WKU News

Applications are now available for residential and nonresidential summer camps offered by The Center for Gifted Studies at WKU. These camps are designed to inspire a lifelong love of learning and encourage high-interest and high-ability students to explore their academic passions and develop friendships outside of their regular school classrooms. All camps take place on the campus of Western Kentucky University, and classes are taught by WKU professors and outstanding area teachers.

Summer Camp for Academically Talented Middle School Students (SCATS) | June 5-17, 2022

Offered every summer since 1983, this two-week camp provides a wide range of classes for academically talented students who were in grades six through eight during the 2021-22 school year. Students take four courses from a wide array of choices, and campers can be residential or nonresidential. For residential campers, evenings and weekends give participants the chance to engage in sports, arts, games, and social activities.

“I love the teachers here because if you have a question, they can go in depth with their answer,” said Halle Burton of Russell Springs, KY. “It's very exciting.”

Applications and more information can be found at https://www.wku.edu/gifted/scats.

Summer Program for Verbally and Mathematically Precocious Youth (VAMPY)| June 19-July 9, 2022

Students who have been in grades seven through ten during the 2021-22 school year qualify for VAMPY by taking the ACT or SAT and scoring at or above the average for college-bound seniors. At this three-week residential program, students spend six hours each day in a challenging academic environment. Students select one subject of study for the entire time period; topics range from DNA and Genetic to Pop Culture to Arabic. (Thanks to a grant from Qatar Foundation International, students wishing to study Arabic at VAMPY have the chance to attend camp for free or at a reduced cost.) Evenings and weekends are spent enjoying extracurriculars with other campers.

“VAMPY has made me happier in my regular life,” said former camper Cathleen Smalley of College Grove, TN. “I started taking harder classes in schools so I would not be bored all the time because VAMPY taught me how to learn and how to enjoy it.”

Course options, applications, Arabic scholarship information, and more can be found at https://www.wku.edu/gifted/vampy.

Contact: The Center for Gifted Studies at WKU, gifted.studies@wku.edu or 270-745-6323.