June 05, 2012

29th Challenge to Excellence camps planned

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s 29th Challenge to Excellence Summer Program offers a chance for academically talented students to stretch their minds.

The challenge camps will be June 17-22 and June 24-29.  Challenge to Excellence provides academically talented students with opportunities to work hard and have fun in classes that promote higher-level thinking skills and creativity in a variety of academic subjects including mathematics, science, and creative writing as well as many other skill and content areas.

Camp I, for students who are currently in fifth through seventh grades, is set for June 17-22.  Camp II is June 24-29 is for students currently in eighth through 10th grades.  

Students may register as resident campers for $405 or as commuter campers for $330.  The fee for Challenge to Excellence includes five nights lodging in an air-conditioned SIU Carbondale residence hall (for resident campers only), all meals, educational supplies and materials, limited accident medical insurance coverage, a camp T-shirt, recreational activities and quality instruction.

Camp officials recommend that students have an IQ score of at least 120 (if available) and a score in the 90th percentile or above on the math, science and/or language arts sections of an achievement test.  A teacher or guidance counselor’s signature is required on the application as a means of certifying that the student is qualified to attend the program.  Returning students do not have to provide test scores.

For registration or more information, contact the Division of Continuing Education at 618/536-7751 or visit https://www.dce.siu.edu/ .