes best practices to maximize potential in each student and ignite a passion for lifelong learning. Residential Life The residential component is an integral part of the SEP experience. Residential counselors strive to provide a comfortable and safe environment for living and learning, while meeting individual social and emotional needs. Campers are given the opportunity to build relationships with their gifted peers from different backgrounds and, most importantly, to have fun. The University dormitories are home to the campers for 12 days. Students live in suites that house eight campers and one residential counselor. Each suite is composed of four bedrooms, which allows each student to have one roommate and six other girls or boys of the same age to live with. Counselors live in a separate room within each suite to provide 24 hour supervision. When campers are not in the classroom, they have a full day of engaging activities planned and led by our residential staff.  Activities vary across a spectrum of mental to physical, individual to cooperative, self-elected to designated, as well as small group to whole group. Special Topics are two-day long seminars taught by our counselors. They are designed to be both fun and educational, covering topics outside of the normal academic offerings. Past topics include: the science of superheroes, film-making, architecture at UVA, DJ-ing, survival skills, etc. Large Group Activity/Evening Activities are non-athletic recreational activities, created and led by counselors. They serve as interactive and fun opportunities for all campers to work together and get to know each other. Besides the normal daily activities, we offer many other fun and exciting experiences such as: swimming, movies, shopping, field day, mental challenge, a BBQ, and much more, all while enjoying the beautiful and historic UVA grounds. Since campers spend most of their time at SEP outside of the classroom, our counselors aim to ensure campers remain engaged and active all day long. Our residential staff is composed of creative, intelligent, supportive counselors who have a tremendous amount of enthusiasm for working with gifted children. Residential life at SEP is where many fond memories are made.