Teen Summer Camps
SuperCamp offers a series of teen summer camps for students as they progress through school and through our various teen summer programs.
Senior Forum Teen Camps
Senior Forum is our teen summer camp for students entering grades 9-12 in the upcoming fall. This 10-day teen camp is our most popular summer program. It offers a unique combination of learning and life skills that help teens in high school and as they prepare for college.
These teen academic camps are available at most of our college locations each summer. To find out the dates and locations for the upcoming summer, visit our summer camp locations page.
Leadership Track Teen Summer Camps
Students who have attended Senior Forum once have the opportunity to return to SuperCamp and join our Leadership Track. Teens who participate in L-Team, as we call it, are able to further develop their skills in the following areas: communication, teamwork, mentoring, goal setting, personal motivation, peer counseling and support, and effective leadership styles.
The L-Team teen enrichment camps are offered as part of all Senior Forum camp sessions each summer.
Leadership Forum Summer Camps for Teens
L-Team graduates become eligible to attend Leadership Forum, a 7-day teen enrichment camp, which focuses entirely on the life skills component of our curriculum, with particular emphasis on advanced leadership, communication, mentoring, and relationship-building skills.
Leadership Forum is usually held at one location, which this year is UCLA.
Quantum U Teen Summer Programs
Whether a student has attended any of our teen summer camps previously or not, they can enroll in Quantum U, our teen enrichment camp for incoming and current college students. Like Senior Forum, Quantum U focuses on both learning skills and life skills, but does so from a college-level perspective.
You can learn more about our 8-day career and college prep summer camps.
Questions and Answers about Teen Summer Camps
As you consider your options in terms of teen academic camps, here are a few questions to think about:
Does the area of enrichment have any practical application to your child's academic future?
Several teen summer camps position themselves as "summer enrichment programs" when, in reality, they are glorified and expensive vacations for the students who attend. Do the kids like these camps? You bet. But before signing up, take a good look at the program's schedule of activities. Close inspection may reveal that there's far more downtime and unstructured free time than there is quality enrichment.
There's nothing wrong with indulging your son or daughter in one of these programs, some of which are held in Europe, on cruise ships and in tropical locations. Just know that there may be little or no lasting value to the student or the parents in this investment.
What kind of training and expertise does the staff possess?
If a teen summer program bills itself as providing new skills to participants, then make a point to learn about the background of the staff who will teach these skills. Are the program leaders teachers themselves or experts in a particular field? Also, inquire as to the training they receive. Many teen enrichment camps scramble at the last minute to hire summer staff and, as a result, the experience and training of some staff members may be lacking.
Is there a balance between learning and fun?
The last thing a student needs in a teen summer camp is more of what they get in high school. A good teen summer camp gives students the feeling that they're at camp, not in summer school or back at high school. While some teen summer programs try to combine learning and fun by giving the campers adequate free time, the best teen enrichment camps incorporate fun right into the learning. When a student enjoys the learning process, the brain does a better job of assimilating and retaining the new information.
In what ways can a teen summer camp enrich a student's life?
When most people hear "summer enrichment" they think of academic enrichment. Clearly, when teenagers are able to acquire new skills in such areas as creative writing, reading comprehension, problem solving and critical thinking, they benefit. But if a teen summer camp offers participants growth in life skills areas that build their confidence, motivation and self-esteem, as well as their communication and leadership skills, then you've found a summer camp for teens that will help a student grow in school and in life.
What's a good length of time for a teen summer camp?
There is no set length that is best. Students do benefit from some downtime in the summer, so a teen summer program that runs three or more weeks may be excessive and expensive. On the other hand, camps that last just a few days will have limited value. Similarly, day camps don't have the same impact as residential enrichment camps, where students get to stay on-site for the duration of the program. Teens, in particular, are nocturnal. Some of the best learning can come in the evening sessions of teen academic camps.
In summary, SuperCamp provides teens with a positive and productive 10-day experience (7 days in the case of Leadership Forum and Quantum U) that can pay long-term dividends for the entire family. Newly acquired academic skills, increased motivation or added confidence can translate into better grades, as well as new academic and personal interests. In turn, this growth can lead to better colleges, college scholarships and rewarding careers.
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Daniel, SuperCamp grad parent
"In just two weeks SuperCamp accomplished what I've been trying (to accomplish) for 16 years. My son, who was reluctant to go, now says it was the best 10 days of his life."
Heather, SuperCamp grad
"It's a great experience. It's a lot of fun, plus you learn some important life skills."
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