Not all of these programs are restricted to gifted and
talented children. This list is simply intended to help you find opportunities that match your child’s interests. I
have tried to include a bit about the application process, where there is one, to give you an idea of how selective the program
may be.
To keep this list manageable, I have mostly limited it
to programs in and around metro Atlanta. There are many residential programs elsewhere. To find them, you can visit the sites
recommended on the Resources page of this site.
You can find more information about summer programs in
the blog section of this web site. You can go directly to relevant posts by clicking on “Summer Programs” in the
right-hand sidebar under “Browse Posts by Topic.”
A final note: A program’s inclusion on this page
should not be interpreted as an endorsement from me. Carefully investigate any program before registering your child. Some
of these summer programs are quite expensive. Do not assume that a high price necessarily equates to high quality.
For preschool children
Cambridge International School at Buckhead: Week-long camps for children ages 2.5 to 8, with a variety of themes that cater to different learning styles, based on the
theory of multiple intelligences.
For elementary and middle-school students
Saturday School for Scholars and Leaders: Georgia State University has operated this program for gifted students in grades K-8 since 1975. During the summer, the
program has a one-week camp as well as Saturday classes. Courses range from architecture to anatomy to film making.
Fernbank Museum of Natural History: A combination of permanent and special exhibits, including dinosaurs. The museum has a summer camp for kids in kindergarten
through 5th grade (rising).
Georgia Aquarium – Camp H2O: This week-long summer camp with a marine biology focus is open to rising 1st-6th graders. The camp is also offered during
spring and winter breaks.
Critter Camp: This one-week camp for ages 6-13 gives kids hands-on interaction with amphibians and reptiles. It’s operated by the
local non-profit group The Amphibian Foundation. Two locations: Decatur and northeast Atlanta.
Serendipity Summer Program: Operated by DeKalb County
Schools, this is a two-week program for children who have been identified as gifted by the DeKalb County School System. Students
choose from classes that focus on special topics in math, science, social studies and English / reading. Call (678) 676-0175.
Xanadu: Three weeks of day camp operated by the Gifted and Talented Education program of the Atlanta Public Schools. Students need not be enrolled in APS to attend, although fees are significantly
higher for non-APS students.
Writing camps at Margaret Mitchell House: These camps are open to children ages 10-14. Margaret Mitchell House, a leading
local supporter of literature and writing, offers a number of week-long camps with varying topics.
Summer Institute for the Gifted at Emory University: This three-week program is held at several sites nationwide, including locally at Emory University. Note: It is run by an
independent organization, not by Emory University. The program is open to rising 1st-7th graders. Students select three classes
to take. Applicants must submit evidence of high ability or achievement. (A residential option is available for older students.
See below.)
Emory National Debate Institute: A two-week program for middle school students provides an intensive introduction to public speaking and debate. The camp
is held at Pace Academy. Follow the link on the ENDI web site to get information.
Atlanta Young Writers Institute: AYWI offers a one-week Summer Workshop to encourage young writers. The program is open to rising 7th- and 8th-graders and
teaches the fundamentals of storytelling.
Atlanta History Center camps: Kids from preschool through middle school take part in stories, games and crafts centered around historical topics. The
center offers half-day and full-day camps.
Georgia Tech CEISMC camps: These week-long camps for rising 6th-9th graders offer hands-on experience in science, mathematics, engineering and technology.
Past sessions have included rocketry, forensics, aeronautics and robotics. Applicants must submit a report card and a teacher
recommendation. (CEISMC also offers programs for high-school students.)
Georgia Tech College of Computing camps: One-week camps for ages 8 to 16, with themes including robotics, games, computing and music.
TEC Camp at Georgia Tech: This one-week camp is for middle-school girls with an interest in technology, engineering
and computing. Application is competitive.
MSM Steam Academy (formerly known as Ben Carson Science Academy): Operated by the Morehouse School of Medicine, this is a
four-week science program with lab activities, field trips and classroom instruction. Open to rising 4th-8th graders.
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center: Camps are offered in visual arts, drama and dance, for toddlers through teens.
campMODA from the Museum of Design Atlanta: Hands-on camps for ages 6 to 12 focused on design, engineering, and
innovation. Camps take place at MODA, Georgia Tech, and the Lovett School.
Summer University at Kennesaw State: A series of one-week camps throughout the summer, in a wide variety of topics. Open
to rising 1st – 12th graders.
Summer Academy at University of Georgia: Day and residential camps for ages 11 to 17.
Camp Carlos at Emory University: Camps with art and history themes for ages 7 to 17.
Appalachian Institute for Creative Learning: This residential camp isn’t local, but it’s worth a look. Open to children ages 8-17, AICL is held each summer
at Mars Hill University, near Asheville, N.C. Campers take classes in several subjects of their choosing and enjoy camp games
and activities.
Imagine That: Week-long camps in technology, computing, robotics, science and art. For kids age 5 through 14. Multiple locations.
Smart Girls Summer Camp at Atlanta Girls’ School: STEAM-themed camps for rising 1st-9th grade girls.
internalDrive (iD Tech): STEM camps for kids ages 7 to 18, held on the campuses of Emory University and Georgia Tech. Offerings include a girls-only
camp for ages 10 to 15.
Mercer Youth Programs: Enrichment in math, science, and creative writing, for rising 1st-8th graders, held on Mercer University’s campuses
in Atlanta, Macon, Douglas County and Henry County.
Emagination: Technology camp with computer programming, robotics, and digital art, offered as a day camp or overnight camp. Hosted at
Georgia Tech.
Midtown International School: Open to rising kindergarteners through 8th graders. Each week, campers study a different topic.
STREM HQ: Week-long camp sessions teaching technology and robotics, for ages 8 to 13.
Atlanta Gifted Academy: Half-day camps for ages 6 to 12, with a science, technology, engineering, math, and design focus.
START:CODE: Camps for ages 8-14 give kids hands-on coding experience with Java and game design.
For high-school students
Governor’s Honors Program: This highly selective, residential program at Valdosta State University is for rising juniors and seniors. Applicants must
be nominated by a teacher in a specific subject, which they study in depth. Formerly a six-week program, GHP was shortened
to four weeks in 2010 because of budget shortfalls. The program is free for participants.
Ivy Hall Young Writers Workshop: This three-day workshop is hosted by the Savannah College of Art and Design at their Midtown Atlanta campus and taught by
professors from the SCAD writing department. Open to rising juniors and seniors, it focuses on creative writing. Twenty students
are selected based on the strength of their applications and writing samples.
VOX Media Cafe: Three-week sessions for teens ages 13-19 focus on multimedia storytelling, combining journalism with video and website production,
and giving students the opportunity to publish and present their work. Small groups are taught by media professionals, with
field trips to local media organizations.
Georgia Tech CEISMC camps: Rising 10th-12th graders can get hands-on experience in science, mathematics, engineering and technology. Past camp sessions
have included finance, astrobiology and nanotechnology. Applicants must submit a report card and a teacher recommendation.
(CEISMC also offers programs for middle-school students.)
Summer Academy at University of Georgia: Day and residential camps for ages 11 to 17.
Emory National Debate Institute: Students who are members of their school’s debate team can attend this residential program at Emory University, where
they will learn debate strategies, conduct research, and engage in practice debates. Applicants are evaluated and selected
based on their previous debate experience.
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center: Camps are offered in visual arts, drama and dance, for toddlers through teens.
Camp Carlos at Emory University: Camps with art and history themes for ages 7 to 17.
Xanadu: Three weeks of day camp operated by the Gifted and Talented Education program of the Atlanta Public Schools. Students need not be enrolled in APS to attend, although fees are significantly
higher for non-APS students.
Summer Science Academy: The Emory University School of Medicine hosts this two-week program, which can be taken as a residential program or a day
program. The academy was created to be “a learning atmosphere where a student’s natural curiosity of science could
be encouraged and freed from the constraints of time, grades, and the distractions of those whose interests were minimal.”
Students research a scientific topic of their choice, participating in lectures, field trips and hands-on labs. Open to students
entering 9th-12th grade.
CDC Disease Detective Camp: This one-week camp gives rising juniors and seniors an inside look at how the CDC works to protect public health. The program
is selective. The field of applicants is narrowed based on an essay, and those who pass the essay phase are entered in a lottery
for available spaces. The camp is free. Because of regulations, students must be 16 or older on the first day of camp.
Georgia Tech College of Computing camps: One-week camps for ages 8 to 16, with themes including robotics, games, computing and music.
MSM STEAM Academy (formerly known as Vivien Thomas Summer
Research Program): Students completing 9th-12th grade can attend this six-week program at the Morehouse School of Medicine,
where they will serve as assistants in biomedical research labs. The program’s stated goal is to increase the number
of minority students pursuing careers in biomedical science. Applicants must have a 3.5 GPA and meet other eligibility requirements.
The link for this page no longer works. If interested, try calling Morehouse School of Medicine.
Emory Pre-College Program: Open to rising juniors and seniors, this program introduces students to the college atmosphere and allows them to enroll
in college-level courses. A six-week program offers college credit for up to two classes. A two-week program is also offered,
but is not for credit. Students can live on campus or commute. An application including SAT, ACT or PSAT scores is required.
Savannah College of Art and Design: SCAD has two summer programs for rising sophomores, juniors and seniors. SCAD Summer Seminars are one-week programs which include two hands-on workshops and afternoon and evening activities. SCAD Rising Star offers a five-week residential or nonresidential program at its Savannah and Atlanta campus, where rising
seniors can take college-level art courses and earn college credit.
Bio@Tech: This three-week camp at Georgia Tech focuses on advanced topics in the biosciences. The camp is open to rising 11th and
12th graders, or “exceptional rising 10th graders.” The application is competitive.
Atlanta Young Writers Institute: AYWI offers a two-week summer workshop called the Summer Intensive. Rising 9th-12th graders learn about literary genres
and work on their own original pieces.
Summer University at Kennesaw State: A series of one-week camps throughout the summer, in a wide variety of topics. Open
to rising 1st – 12th graders.
QuanTM Math Circle: Operated by Emory University’s Institute for Quantitative Theory and Methods, this four-week, residential program
introduces gifted high school students to complex math topics. (Not affiliated with the Math Circle program run during the
school year by Emory’s Department of Mathematics.)
START:CODE: Camps for high school students provide hands-on coding experience with Python, Java and game design.
Summer Institute for the Gifted at Emory University: This three-week program is held at several sites nationwide, including locally at Emory University. Note: The program is
run by an independent organization, not by Emory. The program is open to rising 8th – 12th graders. Students take challenging
courses by day and socialize with other motivated, gifted kids in the evenings and on weekends. Those who prefer can commute
to the institute, forgoing the evening and weekend activities. Students must submit evidence of high ability or achievement
with their applications.
internalDrive (iD Tech): STEM camps for kids ages 7 to 18, held on the campuses of Emory University and Georgia Tech. Offerings include a girls-only
camp for ages 10 to 15 and two-week overnight camps for teens.
Emagination: Technology camp with computer programming, robotics, and digital art, offered as a day camp or overnight camp. Hosted at
Mercer University’s Atlanta campus.
STREM HQ: Week-long camp sessions teaching technology and robotics, for ages 13 and up.
Appalachian Institute for Creative Learning: This residential camp isn’t local, but it’s worth a look. Open to children ages 8-17, AICL is held each summer
at Mars Hill University, near Asheville, N.C. Campers take classes in several subjects of their choosing and enjoy camp games
and activities.
