Talent Development Institute Summer Camp

Next year’s camp will take place June 22 - 28 and June 29 - July 6, 2024 at Vermont State University in Johnson.

To see what we did this past summer, download the TDI 2024 Brochure and TDI 2024 Strand Grid.

We can’t wait to see you all next summer!

Tuition: After being able to hold tuition flat for 2023, we were forced to raise tuition by $30 to cover our increasing costs for 2024. Please see the brochure for tuition rates. We prefer that you pay in full; however, there are options for payment plans. All discounts (early bird, multiple siblings, two weeks) will be applied automatically.

Scholarships: Partial scholarships are available. Request a scholarship when you register your child, and you will be notified in early May. For scholarship request, you must upload the following three things: a letter requesting scholarship, a letter from child about why he/she wants to attend TDI, and the first page of your latest tax return, showing your family’s income and listing your child as a dependent.

A FIRST-TIME APPLICANT must upload the following 3 letters in order to be considered for the Institute:

• a letter written by the participant describing how the TDI experience will benefit him or her; if you are applying for scholarship, this could be the same as the scholarship letter. If the child is young, it can be very brief.

• a letter from a teacher (and, if the child is home schooling, preferably from another non-family adult working with the child) describing his/her ability to succeed in a stimulating and challenging learning environment. If this seems like it might take a while, upload everything else, and upload the teacher recommendation as soon as possible;

• a letter from a parent/guardian describing why he/she thinks the Talent Development Institute is a good match for the child; if you are applying for a scholarship, this letter could also be the one to explain your need for financial assistance.

**We do not require any formal testing as proof of giftedness; our process of asking the student, parent, and teacher for written narrative in support of a child’s participation has worked well for us for many years.

Helpful information for registration:

• If you are registering more than one child, they will all be under one parent account. (This is different from CampDoc.)

• If you are registering your child for both weeks, and are opting to have them stay the Saturday night between sessions, please make sure you indicate that. The place to choose that option is right after you choose what type of camper or level of Leadership they will be, and for which weeks.

If you have any issues with registering or general questions, please contact Stephen Everse at stephen@tdivermont.org.

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The Talent Development Institute Summer Camp is our annual summer program featuring two week-long sessions jam-packed with learning, activities, community, and fun. It creates enriching, unique, and unforgettable experiences for all sorts of young learners.

The camp focuses on two core goals; first, we work hard to provide a wide variety of learning opportunities that are different from what participants typically encounter in their normal educational environment. These opportunities are structured such that they do not feel like school; instead, they provide education and enrichment in a hands-on, collaborative, and very fun format. Second, we create a unique, welcoming, and inclusive environment for campers of all kinds. TDI is a place where any child can feel at home, regardless of their social ability; children are able to grow and thrive as they are, in a community of like-minded, accepting, and friendly peers.

The core of the program are Strands (our term for classes), which provide a wide variety of opportunities for campers to pursue new passions, grow their skills, and explore new areas of learning. We strive to cover all sorts of areas; each year we have options that cover everything- Science, Visual Arts, Technology, Puzzles & Games, Performance Art, Writing & Language, Outdoor Activities, and so much more. Campers will participate in a range of different activities from discussions about the Roman Senate to launching rockets with Diet Coke and Mentos. These strands stretch from the traditional to the bizarre, and each of them provides a fun-filled and unique educational experience.

The day contains four strand blocks; participants will select their top 3 choices for each block during registration. Most campers will be able to join their top choices for each block, but due to the popularity of certain strands, they may end up in their second or third choice. That strand schedule remains the same each day of the week.

At the end of each day, campers will join in a single-session Exploratory; these can be anything from outdoor games, to puzzle-solving activities, to new learning opportunities and much more. Participants don’t select these Exploratories in advance; instead, there will be sign-up times each morning for that afternoon’s Exploratory block. Head over to our Strands & Exploratories page to learn more, and see examples of all the fantastic offerings from past years!

In addition to the Strands and Exploratories, overnight campers will join in additional activities after dinner, including things like swimming and computer lab sessions as well as camp-wide activities like the Dutch Auction and the fan-favorite TDI “Talent” Show. They will also have some down time in the evening to relax, play games with other campers, read, and unwind after an exciting and action-packed day. See the Campus & Dorm Life page for more details about all the fun campers can expect during the week.

Tuition & Scholarships

Each year, we create a scholarship pool funded by our other programs and workshops, as well as donations from parents and organizations. This pool allows us to offer partial tuition assistance, typically to 15-25% of applicants. Look for more information when the brochure is released early in the year.

These scholarships help us reach more and more young minds that would benefit immensely from the TDI Summer Camp experience. We rely on the kindness of TDI families and others to help us provide more help to those in need. Keep an eye out on our News page, as well as our social media accounts, for information about fundraising events throughout the year. If you would like to provide support directly to the scholarship fund, head over to our Donate page. It cannot be emphasized enough how much we appreciate every one of our donors; regardless of how much you can spare, you are helping create enriching and unforgettable experiences for all sorts of young learners!