Looking for a fun, interesting, and challenging summer camp in Jacksonville for your young gifted learner? You may be out of luck. Having programs tailored to gifted learners throughout the school year, through public schools, certainly doesn't equate to a good selection of choices available locally for gifted learners during the summer, especially for the very young.
The Florida Association for the Gifted lists a few summer programs for the gifted on its website. None, however, are available in Jacksonville. "Engineering the Future" - a free summer program for students in tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grades is sponsored by the Florida Center for Advanced Aero-Propulsion. It'll be offered at Florida State University in Tallahassee. Other programs listed include the Disney Youth Education Series program, which may offer some worthwhile choices.
The National Association for Gifted Children shares a long list of nationwide summer programs designed specifically for gifted children. But of all the choices listed on the association's website, those available in Florida reached a whopping seven. The association does not list a single program for the Jacksonville area.
That doesn't mean there won't be any available in Jacksonville this summer. It's still early. And there may be organizations finalizing program details before announcing what's available. Historically, however, there have been few choices in Jacksonville designed with the gifted in mind.
In past years, the University of North Florida (UNF) has offered some choices, such as a two-week intensive summer program in math and science for students entering seventh, eighth, and ninth grades. This year, Dr. Christine Weber, associate professor at the Department of Childhood Education at UNF, says "a proposal has been submitted to the ‘Governor's Summer Program for Gifted and High Achieving Students' program for review." The Governor's Summer Program funds opportunities proposed by local universities and colleges that offer challenging and interesting plans for the gifted in Florida. "We have not heard yet if it will be funded," says Dr. Weber. If funded, it'll be available this summer.
Even if funded, there may still be a gap, especially for the younger gifted children. In general, Jacksonville does offer a great variety of choices for recreational summer programs, however, most camp administrators place children in groups according to age or grade, not by aptitude, forcing younger gifted children into groups that are doing things they may find too elementary or basic. One possible exception is the Kirby-Smith Science and Technology Camp, designed for gifted and talented students entering fourth, fifth, and sixth grades in Duval, Clay, and St. John's County Schools. Topics to be covered include Robotics, Video Game Design, Aviation, Zoology, 3D Animation, Web Design, Digital Film Making and Digital Editing. Space, however, is limited.
Though mandated by the state, some Florida cities, including Jacksonville, may not make the grade on providing a wide variety of meaningful and challenging learning opportunities for high-achieving learners during the summer months.
And while summer plans should always include a good dose of fun-in-the-sun (remembering the sun-block, of course), quality family time, and a mix of rest and relaxation, challenging and interesting activities for local gifted summer campers may just be the missing element for a well-balanced summer.
Got a summer program for the gifted in Jacksonville? Think your program offers a good balance of fun and intellectual challenge for high-achieving students? Be sure to let the writer know.
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