Great Books Summer Program 2024

greatbooks

summer program ®

Exciting sessions for middle and high school students!

On the campuses of

Amherst Haverford Stanford Northwestern Edinburgh Oxford Dublin & Online too!

Day & Residential Programs

2024

Welcome to Great Books Summer Program 2024!

Welcome to GBSP’s unique world of literature, thinking, discussion, writing, and summer fun!

For twenty-three years, families like yours have chosen Great Books programs for their aspiring and curious middle and high school students.

GBSP is, first of all, a welcoming and inclusive community.

We value each and every student. We value ideas and open discussion. We encourage critical thinking and respectful listening. We practice the art of civil discourse.

And we have a huge amount of fun. Reading. Discussion.

Debate. Electives in Theater. Art. Music. Writing. Poetry.

Philosophy. Public Speaking. Along with Games, Pick-up Sports, Open Mic, and a Dance.

In these challenging times for young people, Great Books is a place where lasting friendships are made.

Students have come to GBSP from all 50 states and over 45 countries. They go on to attend some of the top colleges in the US and the world. Most importantly, we hear from so many parents and students that Great Books Summer Program has been a significant and lasting, positive influence in their lives both academically and socially.

We would be delighted to get to know your young person and your family.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Great Books & Big Ideas

With all best wishes,

234

years

Read, discuss, and build important skills.

David S. Ward President and Co-Founder

For middle and high school students. One, two, three, or four-week programs.

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For students entering grades 6-8 and 9-12

Amherst, Stanford, Haverford, Northwestern, Online

Mission Statement The mission of the Great Books Summer Program is to create warm and lively communities of learning where free inquiry, reason, and civil discourse shape critical thinking skills.

We engage with enduring texts of literature and philosophy to discover and explore the great human issues and questions.

We strive for respectful, probing conversation in search of knowledge, insight, and a better understanding of ideas, our neighbors, and ourselves.

Most of all, we invite students to embark on the quest to develop one’s own best thinking.

Writer’s Workshops

Literary Travel Programs

Grow writing skills and refine your voice.

Enjoy both academics and exploration.

For students entering grades 6-8 and 9-12

For students entering grades 9-12

Amherst, Stanford, Online

Edinburgh, Oxford, and Dublin Writer’s Program

©2023 Great Books Summer Program

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Why Great Books?

For twenty-three years, outstanding students have come together at some of the world’s most prestigious universities for the Great Books Summer Program. Led by top professors and distinguished educators and scholars, our students spend their days enjoying the kind of intellectual experience most can only dream of during the school year.

A Unique Experience A residential program with some online and day program sessions, Great Books gives middle and high school students a taste of the university experience in a safe, fun, and supervised environment. They’ll be part of an international learning community enjoying a challenging curriculum, electives, and social activities.

“Great Books has been and continues to be, my first choice for families looking for summer enrichment programs.”

— A. Levia, Educator

Close Mentoring and an Inclusive Community The Great Books learning community is open, inquisitive, inclusive, and warm. Every student is mentored by our caring faculty and

staff. Our unique combination of academic rigor and supportive environment gives students the tools and confidence to pursue their gifts now and well after summer has ended.

For many of our students, this is the first time they have come together with young people who are equally passionate about reading and the discussion of ideas. As a result, students push themselves to take the academic risks that foster meaningful growth. Students encourage each other and quickly bond to form lasting friendships.

Evaluation Upon successful completion of the program, students will receive a Certificate of Completion and an Evaluation Letter.

These letters provide detailed insight into each student’s accomplishments throughout the program and are a great addition to a college or boarding school application.

Our Stories Every Great Books story is unique.

Watch videos to hear from our students and faculty as they share their stories.

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Gain valuable skills in a prestigious university setting: • Build critical thinking and analytical skills • Learn with world-class professors and scholars • Explore classic and contemporary literature • Engage in lively discussion • Gain new powers of perception and self-expression • Develop greater confidence • Make friends from around the world

A Unique Methodology: Teaching by Asking Questions Build Skills through Shared Inquiry Great Books Summer Program students explore important ideas through the time-honored teaching method of Shared InquiryTM. Dating back to the days of Socrates, Shared Inquiry is teaching by asking questions. It encourages in each student the habit of close, reflective, analytical reading and critical thinking. It also teaches empathy and communication skills as students engage together in probing dialogue, in civil discourse, about the big ideas that shape our lives and world.

Develop as a Thinker Participants develop the ability to hone in on key concepts and more readily understand the subtleties in literature and in life. The Socratic approach makes students stronger and more rigorous thinkers. It also makes articulate communicators who are better prepared to thrive in increasingly competitive universities and beyond.

Grow as a Leader Whether students aspire to a future in the humanities, STEM, or both, the skills gained at Great Books are excellent preparation for leadership roles across disciplines. In fact, some of our greatest success stories come from Great Books alumni in STEM fields, law, and medicine as they embark on exciting careers!

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Dr. Ilan Stavans, Lewis-Sebring Professor of Humanities, Latin American and Latino Cultures at Amherst. Co-founder of GBSP.

Dr. Steve Volk, Professor of History Emeritus at Oberlin College and Director of Center for Innovation & Excellence.

Noah Rosenblum, JD, Assistant Professor of Law at New York University and Yale Legal History Fellow.

Dr. Wes Alcenat, Assistant Professor of History at Fordham and Associate Fellow at Harvard University.

Dr. Amos Rothschild, Associate Professor of English at St. Thomas Acquinas College and graduate of Yale, Fordham, and BU.

Eve Houghton, PhD candidate at Yale University and Mellon Fellow at Cambridge University.

Our Renowned Educators

Meet many more on our website!

Dr. Jacob Burg, lecturer in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Writing Program at Boston University and graduate of Brandeis.

Michael Harrington, PhD candidate in the Dept. of English at Princeton and lecturer at Fordham University.

Dr. Christopher González, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in English at Southern Methodist University.

Dr. Max Suechting, graduate of Stanford University’s Program in Modern Thought and Literature and Amherst.

Dr. Amelia McConville, graduate of Trinity College Dublin’s School of English and the Institute of Neuroscience.

Dr. Irina Troconis, Assistant Professor of Latin American Studies at Cornell and graduate of NYU, Cambridge, and Amherst.

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The Great Books Difference Distinguished Faculty

Our Talented Mentors

Every Great Books session, online and on campus, is led by distinguished faculty from the finest educational institutions in the country. Our faculty members are prize-winning authors, scholars, and professors dedicated to sharing their passion for literature and ideas with our students. Imagine your son or daughter participating in a discussion on Don Quixote, led by Professor Ilan Stavans, whom the New York Times described as “The czar of Latino culture in the U.S.” or spending lunch discussing Walt Whitman with a PhD candidate teaching undergraduates at Princeton. At Great Books, we give students a true taste of university life both by living on campus and gaining valuable learning experience with educators from esteemed universities.

Special Guests Every summer, award-winning and passionate intellectual leaders from many fields of endeavor visit us to share their invaluable stories and insights with our community. Great Books students enjoy lectures and talks with writers, including Pulitzer Prize winners and others from the worlds of literature, publishing, film, the arts, and beyond.

A powerful addition to our core curriculum, these weekly guest speaker events are a unique opportunity for Great Books students to ask questions and get answers from inspiring luminaries. See recent guests on back cover.

Program Assistants Each summer we bring together a very select group of outstanding undergrad and graduate students through a competitive nationwide search for Program Assistants (PAs). Counselors are chosen from scores of applicants based upon their academic excellence, intellectual enthusiasm, outgoing personality, maturity, and experience in working with younger people.

The Program Assistants help facilitate discussions, mentor students academically, and organize fun indoor and outdoor activities.

Each Program Assistant is assigned to a “pod,” a small group of students on their dorm floor. PAs lead informal evening reading sessions, assist their students with daily camp life, supervise, and help ensure that everyone has a wonderful experience.

Mentors and Scholars Our staff hails from universities like Yale, Amherst, Wesleyan, Columbia, UChicago, Tufts, Swarthmore, St. John’s, Brown, Stanford, Oxford, and more. They bring diverse talents to the program and a shared love of literature. Exceptional role models for Great Books students, our Program Assistants have included Rhodes and Fulbright Scholars, Latin translators, philosophy majors, blossoming novelists, rugby stars, guitarists, debate team members, actors, musicians, artists, and entrepreneurs.

Andre Dubus III signs copies of his novel for Great Books students.

“It would be easier to describe the PAs with a string of adjectives: wonderful, fun, inventive, hilarious, helpful, understanding, nice, friendly, supportive…and great in every way!”

— Emily, Lamoine, ME

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Great Books & Big Ideas Read and Discuss Great Books and Big Ideas

Our traditional Great Books & Big Ideas programs are the backbone of summer at Great Books. Day and residential programs for grades 6-8 and grades 9-12 are on multiple campuses as well as online.

Each morning, students gather for two exciting seminars led by our distinguished Academic Directors, who are professors, educators, and scholars. Great Books Academic Directors are typically from top universities like Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Oberlin, Amherst, Cornell, Oxford, Columbia, and others. Seminars focus on short selections of literature that students have read together the prior evening in their pod of 6-8 students. Pods are guided by a dedicated Program Assistant, a carefully chosen college or grad student with a passion for literature, commitment

to mentoring, and a desire to foster an intellectual community of middle or high school students.

Discussion at seminars invariably raises big questions like, “What does it mean to live a good life?,” “What do I owe my neighbor?,” and, “What must we do in the face of injustice?”. Questions arise naturally from the close examination of the text at hand. Students learn to use the textual evidence to shape their thoughts.

Subsequent smaller break-out groups are open forums for deeper discussion.

With literature as the catalyst for lively seminars, Great Books students embark on an amazing intellectual journey. It is designed to challenge and support curious minds and prepare them to take command of their own best thinking and powers of expression. Great Books Summer Program delivers excellent preparation for college classes, for the life skill of thinking well on one’s feet, and for the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section.

Our Curriculum: New Readings Every Week The Great Books Summer Program curriculum is carefully shaped by our Academic Directors. They choose enduring texts that are superbly suited for scrutiny and analysis, require deep understanding, and inspire lively conversation.

Every session delivers new academic content — new readings and themes packed with thought-provoking and challenging materials for students.

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Prior weekly themes have included “Books that Changed the World.” When seeking social change, what holds the most weight? An idea, a sword, or a poem? Can a solitary writer change the course of history? What is the relationship between the written word, the world, and society? From Sun Tzu’s Art of War to The American Constitution. From Samuel Johnson to Pablo Neruda. From

Silent Spring to How the Other Half Lives. In this journey across time, genre, and culture, we examine the power of literature to shape communities, movements, and even nations.

Regardless of which campus and sessions students attend, the themes and selections are sure to foster intriguing questions and rewarding discussions!

Writer’s Workshop Now in its ninth year, our Writer’s Workshop has grown! We’ve expanded to include day and residential programs for grades 6-8 and grades 9-12 on both coasts and online too!

Emphasizing creativity and skill building, Writer’s Workshop places students in small groups led by our expert faculty of professional writers and university writing instructors. Young writers come away with new ideas, more advanced skills, a brimming portfolio, and a refined sense of their own voice. See our Dublin Writer’s Program too!

Create and Grow in Writer’s Workshop Writer’s Workshop is a warm and welcoming community of beginners and more advanced young writers alike. Days begin with a seminar aimed at awakening creative impulses and learning key writing skills like voice, time, style, vivid description, and more. Students engage with creative writing prompts and exercises that make practicing new techniques fun.

Writing time follows before students head to lunch. Refreshed, they proceed to workshop for two hours of critical engagement with one another’s work, divided into small groups led by expert faculty.

For all age groups, afternoons also include a free-time period to unwind. Dinner follows and reading time precedes fun evening events. The week culminates with a celebratory “coffeehouse” gathering on Friday evening where students read selections from their work.

The Writer’s Workshop Middle School Program, for rising grades 6-8, gives

students the opportunity to try their hand at a variety of genres. Students explore writing poetry, short stories, creative essays, and more. They learn tips to overcome writer’s block and practice giving and receiving constructive, individualized critique.

of structure, expression, vivid description, and more. Especially good for students preparing for college admission essays.

In the Writer’s Workshop High School Program, for rising grades 9-12, students choose one of the following program tracks for the afternoon workshop:

Poetry: The Poetry track will focus on writing that explores poetic language, including cadence, rhythm, visual texture, and meaning. Students will write new material, develop ways of talking about their own work and the work of others, and learn strategies for revision.

Fiction: The Fiction track focuses on key elements like point of view, character and world building, dialogue, and more. As they hone their craft, students gain the skills necessary to develop, revise, and edit their pieces while workshopping with peers.

Screenwriting: The screenwriting track explores the creative process of writing scripts as well as the technical elements of script formatting. Students dig into the nuances of character-building, story development, voice, and dialogue for the screen.

Nonfiction: The Nonfiction track will focus on the art of the personal essay. Students explore expository, argumentative, and narrative essay forms.

Students learn the essential building blocks

Admissions Office Have questions? Call, text, or email:

✆ 203-612-9470

✉ info@GreatBooksSummer.com

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The Joy of Self-Expression: Art and Literature Electives Arts Electives Creative, Collaborative Projects and Performance Our arts electives provide students with an outlet for creativity and collaboration. Led by highly talented artists and teachers, arts electives culminate each Friday in a studentrun showcase performance, a highlight of the program!

• Theater students delve into traditional elements of stagecraft and performance technique, such as voice, movement, and prop construction. They then create an original performance piece.

• Creative Writing enthusiasts craft poems, short stories, essays, and more as they probe the campus and their environs.

• Music is the place where instrumentalists, vocalists, and aspiring composers combine their talents to create together.

• Visual Art students explore new skills like portrait drawing, en plein air painting, street art styles, zines, filmmaking, and sculpture. The finished pieces form the “opening” of our gala evening.

Beyond the core curriculum, many Great Books programs offer art and literature electives each day. These classes allow an opportunity for creative expression and the chance to explore special topics in literature.

To begin putting students in charge of their own educational journey at GBSP, students select their electives based on personal areas of interest and the course choices presented at orientation each week.

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Literature Electives Diverse Literature Courses for Enrichment Our literature electives provide students the opportunity to select from an array of exciting special topics classes, taught by our accomplished Program Assistant team. Each daily, hour-long literature elective focuses on a particular author, genre, time period, theme, or style of writing.

Previous electives have included the Sonnets of Shakespeare, Greek Mythology, Journalistic Writing, Franz Kafka’s Short Stories, Southern Gothic, Monster Literature, Irony vs. Sincerity, Graphic Novels, and more. Choices vary weekly and include something exciting for everyone!

World-Class Academics & Fun! Middle School Program for students entering grades 6-8 For younger students, the Great Books Summer Program is often a time of intellectual awakening, as their own personal powers of critical thinking and perception blossom. Through expertly led discussions, young minds learn how to make connections between the themes and scenes of great literature and the world.

We help students gain confidence and find their own voices to share their ideas. In addition to developing self-expression skills and reasoning, students develop their ability to listen carefully and consider the views of others. The result is a more thoughtful young person who is better able to articulate opinions based on evidence and who possesses the confidence to be heard and to lead.

A Typical Day | Residential Program

Great Books & Big Ideas 8:30 am

Breakfast

8:45 am

Poetry Cup

9:15 am

Seminar: Plato’s Republic

10:00 am

Break

10:15 am

Seminar: Borges’ The Aleph and Magical Realism

11:15 am

Discussion Group

12:15 pm

Lunch

1:00 pm Literature Elective: Slam Poetry

2:00 pm Art Elective

(art, music, theater, and

creative writing) High School Program for students entering grades 9-12 The Great Books Summer Program high school program provides students the opportunity to hone their critical thinking, analytical skills, and intellectual risk-taking. Students take command of their own best thinking and powers of expression. Advanced reading selections lead to exciting discussions and debates.

This is excellent preparation for seminar-style college classes, for the life skill of thinking well on one’s feet, and in no small measure, for the evidence-based reading and writing portion of the SAT. Program attendees also meet with professors and students from top universities to discuss college choices and experiences. Successfully completing a program of this caliber is an honor to note on college applications.

Time for FUN!

4:00 pm Free Time:

Campus Tour, Field Games

5:30 pm Dinner 6:15 pm

Reading Time

7:00 pm

Scavenger Hunt

8:00 pm

Guest Speaker: Sarah Kay

9:30 pm

Pod Reading and Discussion

Day Program drop-off is at 8:30 am and pick-up at 5:30 pm. Lunch is provided.

Summer is a time to relax and have fun with new friends too. At Great Books, we balance academic pursuits with play. There are lots of fun activities to choose from every afternoon. Field games, museum visits, and hanging out with friends on the quad are just some of the possibilities.

See Schedule for Writer’s Workshop, Travel Programs, and answers to other FAQs.

Evening events range from foam sword tournaments, movie night, open mic (talent optional!), mixers, guest speakers, our performance night, and more!

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On the campus of

Amherst College

One, two, three, and four-week sessions.

For Students Entering Grades 6-8 and 9-12.

Great Books Summer Program is thrilled to return to our inaugural campus for our 23rd year. Here, on the paths that Emily Dickinson once walked and on the lawns where Robert Frost once taught, Great Books students are guests at one of the most beautiful campuses in America.

Academics The Great Books Summer Program at Amherst will include both our literature and writing programs! We will revel in the rich, literary heritage of New England and look back to the classics and broadly to world literature, too.

Discussions at Great Books at Amherst often spring from the writings of Whitman, Hawthorne, Locke, the Greeks, American founding documents, Frederick Douglass, Emily Dickinson, Maya

Residential & Day Programs Great Books & Big Ideas June 23 – June 29 June 30 – July 6 July 7 – July 13

Writer’s Workshop July 14 – July 20 Combine Writer’s Workshop & Great Books for a two, three, or four-week program!

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Angelou, Langston Hughes, and Ursula Le Guin. Every week’s curriculum is unique, and with Writer’s Workshop too, it is exciting to stay for multiple sessions!

Amherst College Amherst, Massachusetts Amherst College, founded in 1821, is widely regarded as one of the finest liberal arts colleges in the world. Home of the nation’s first undergraduate neuroscience program, Amherst is located in western Massachusetts, close to the beautiful Berkshires. With an endowment of more than $3.5 billion, Amherst’s academic and athletic facilities, including the Mead Art Museum and Robert Frost Library, are among the best in the nation.

On the campus of

Haverford College

One and two-week sessions.

For Students Entering Grades 6-8 and 9-12.

In summer 2024, Great Books Summer Program is excited to once again be on the campus of Haverford College. At this historic campus, students will enjoy 200 acres of award-winning architecture and landscape, including a nationally recognized arboretum, a 3.5 acre duck pond, and beautiful gardens. Nestled just outside of Philadelphia, this serene and dynamic college is known for its academic rigor.

Academics In our summer at Haverford, GBSP will hold two weeks of Great Books & Big Ideas programs. We will celebrate the classics and philosophy, including American and world literature.

John Updike, Rachel Carson, James Baldwin, Joyce Carol Oates, Aeschylus, Gabriela Mistral, and Albert Camus are just some of the many writers who are bound to be of interest. Plus, students

who take a two-week program can look forward to fun weekend activities on and around campus.

Haverford College Haverford, Pennsylvania Founded in 1823, Haverford is one of the country’s top liberal arts colleges. While now a non-sectarian college, Haverford is deeply rooted in the Quaker values of integrity, truth, peace, and equality.

This prestigious school has been ranked 7th among liberal arts colleges in America and 8th of all small colleges in America. Even as a small institution, the college has produced alumni including five Nobel Prize laureates, six Pulitzer Prize winners, 85 Fulbright Scholars, 20 Rhodes Scholars, 69 Watson Fellows, five MacArthur Fellows, and 27 Guggenheim Scholars.

Residential & Day Programs Great Books & Big Ideas July 21 – July 27 July 28 – August 3 Combine Sessions for a two-week program!

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On the campus of

Stanford University

One, two, and three-week sessions.

For Students Entering Grades 6-8 and 9-12.

In 2024, we are pleased to launch our 21st year as guests on the campus of Stanford University. Here, amongst the majestic California palms, young people from around the world gather to experience reading, discussion, and life on the campus of one of the great universities of the world.

Academics Faculty sponsor, Professor Rob Reich, typically joins us for one of the highlight seminars of the program. Dr. Chris Bobonich of the Philosophy Department invariably casts a spell with his dynamic lectures. Distinguished visiting Academic Directors offer one-week literary explorations. The curriculum at Stanford tends to feature some world literature such as Borges and Murakami but also explores Greek and Roman classics, American writers, and European philosophers.

Residential & Day Programs Great Books & Big Ideas July 7 – July 13 July 14 – July 20

Writer’s Workshop June 30 – July 6 Combine Writer’s Workshop & Great Books for a two or three-week program!

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Stanford University Palo Alto, California With its palm trees, breathtaking views of the Santa Cruz mountains, Spanish architecture and sunny 70-degree days, Stanford University is an idyllic setting. The 8,000-acre campus is one of the most beautiful in the country, and one of the largest in the world, offering carefully crafted residential and academic spaces for study and comfortable California living. Stanford University opened its doors in 1891 and has been considered one of the finest American universities ever since. It is often cited as the intellectual incubator of Silicon Valley and the tech industry.

On the campus of

Northwestern University

One and two-week sessions.

For Students Entering Grades 6-8 and 9-12.

Great Books is excited to return to Northwestern University for two weeks in 2024. At this Great Books campus, students will enjoy the best of Chicago while residing on the beautiful 240-acre main campus nestled on the beachy shore of Lake Michigan in Evanston.

Academics In our summer at Northwestern, GBSP will celebrate the history of the Great Books by looking at the classics, the literature of America and the American heartland, and beyond. Carl Sandburg, Gwendolyn Brooks, Saul Bellow, Ernest Hemingway, John Dos Passos, and Richard Wright are just some of the many who are bound to be of interest.

Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois Founded in 1851, Northwestern is one of the country’s leading private research and teaching universities. This prestigious school is ranked 10th among national universities by U.S. News & World Report. Additionally, the university’s former and present faculty and alumni include 19 Nobel Prize laureates, 38 Pulitzer Prize winners, six MacArthur Genius Fellows, 16 Rhodes Scholars, 65 members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and two Supreme Court Justices.

Residential & Day Programs Great Books & Big Ideas July 7 – July 13 July 14 – July 20 Combine Sessions for a two-week program!

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Literary Travel Programs Open to students in grades 9–12.

These intentionally smaller programs combine exploration, adventure, and academics to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Students take part in two seminars and small group discussions each academic day.

Excursions and outings are planned to ensure that students have a rich experience of the host campus and locale.

Community At Great Books, we are committed to providing a safe, fun, and engaging environment with plenty of opportunity for students to interact outside of classes. Great Books Travel programs allow students the chance to engage with the literature and the local landscape to have an enriching learning and cultural experience. While some students come with a friend, the vast majority come alone, so we give special attention to helping campers connect and build lasting friendships.

Travel Students joining our travel programs may arrange their own flights around recommended itineraries.

Chaperoned ground transportation is available to and from the specified airports for all abroad programs.

Supervision Students at Great Books are assigned to pods which are comprised of several students and one collegeaged Program Assistant. Living on the hall with the students, Program Assistants are involved in every aspect of the students’ day. They accompany students on and off campus and provide academic mentoring. In addition, the dedicated administrative team provides additional supervision, support, and leadership.

Evaluation Upon successful completion of the program, students will receive an Evaluation Letter. A great addition to college applications, these letters provide information regarding course material covered and detailed insight into each student’s personal and academic accomplishments throughout the program.

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Literary Edinburgh

One-week session For Students Entering Grades 9-12.

This one-week program anchored at the University of Edinburgh offers the Great Books experience rich with Scottish literature, history, and storytelling.

Academics Students at Literary Edinburgh will spend the mornings in Shared Inquiry seminars and discussions focused on the works of great Scottish writers such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson, Muriel Spark, and Robert Burns. During the afternoon, students will walk in the literary steps of Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Long John Silver, Harry Potter, and evil incarnate himself, Lord Voldemort. Students also learn more about the rich history, culture, and traditions of Scotland.

University of Edinburgh, Scotland

Travel & Cultural Exploration To fully experience the literary treasures of the city, we spend the afternoons and most evenings touring the magnificent landscapes and neighborhoods of Edinburgh and exploring the sites that inspired this city’s great stories.

Outings will include Edinburgh Castle, Greyfriars Kirkyard, and sites that inspired the Harry Potter series, as well as other points of literary and historical significance.

Residential Programs

Founded in 1582, the University of Edinburgh is one of the oldest universities in the English–speaking world and is recognized as a leading research university.

The historic campus is located in the very heart of Edinburgh. The University of Edinburgh is the alma mater of David Hume, Robert Louis Stevenson, Charles Darwin, Alexander Graham Bell, and Pippa Middleton.

Literary Travel Program July 14 – July 20 Literary Edinburgh works well as a stand-alone program or can be combined with Literary Oxford or with the Dublin Writer’s Program.

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Literary Oxford

One-week session For Students Entering Grades 9-12.

Our Oxford program strikes the perfect balance between outstanding academics and exploration in one of the most enchanting cities in England.

Culture, Art, & Academics We spend our mornings taking part in Shared Inquiry seminars and discussion. We take advantage of our location to create a curriculum that includes a broad array of British literature and features visits from Oxford dons, authors, and other luminaries. Even our PAs have included Rhodes and Fulbright Scholars and PhD candidates.

Residential Programs Literary Travel Program July 21 – July 27 Literary Oxford works well as a stand-alone program or can be combined with Literary Edinburgh or with the Dublin Writer’s Program.

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Afternoon and evening excursions throughout the week allow students to have a truly varied and exciting experience. Students see the different colleges that comprise Oxford, including Christ Church and New College, which were featured in the Harry Potter movies. We visit famous museums and other landmarks rich with literary history.

In addition, we travel to Stratford-upon-Avon to see a play performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company, listen to bone chilling (and hilarious) tales on the famed Oxford ghost tour, and spend an afternoon punting on the Thames.

Somerville College, University of Oxford Oxford, England Oxford was the first university in the English-speaking world, established around 1096. Founded in 1879, Somerville is one of the newer constituent colleges among the 38 which make up Oxford. Its alumnae include two prime ministers, Indira Gandhi and Margaret Thatcher, and Nobel Prize winner Dorothy Hodgkin. Somerville is situated close to the city center and bordered by the vibrant neighborhoods of Little Clarendon and Jericho.

Literary Dublin Writer’s Program

One-week session For Students Entering Grades 9-12.

Write with us in Ireland! This one-week program anchored at Trinity College gives students the opportunity to let the extraordinary literary history of Dublin and Ireland inspire their writing.

and clinics with notable Dublin authors and theater artists where students can learn more about the history and tradition of writing and storytelling on the Emerald Isle.

Academics

Writing & Cultural Exploration

The select group of students in our Dublin Writer’s Program will spend the mornings in craft seminars, learning writing techniques and discussing the works of great Irish writers such as Joyce, Yeats, Swift, Shaw, and Wilde. Creative writing sessions give students the opportunity to put pen to paper to create original works.

To fully experience this literary treasure of a city, we spend the afternoons and most evenings touring the streets of Dublin and exploring the sites that inspired this city’s great stories.

A unique feature of our Dublin program is special workshops

Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

Outings will include Trinity College, its library and the Book of Kells, James Joyce Tower, Bram Stoker’s Castle, and other points of literary and historical significance.

Residential Programs

As Ireland’s university on the world stage, Trinity is recognized for academic excellence. Founded in 1592, it is Ireland’s oldest university and home to the beautiful Book of Kells. The historic campus is located in the heart of Dublin.

With a tradition of scholarship spanning more than four centuries, Trinity College is the alma mater of Bram Stoker, Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift, and Anne Enright.

Literary Travel Program July 28 – August 3

The Dublin Writer’s Program works well as a stand-alone week or added onto Literary Oxford and Literary Edinburgh for a longer adventure abroad.

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Multiple Time Zones!

Join us Online

One and multi-week sessions For Students Entering Grades 6-8 and 9-12.

Great Books Online is back for summer 2024. With the same distinguished faculty and scholars as our on-campus programs, these live online classes bring all of Great Books’ core academics to you. Students experience college-style seminars, engage in lively discussion, and enjoy summer camp fun with other literary-minded students.

Academics Online programs include both our traditional Great Books & Big Ideas programs and our Writer’s Workshop too. We will explore world literature, the classics, philosophy, and more. Writers like Sophocles, Homer, Shakespeare, Italo Calvino, Elizabeth Bishop, Alice Walker, and Derek Walcott are just some of the many who are likely to be included in this summer’s readings.

Day Programs Great Books & Big Ideas July 14 – July 19 (USA) July 21 – July 26 (ASIA)

Writer’s Workshop July 7 – July 12 (USA) July 28 – August 2 (ASIA) Combine Writer’s Workshop & Great Books for a two-week program!

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This is nothing like “online school.” The medium may be digital but that’s where the similarities end. This is world-class enrichment — interactive and full of opportunities for social connections and fun! Amazing guest speakers too!

Multiple Time Zones And Convenient Schedules Daily classes will run from 12:30pm – 5:00pm Eastern (New York) and 9:30am – 2:00pm Pacific (California). Two weeks will be timed for Asia and will run from 9:00am – 2:00pm Beijing and 10:00am – 3:00pm Seoul. Every day balances time for academics, mentoring, friendship, and activity breaks to snack, stretch, and move.

“Katie had an awesome first day and was texting… with her pod to prepare for their talent show. It far exceeded my expectations for how a remote camp could create a social experience.”

— Ann, Menlo Park, CA

Essential Information Supervision Trained and experienced Program Assistants supervise students for their entire stay and are each assigned to lead a “pod” usually made up of 6-8 students. In addition, adult faculty and staff reside in the dorms and are present for all activities.

Students are required to stay within the safety of the supervised group. All employees clear a rigorous personal background check.

Medical Care Prescriptions and over-the-counter treatments will be administered by our adult staff with a signed parental permission notice. Our campuses either have on-site health facilities, nearby clinics, or community-based physicians who are on-call. A completed medical form and standard childhood vaccinations are required to attend.

Accommodations and Meals Students are assigned to single or double rooms and are housed by gender and age in the dormitories. While many come to the program by themselves, we will do our best to meet any roommate requests.

Most meals are provided by the college dining services. They offer a wide selection of nutritious foods and can accommodate dietary needs if notified in advance. We may also have barbecues, picnics, and ice cream sundae parties.

GBSP Quick Facts Founded: 2002

Alumni: 8500+

Student to staff ratio approximately: 6:1 Demographics: Students from 50 states and over 45 countries around the world Our students have gone on to attend: Harvard, Dartmouth, Columbia, Wesleyan, Reed, Carnegie Mellon, University of Chicago, Bowdoin, Haverford, Oberlin, UVM, Swarthmore, Northwestern, UConn, Stanford, Yale, and more.

Faculty/staff from: Harvard, Amherst, Stanford, Oberlin, University of Chicago, Oxford, Cornell, Berkeley, Columbia, UPenn, UMass, Princeton, and Yale among others.

How to Apply Admission to the Great Books Summer Program is open to all students entering grades 6-8 and 9-12 (in September 2024) as well as graduating seniors whose completed application is supported by a teacher, counselor, or head of school. We strongly suggest applications be sent in early to reserve your spot. Acceptance may be granted or denied at the sole discretion of the program administrators.

Step 1: Visit Our Website Go to www.GreatBooksSummer.com and click the orange “Register Now” button at the top of the homepage.

Step 2: Secure Your Spot Your space will be reserved once you complete the application and provide the $625 Application Deposit by Visa® or MasterCard®.

A $95 deposit is due with application to online programs.

We will typically confirm receipt within 48 hours via email.

Step 3: Teacher Nomination As part of registration, you will be asked to provide contact information for a teacher, counselor, or head of school to endorse your application. We will seek the recommendation on your student’s behalf.

Educators can also endorse applications by visiting our website.

The Great Books Summer Program is independent of Amherst College, Stanford University, Northwestern University, Haverford College, University of Oxford, University of Edinburgh, and Trinity College of Dublin. All names are trademarks of their respective owners. Great Books Summer Program and Great Books Global Forum are trademarks of Great Books Summer Program. Shared Inquiry is a trademark of the Great Books Foundation. The information contained herein is accurate at the time of printing. We reserve the right to change any part of the program. This program does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national or ethnic origin, or disability. Admission to the program is limited and shall be granted or denied at the sole discretion of the program administrators. The camp in Amherst, MA must comply with regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and be licensed by the local board of health. ©2023 Great Books Summer Program. Images of Amherst College courtesy of Amherst College Public Affairs office.

GreatBooksSummer.com | 203-612-9470

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Schedule & Tuition High School Programs for entering grades 9-12 Haverford College Campus

Edinburgh, Oxford, and Dublin Literary Travel

Great Books & Big Ideas Dates

Length

Tuition

Campus

Dates

Length

Tuition

July 21 – July 27 July 28 – Aug 3 July 21 – Aug 3

One-Week One-Week Two-Week

$2595 $2595 $5190

Edinburgh Oxford

July 14 – July 20 July 21 – July 27

One-Week One-Week

$3295 $3295

Day Programs Tuition $1395 per week.

Dublin Writer’s Program Dublin

Dates

Length

Tuition

July 7 – July 13 July 14 – July 20 July 7 – July 20

One-Week One-Week Two-Week

$2795 $2795 $5590

Day Programs Tuition $1595 per week.

One-Week

$3295

Join us for one, two, or all three destinations!

Northwestern University Campus Great Books & Big Ideas

July 28 – Aug 3

Great Books Online Great Books & Big Ideas Dates

Zone

Length

Tuition

July 14 – July 19 July 21 – July 26

Eastern Asia

One-Week One-Week

$850 $850

One-Week One-Week

$850 $850

Writer’s Workshop

Amherst College Campus

July 7 – July 12 July 28 – Aug 2

Great Books & Big Ideas

Combine weeks to create your perfect summer schedule!

Dates

Length

Tuition

June 23 – June 29 June 30 – July 6 July 7 – July 13 June 23 – July 6 June 30 – July 13 June 23 – July 13

One-Week One-Week One-Week Two-Week Two-Week Three-Week

$2595 $2595 $2595 $5190 $5190 $7785

Writer’s Workshop July 14 – July 20

One-Week

$2595

Day Programs Tuition $1395 per week.

Combine Writer’s Workshop & Great Books for a two, three, or four-week program!

Stanford University Campus Great Books & Big Ideas Dates

Length

Tuition

July 7 – July 13 July 14 – July 20 July 7 – July 20

One-Week One-Week Two-Week

$3195 $3195 $6390

Writer’s Workshop June 30 – July 6

One-Week

$3195

Day Programs Tuition $1895 per week.

Combine Writer’s Workshop & Great Books for a two or three-week session!

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Eastern Asia

On-Campus Tuition and Fees Tuition includes all instruction and supervision, three meals per day, and housing. There is a $250 registration fee per student. Tuition variance reflects differing costs of room and board at host campuses.

Materials and Events Fee Fee of $250 per week for residential on-campus programs and $100 for day programs for digital reading anthologies, books, notebook, snacks, t-shirt, and water bottle. Residential program events include guest speakers, evening programs, films, and social activities. Multiweek camper fees include Saturday meals, lodging, and special activities.

Literary travel program materials and event fees are $525 per week and include all of the above plus meals and admission for any day trips and other organized special events.

Airport Transportation Airport transportation can be arranged to and from select airports.

This service is $150 each way and includes a staff chaperone.

Refund Policy Tuition and fees are refundable until March 12, 2024. The registration fee is non-refundable. Cancellations received after March 12, 2024 forfeit full tuition and all fees. Cancellation requests must be made in writing. Trip insurance is encouraged.

Middle School Programs for entering grades 6-8 Haverford College Campus

Stanford University Campus

Great Books & Big Ideas

Great Books & Big Ideas

Dates

Length

Tuition

Dates

Length

Tuition

July 21 – July 27 July 28 – Aug 3 July 21 – Aug 3

One-Week One-Week Two-Week

$2595 $2595 $5190

July 7 – July 13 July 14 – July 20 July 7 – July 20

One-Week One-Week Two-Week

$3195 $3195 $6390

Day Programs Tuition $1395 per week.

Writer’s Workshop June 30 – July 6

Northwestern University Campus Great Books & Big Ideas Dates

Length

Tuition

July 7 – July 13 July 14 – July 20 July 7 – July 20

One-Week One-Week Two-Week

$2795 $2795 $5590

Day Programs Tuition $1595 per week.

Amherst College Campus

$3195

Day Programs Tuition $1895 per week.

Combine Writer’s Workshop & Great Books for a two or three-week program!

Great Books Online Great Books & Big Ideas Dates

Zone

Length

Tuition

July 14 – July 19 July 21 – July 26

Eastern Asia

One-Week One-Week

$850 $850

One-Week One-Week

$850 $850

Writer’s Workshop

Great Books & Big Ideas Dates

Length

Tuition

June 23 – June 29 June 30 – July 6 July 7 – July 13 June 23 – July 6 June 30 – July 13 June 23 – July 13

One-Week One-Week One-Week Two-Week Two-Week Three-Week

$2595 $2595 $2595 $5190 $5190 $7785

July 7 – July 12 July 28 – Aug 2

Eastern Asia

Combine weeks to create your perfect summer schedule!

Payment Schedule

Writer’s Workshop July 14 – July 20

One-Week

One-Week

$2595

Day Programs Tuition $1395 per week.

Combine Writer’s Workshop & Great Books for a two, three, or four-week program!

Discounts Sibling & Referral Discount Siblings each receive a savings of $100 on tuition for on-campus programs and $50 for online programs. Refer a first-time oncampus attendee for the 2024 season and receive a $100 savings on your tuition.

Financial Aid Limited financial aid may be available based on demonstrated need. Visit our website, call, or email for more information.

Financial aid forms along with student application are due

by April 5, 2024. To contribute to the scholarship fund visit: OpenBooksFoundation.org.

Application Deposit $625, which includes a $250 non-refundable registration fee, is due with application for on-campus programs. A $95 registration fee is due with application to online programs.

Payment Options Three family-friendly payment options including installments and an option to reserve a spot with only a deposit upon registration.

See details on the website. Enrollments are accepted as long as space is available.

Ü Register Today!

Visit: GreatBooksSummer.com Call: ✆ 203-612-9470

GreatBooksSummer.com | 203-612-9470

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Meet World-Class Authors & Filmmakers Esteemed guests who have visited us:

Students enjoy talks with visiting writers, including Pulitzer Prize winners and other thought leaders from the worlds of publishing, film, and the arts.

Dr. Rob Reich

Wesley Morris

Sarah Kay

Professor of Political Science at Stanford University.

New York Times cultural critic-at-large and Pulitzer Prize winner.

Poet, TED Talk icon, and Founder of Project V.O.I.C.E

Lois Lowry

Chris Columbus

Dr. Chris Bobonich

Award-winning American author of The Giver Quartet and other works for young adults.

American filmmaker, director of Home Alone, and producer of many classics.

The CI Lewis Professor of Philosophy at Stanford University.

Visit our website for more details about our 2024 guests!

“Each summer, students ages 12 to 17 gather…

They attend lectures, participate in discussions, eat meals, and live together as a community of precocious ­thinkers.”

Emily Esfahani Smith, The Wall Street Journal

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