Academic Day Camps that Inspire Creativity and Exploration
CTD Academic Day Camps provide academically advanced concepts in fun yet challenging ways that encourage exploration, creativity, and problem-solving. Experienced instructors build on students' interests and strengths, and guide students as they develop knowledge and skills that they'll take with them long after the course ends.
Why Choose CTD's Academic Day Camps?
CTD courses encourage students to explore topics in depth and at an accelerated pace that matches their readiness to learn. Since CTD focuses on talent development, the best way to choose courses is to consider your student's strengths and to identify course topics that are most interesting to them.
Benefits Include:
- Hands-on, collaborative learning
- Experienced instructors
- Engagement with peers
- Novel topics of high interest
- Engaging projects that promote critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills
Please note: Students should apply to programs and select courses based on the grade they will enter in fall of 2023.
Students in PreK-K classes must be four years old before the start of the course.
CTD Academic Day Camps for the summer of 2023 are at the Amber and Emerald Tiers for eligibility. PreK to grade 2 courses are open enrollment, Amber Tier classes. There are no test scores or further documentation required for participation. Please note that successful completion of any Amber Tier course does not pre-qualify students to enroll in future classes outside of the Amber Tier.
Classes for students in grades 3 - 6 are comprised of courses at the Emerald Tier. Students may apply as Pre-qualified Review applicants, New Score applicants or Admission Portfolio applicants.
- Students who have taken a CTD course, with the same qualifying area (Verbal/Reading or Math) at the Emerald Tier or higher, may apply as Pre-qualified Review applicants.
- Students who have achieved a score of 90th percentile or higher, within the last two years, on a nationally normed test (e.g. NWEA/MAP, CogAT, etc.) in the requisite qualifying area (Verbal/Reading or Math) should apply as New Score applicants.
- Students who have not taken a previous qualifying course with CTD, nor have qualifying test scores, need to apply as Admission Portfolio applicants. Students will need to provide their most recent grade report AND provide the CTD teacher recommendation link to their current teacher. The link will be available on the View Application Details tab of the application once the application has been submitted.
You can access the application online at my.ctd.northwestern.edu.
Application Deadline
Applications must be complete one-week prior to the start of the class. Applications completed after the deadline may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Requests for Grade Advancement/Acceleration
CTD course content is advanced or grade-level accelerated, as reflected in course descriptions and the standard admission requirements. Though course content is advanced, students can engage with intellectual peers who are also age- or grade-level peers. Therefore, most students should apply for courses aligned to the grade-level in which they are currently enrolled. Still, for some students demonstrating a need for an even higher level of instruction than CTD’s advanced and accelerated courses already provide, further acceleration may be an option. Visit the Requesting an Accelerated Placement web page for more information about the process, timeline, and required materials.
Tuition
- Half-day course: $365
- One-week all-day: $700
- Two-week all-day: $1,500
Withdrawals
Please see CTD's withdrawal and refund information for policies.
Financial Aid
CTD offers need-based financial aid awarded as requests are received. Families are encouraged to apply early because the amount of aid available is limited. Please see the Financial Aid page for details.
- The deadline to complete a financial aid application for Summer programming is April 30, 2023.
- You will receive the FACTS application link in your application confirmation email once the $60 dollar tuition deposit is paid and the application is submitted.
- It is imperative that you complete the financial aid application as soon as possible as it may take FACTS up to ten days to process your information.
- If you previously completed a FACTS application for the 2021-2022 academic year for CTD, you must still attach the 2022-2023 FACTS application to your FACTS account. You will be able to link your FACTS account to this new FACTS information. You may need to update financial information.
- If you experience difficulties with the FACTS process please call the FACTS helpline at 866/412-4637.
In CTD Academic Day Camps in the Chicago area, students can spend part of their summer exploring a topic of interest in an enriching, collaborative environment. Through hands-on explorations and projects, they'll have a chance to make connections and learn about topics in new ways. Courses are designed to be up to two academic years beyond their school grade level, which, combined with a faster pace, requires significant focus and persistence. This applies to all courses, including those that are open enrollment.
Locations and Times
Chicago, IL Hawthorne Scholastic Academy, 3319 N. Clifton Ave.
Evanston, IL St. Athanasius, 2510 Ashland Ave.
- Courses at all sites run Monday through Friday.
- AM: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. (PreK - Kindergarten, only)
- PM: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. (PreK - Kindergarten, only)
- All-Day: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Grades 1 - 6)
- Lunch supervision from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. will be provided for students who are enrolled in all-day programs. Students bring a sack lunch that does not require refrigeration.
Downers Grove, IL (Avery Coonley School)
- CTD is partnering with Avery Coonley School (ACS) to provide courses through the ACS Summer Program. The CTD courses take place 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., run for two weeks, and are offered to students entering grades 1 through 4 in the fall of 2023. Lunch and afternoon recreation activities are also available through the ACS Summer Program to extend the camp day. The application for the program opens on February 1. Details on courses and the application can be found on the Avery Coonley Summer Program page.
- Two-week sessions at ACS:
- June 12 - 23 (no class 6/19)
- June 26 - July 7 (no class 7/4)
- July 10 - July 21
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All students who participate in Academic Day Camps receive a brief evaluation that includes comments on the student's performance in class. An email notification will be sent when the evaluation is available for access via MyCTD.
The health and safety of our students and staff has always been CTD's top priority. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, CTD will implement health and safety policies and procedures based on Northwestern University and CDC policies in effect at the time of each program. Please note the expectations below as they apply to COVID-19 precautions and preparedness at this time.
Mask Policy
While it is encouraged, masking – for both students and staff – is presently optional. Note that masking requirements may change based on CDC, IDPH and Northwestern University guidance at any point before or during the summer.
Monitoring Student Health
Parents/caregivers are strongly encouraged to monitor their students for symptoms every day prior to each class, keep sick students at home, and get them tested for COVID-19 and influenza.
Northwestern University COVID-19 Health and Safety policies are reviewed regularly and periodically updated in response to ongoing data monitoring and guidance from public health officials and are therefore subject to change.
- For questions regarding CTD Academic Day Program and financial aid, please contact:
ctd-admissions@northwestern.edu - For questions about current CTD Academic Day Program enrollments, please contact:
ctd-enrichment@northwestern.edu - For questions about school partnerships, please contact:
ctd-school-services@northwestern.edu
