Mark your calendars for the Talent Development Institutes this summer. Participants experience challenging learning opportunities for one week or two weeks with dynamic faculty and stimulating peers. Come join the fun!

“TDI has provided an environment where being intelligent is encouraged. TDI has given me confidence to be myself outside the camp and introduced me to friends I look forward to seeing each year.” (Camper)

The 2017 brochure will be available in February!  See Registration Page for link.

The Talent Development Institute is a program for gifted students sponsored by the Green Mountain Center for Gifted Education.  TDI, which has taken place since 1998 at Johnson State College, is an enriching and delightful one or two weeks for gifted and talented youth entering grades 4-9. The Institute combines the relaxed atmosphere of a summer camp with new academic and creative opportunities. It is a place where kids go to learn, to grow and have fun with other gifted children, and with teachers who understand and support their giftedness.

We are celebrating our TWENTIETH annual Talent Development Institute at Johnson State College in 2017, and we are very pleased to offer two weeks again this year!!  For each of the two weeks, we’ll arrive on Sunday, get settled in, enjoy five days of classes and fun activities, and finish with a final program and good-bye (for those heading home) on Saturday. Overnight campers will have the option of going home the Saturday night between sessions or joining us (see Tuition Form for fee) for the Saturday overnight between sessions.

Students entering grades 4–9 will participate in week-long classes, daily exploratory activities, and (for resident campers) evening entertainment and exercise – including use of the college pool.  Daily classes, ranging from Writing to Computer Programming to Dance, are led by experienced teachers and enthusiastic program alumni.  All participants enjoy a rare chance to celebrate what most of them already know: that passion for learning is rewarding in more ways than one, especially with dynamic faculty and stimulating peers.

Leadership Program

 

We are pleased to again offer the Leadership Program for students entering grades 10-12 who have previously been TDI participants.  This program will once again span three years.  The first year participants will be part camper/part leader.  They will be meeting for Leadership activities in the mornings, and will be choosing from classes for campers in the afternoons. For more information, please see our website at www.tdivermont.org  or contact Lucy Gage Bogue at lucybogue@yahoo.com.

 The Program

TDI may be experienced as a commuter or as an overnight camper.  Students engage in a variety of unique strands (classes) that nurture the students’ common love of learning.  Staff at TDI are skilled at fostering students’ current passions and sparking their interest in new passions.

While we strive to give students the academic challenge and stimulation they crave, we are not an intense academic program. We encourage hands-on, creative, meaningful learning; at the same time, we create an accepting environment with a multitude of opportunities for fun and friendship.

The overnighters are supervised by Institute staff, with housing in the college dormitories.  Dinner is at 5:30 each evening, followed by evening activities at 6:30 p.m.  We are asking overnight campers to arrive between 2 and 4 pm on Sunday, June 18, 2017.  Supper will be provided each Sunday.

Check-in for commuters each morning will begin at 8:00 a.m.  Monday morning will begin with a brief opening session for everyone at 8:15, with classes starting each morning at 8:30.  Lunch is provided Monday through Friday for all participants at 11:45. After lunch and a short rest time (NEW this year!), the two afternoon classes begin at 1 pm. During our break at 2:30 we will have our daily meeting and sign up for a guided exploratory class that will meet after our last class period, from 4:30-5:30 in the afternoon.  Commuter pick-up is at 5:30 p.m. each weekday, 15 minutes later than it was last year.

Students will be assigned to strands based on the choices sent in with their registration forms.  These strands run from Monday through Friday, with a final program for parents, staff and campers on Saturday morning.  We will be re-designing the Saturday morning program to better share the weeks’ activities with parents (stay tuned!).  After the program, parents of overnight campers will go with their children to the dorms, pack up, return keys, sign out, and head home.

Special Note:  For overnight participants, the Talent Show will be held on Friday evening; please be sure to bring your instruments, costumes, magic tricks, or whatever else you might need if you choose to participate.

The Green Mountain Center for Gifted Education, the sponsor of the Talent Development Institute, is a 501(c)3 registered non-profit whose mission is affirming, educating, and supporting gifted youth and their families.