What a Typical Day Looks Like for Students in a Gifted Summer Program

Students at Summer Institute for the Gifted (SIG)  enjoy long days full of a combination of structured learning and free time. Throughout their programs, they are able to stay consistent with a set schedule, discover what it’s like to live on campus if they are boarding, and make friendships that will last a lifetime. 

An average day in a SIG gifted summer program can have students diving into their STEAM+ courses one minute, then eating dinner and heading to a pool party the next. Between the planned outings and activities, and the engaging academic courses, students get a great balance of work and play. Continue reading to discover what a typical day looks like for students in our gifted summer programs!

Students staying on campus have a 7 am wake-up call, followed by some time to get ready for their day. Breakfast is served in the dining hall from 8:30 - 9:00 am, and students can take their time choosing from the school’s dining hall options to fuel themselves for the day ahead. Alternatively, if students prefer to sleep in a few extra minutes, then they can grab a snack on their way to their first course. Commuter students can expect to arrive between 8:45-9:00 am.

Next, students head to their morning course in our gifted summer programs, which can be anything from Discrete Mathematics to Playwriting to Biopsychology, and more. The morning course runs from 9:15 am - 11:45 am with two 10-minute breaks. Every course in our STEAM+ curriculum was designed with gifted students in mind, creating space for them to explore their academics with support at every step. Students are able to choose two courses per session, one for the morning time slot and one for the afternoon. Giving students the chance to dive into their passions and choose courses based on their strengths and interests helps them advance both their academic and personal skills.

Students in our gifted education programs head to lunch after their morning class, which lasts from 1:00 - 2:00 pm. During this lunch hour, students can head back to the dining hall to take their pick from the campus lunch options, which often include pizza, sandwiches, salads, and more. They have a chance to relax and recharge before heading back into class for their afternoon session.

Period 2 is the final course of the day and differs from the morning course. Depending on what course pairings students choose, they may be exploring an entirely different field of study from the morning to the afternoon, which is part of what makes SIG programs so exciting. Taking on a different subject in the afternoon course helps students remain engaged and excited about their class material. Commuter and boarding students alike may stay on campus the rest of the afternoon, taking part in the recreation hour between their afternoon course and dinner. This is when students get to spend their time as they choose, either getting active with one of the sports options on campus, playing a board game or simply relaxing with their new friends in their program. 

While commuter students will head home after recreation hour with a pickup time of 5 pm, boarding students will return to the dining hall for dinner at this time. Dinner options vary from campus to campus, but the unlimited portions allow students to try different meals each day. The dessert bars are always a big hit with our students who have a sweet tooth!

From 7:15 - 9:00 pm, students participate in SIG pre-planned activities that are creative and engaging, getting students out of their comfort zones while making sure they have a good time. These can include our legendary Brain Bowl night, game nights, movie nights, pool parties, and additionally, supervised off-campus excursions to explore the local area. From sunrise to sundown, days in our gifted summer programs are filled with fun and academic growth.

Interested in learning more about our summer enrichment programs?

Contact Summer Institute for the Gifted for more information!