Chess Tournament      Grades 5–9

LEARNING THE ROPES, a challenging opportunity for you to test your own limits, gain self-confidence, and learn how to work cooperatively with others—all while having lots of fun! Learning the Ropes, Level I     Grades 3–4 Play and learn through games and low- and high-ropes activities. Solve problems blindfolded, work together for new “world records,” test your skill and determination, and cooperate for fun and the feeling of success. Be surprised by how much you can do, if only you try. Learning the Ropes, Level II   (double-period class)     Grades 5–9 Play unusual New Games, solve seemingly impossible group problems, work and grow as a team, set “world records,” and push personal limits in activities, both mental and physical. Orienteer and hike through woods, jump/fall and dive into open air, ride zip lines and “flying squirrels,” walk treetop cables, and share powerful experiences. (This course will include an off-campus orienteering trip.)

Letterboxing   (double-period class)     Grades 5–9
It’s estimated that as many as 20,000 Letterboxes are hidden in the U.S. alone, and you will find some of them in this exciting outdoor activity combining treasure hunting with rubber stamping. The search begins once you have the clues, a compass, your hand carved personal stamp, and a journal. We will be hiking in the woods, climbing up hills, looking in tree stumps, and finding lots of letterboxes that have been hidden in and around the University and in state and local parks. Can you follow the clues to Letterboxing?

Summer Place Hits the Road   (double-period class)     Grades 5–9
Spend your summer exploring Connecticut and beyond. All field trips, all the time! Each day we’ll board the bus for a different destination from science museums to art museums, from zoos to historic houses. Note: a finalized daily itinerary and list of behavior expectations will be mailed to participants before camp begins.

SummerSkills     Grades 3–9
SummerSkills is an enrichment course option, offered in affiliation with Watkinson School. The program offers small-group instruction to students entering grades three through nine in reading, math, written expression, and study skills. The groups meet on the Watkinson campus (located next door to the University) in a relaxed, air-conditioned space that is highly conducive to learning. 

Watkinson’s learning-skills specialists focus on an individual plan for each student based on the needs of the child. The SummerSkills director will contact each parent to gather information needed to develop an educational plan. The specialists then teach, model, and reinforce the concepts and learning strategies necessary to achieve specific goals. Parents will receive a written report at the end of each two-week session that may in turn be passed on to the student’s teachers in the fall. 

Summer Place campers may enroll in a SummerSkills course in each session they attend. A nominal fee of $230 per SummerSkills course is charged for this individualized program. This is a special reduced rate for Summer Place campers. A deposit in the amount of 50% of your total SummerSkills fees is due at the time of registration. Fees should be made payable to Watkinson School and returned with your registration to Summer Place. The balance is billed by Watkinson School and is due June 1, 2008. For further information on this special option, call Sharon Hayes, Watkinson School SummerSkills director, at 860.236.5618.