Summer is here and you may be wondering what programs or activities are available for your child to attend. We have done some research for you and compiled a list of fantastic Summer programs that serve gifted youth. All these programs come from the , Institute for Educational Advancement鈥檚 database. The GRC is a free public tool which serves as an online database of resources appropriate for the gifted learner from Preschool through High School. The GRC contains an abundance of resources and information regarding advocacy, gifted programs and organizations, schools, scholarships, supplemental learning opportunities, testing and counseling professionals, and the twice-exceptional (2e) learner.

Below is a sample of some of the resources that offer and provide activities during the summer. More information about these programs, as well as many more that are not listed here, is available on the .

9-12

Girls Who Code offers a free 7-week summer program for current 10th-11th-grade girls to learn to code and get exposure to tech jobs. Each week the program covers projects related to computer science, such as art, storytelling, robotics, video games, web sites, and apps. Participants will also hear from guest speakers, participate in workshops, connect with female engineers and entrepreneurs, and go on field trips. The program culminates in a final project where students build their own product and share it with the class.

6-8 路 9-12

Digital Media Academy is a nationally recognized organization that provides hands-on summer resi颅dential and day computer camps for teens as well as youth (ages 9-13).

6-8 路 9-12

Summer Discovery is a pre-college academic enrichment program offering middle school and high school students a meaningful summer experience with lifelong value. Choose from over 300 interactive courses at 14 different university locations in the United States and abroad. Their summer programs combine academics with social activities, travel, recreation, and sports.

K-5 路 6-8 路 9-12

CodeREV Kids provides classes and curriculum for students ages 6 to 18, focused on explor颅ing STEM by learning coding, technology, and robotics. Classes are project-based, allowing stu颅dents to engage in deep learning through unique creations and hands-on projects. CodeREV offers classes and summer tech camps in a variety of locations throughout Southern California: Santa Monica, Solana Beach, Encino, Irvine, Beverly Hills, Fountain Valley/Huntington Beach, and Mali颅bu/Palisades.

K-5 路 6-8 路 9-12

Girls Garage is a one-of-a-kind design and building program and a dedicated workspace for girls ages 9 to 17. Located in Berkeley, California, it offers after-school programs, summer camps, and workshops.

优蜜视频 ACADEMY K-5 路 6-8

优蜜视频 Academy is a program of the Institute for Educational Advancement which provides students in Kin颅dergarten through 8th grade with advanced learning opportunities that promote exploration and ap颅plication of knowledge. Classes are taught by content-area specialists and taught at a flexible pace to accommodate the learning needs of gifted and 2e students. Classes are small and grouped by ability rather than chronological age. 优蜜视频 Academy sessions take place in Pasadena, California and are held seasonally: fall, spring and summer (three sessions hosted each summer).

9-12

Stanford High School Summer College offers academically outstanding high school students the oppor颅tunity to take Stanford College courses and earn university credit. Program participants enroll as visiting undergraduates in Stanford鈥檚 Summer Quarter and take the same courses, taught by the same Stanford faculty, as matriculated Stanford students.

6-8 路 9-12

Summer@HPA offers students entering grades 6 through 12 a unique four-week day and boarding expe颅rience structured for academic enrichment and designed to make the most of summer and take advan颅tage of our wondrous island-home to 80 percent of the world鈥檚 ecosystems. The diverse class offerings integrate environmental stewardship and awareness, and sustainability education and practices.

K-5 路 6-8 路 9-12

From early childhood through elementary, middle and high school, Center for Talent Development (CTD) gifted summer programs encourage gifted kids to explore academic areas of interest and con颅nect with a community of peers. CTD offers life-changing residential and commuter programs provid颅ing challenging enrichment, honors and Advanced Placement courses taught in a highly supportive environment.

9-12

Summer Academy is a two-week academic program designed to provide US and international rising 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders the opportunity to have a glimpse of college life for two weeks during the summer. During their stay on campus, students take one of the different classes offered such as Exam Preparation, Debate, Engineering, Arts, or Literature and earn a 陆 Carnegie high school credit for this classwork.

PRE-K 路 K-5 路 6-8
The Quad Manhattan is an inclusive meeting place for Twice-Exceptional kids 鈥� a place where social and executive functioning 鈥渓ife鈥� skills are developed through FUN! Twice Exceptional or 2e children have intellectual or creative gifts, and also have lagging social or executive functioning skills. Developed by experts in medicine, child psychology and gifted special education, the Quad uses kids鈥� strengths and passions to hide skill development in creative and engaging afterschool classes and activities during our summer camp.

9-12

Carnegie Mellon鈥檚 Pre-College programs will show you what college life is all about鈥攆rom the class颅room to what鈥檚 happening on weekends. Carnegie Mellon offers Pre-College summer programs in a variety of subject areas, such as math, science, architecture, drama, music, art, and gaming. There are no tuition, housing or dining fees for students selected to attend the Summer Programs for Diversity.

PRE-K 路 K-5 路 6-8 路 9-12

Summer Wonders is a nonresidential, full or half-day program that allows students to explore diverse subjects in a challenging, creative environment through an integrative, hands-on, non-traditional ap颅proach. Summer Wonders is a specialty program for gifted children entering Pre-K through 6th grade and is held during three different two-week sessions at ACE Academy in Austin, Texas.

K-5

Gifted student Cassidy Kao published her first book at 8 years old and founded iPoetTree at 12 years old. The nonprofit organization seeks to inspire a passion for writing in kids kindergarten to 6th grade. Cassidy provides a fun and free curriculum, supportive environment for sharing poems, and assis颅tance with becoming a published author like her.

听In addition to searching the hundreds of resources in the GRC, you can also download our and with opportunities for K-12 students. and check out our curated Guides.

听Like this post?听听to receive more stories, information, and resources about gifted youth straight to your inbox.

I have a confession to make: I鈥檓 a pop culture nerd. I often find myself responding to situations with movie or TV quotes and can ace most pop culture-themed categories on Jeopardy!, another obsession of mine. So, when I had the chance recently to attend a screening and press junket for the upcoming movie, , I jumped at the chance to combine one of my hobbies with my work here at 优蜜视频.

Pulling up to a hotel in Beverly Hills to meet movie stars is never something I expected to do when I entered the nonprofit world. But, nonetheless, I found myself doing just that last Thursday. I was seated in a small room at a roundtable with other 鈥渘on-press鈥� attendees, allowing the chance to really dig in and ask the stars questions about giftedness.

First up we met Jenny Slate, who plays the teacher in the movie. Herself a 鈥渟mart and quirky鈥� child, Slate related to the material.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 fit into the system but I knew there was something different about me. I felt fear and isolation because I didn鈥檛 know how to express my intelligence or use it socially, so I really connect to this,鈥� she said. When I asked her what the movie taught her about gifted kids, she said it reinforced her belief that these students should be encouraged but also be allowed to be kids and pursue non-academic interests. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all about ,鈥� she ended.

Next up were the movie鈥檚 leads, Chris Evans and McKenna Grace. Grace described the challenges of playing Mary, a gifted seven-year-old, and how she could connect with her.

鈥淲e all go through a time when we feel like we are different or like we don鈥檛 fit in,鈥� said Grace, describing the feelings of many gifted students in both the classroom and social settings. The hour ended with Octavia Spencer, who plays Mary鈥檚 friend and neighbor. Spencer noted the fact that Mary connects with her character, Roberta, who is over 30 years older than her, shows how intellectually advanced she is. It is a well-known fact that , so I found Spencer鈥檚 observation very astute.

Most interesting is the story behind the movie. Screenwriter Tom Flynn was inspired to write the movie because of his gifted sister, as well as her two gifted daughters. Flynn has noted in interviews that he wrote the screenplay because of the characters and to tell the story of a gifted child. The team behind the movie worked to get the joys and struggles of gifted kids right, even visiting a school for gifted children and talking to their families.

Obviously, no movie can perfectly portray the nuances of giftedness, and Gifted can be said to be a Hollywood-version of the struggles these students face. But the care taken by the cast and crew to portray Mary鈥檚 struggles is evident and the film is definitely worth seeing.

Looking for some other gifted characters in pop culture? Here are a few of my favorite movies and TV shows featuring gifted kids.

Based on the popular children鈥檚 book series, one of my favorites as a kid, this Netflix show adapts the first four books into an eight-episode series. The Baudelaire children have to use their gifts and wits to survive in increasingly unfortunate situations, kicked off by the death of their parents. The TV series does a great job of keeping the dark humor of the books while being loyal to the plot.

in two different, but real, ways. It鈥檚 especially good for gifted teens and pre-teens, who may be able to identify with either high-achieving Rory or bored and dissatisfied Jess.

This Japanese anime movie follows a young witch on her required year of independence. She soon starts a delivery service for the people in her new town, but then goes through a period of questioning her powers. It鈥檚 a relatable reflection on and the power of believing in your own abilities.

A favorite of the gifted community, this Jodie Foster movie is still as relevant today as when it was first released over 25 years ago. It鈥檚 a compelling story that, much like Gifted, addresses the struggles many gifted kids face choosing between academic pursuits and being a 鈥渘ormal鈥� kid. I also think it鈥檚 one of the most accurate portrayals of a gifted child in pop culture.

What are your favorite movies and TV shows portraying gifted kids (or adults)?

If you would like to see a screening of Gifted, please look here for one in your area and RSVP to the email address provided. Be sure to mention 优蜜视频!

Like this post? to receive more stories, information, and resources about gifted youth straight to your inbox.