When school ends this summer, learning ends as well. Or so you might think. Here at The Center for Gifted Studies, we welcome students in grades 1-10 to attend one of our summer camps, which foster accelerated learning, fun, and lifelong friendships. Summer programs provide enrichment and a chance for students to feel at home as they connect with ‘idea mates’ who share similar interests.
For students in grades 1-5, we offer day camps (Camp Explore and Camp Innovate) that feature classes in language arts, science, art, mathematics, and clowning. Students currently in grades 6-8 may apply to The Summer Camp for Academically Talented Middle School Students (SCATS) and choose four classes they are interested in (students must apply to the camp first, as classes are shared in May). Students looking to spend a great deal of time in a subject might apply for The Summer Program for Verbally and Mathematically Precocious Youth (VAMPY). We offer financial assistance for our programs, and the Kentucky Association for Gifted Education offers scholarships, which are due March 31. Learn more about each camp below.
Camp Explore
July 13 – 17, 2026 | Grades 1-3
Camp Explore is a one-week day camp designed for students with advanced ability and high interest who were in grades one, two, or three during the previous school year. The experience features minds-on, hands-on instruction to engage children in advanced-level learning. Throughout the week, teachers with gifted education experience guide students in learning differentiated for their specific needs and advanced levels. Learn more and apply at www.wku.edu/gifted/explore
Camp Innovate
July 6 – 10, 2026 | Grades 3-5
In this one-week enrichment day camp, students in grades three, four, and five actively explore a variety of concepts and content focused on a universal theme. The camp’s approach is interdisciplinary: Students study a single big idea across disciplines such as language arts, math, science, social studies, theater, and art. Learn more and apply at www.wku.edu/gifted/innovate
The Summer Camp for Academically Talented Middle School Students (SCATS)
June 7 – 19 | Grades 6-8
SCATS is a two-week camp that is primarily residential yet can be nonresidential. Students who are currently in grades 6-8 rank class choices from a wide array of offerings. Previous courses include Acting, Clowning, Disease Detectives, Eco Explorers, Legacy of Ancient Greece, Math in Game Shows, Nazi Germany and the Holocaust, Rocket Science, and more. Learn more at www.wku.edu/gifted/scats
The Summer Program for Verbally and Mathematically Precocious Youth (VAMPY)
June 21 – July 11 | Grades 7-10
VAMPY is a three-week residential program for young people interested in learning at a deep level. Students in grades 7-10 during the 2025-26 school year qualify by achieving a score at or above the average for college-bound seniors on the ACT or SAT. Students select a course of interest and spend six hours each weekday exploring that subject in great depth. Classes include Astronomy, Chemistry, DNA & Genetics, Mathematics, Photography, Physics, Pop Culture, and Presidential Politics. Learn more at www.wku.edu/gifted/vampy
For more opportunities for advanced students this year, visit www.wku.edu/gifted/students.
See more photos of our summer programs by visiting our Flickr
