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
In addition to Academic Day Camps around the Chicago area, CTD offers a diverse range of online program options. View a full list here.
Please note: Beginning for summer 2022, students should apply to programs and select courses based on the grade they will enter in fall of 2022.
Students in PreK-K classes must be four years old before the start of the course.
CTD Academic Day Camps for the summer of 2022 are at the Amber and Emerald Tiers for eligibility. PreK to grade 1 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 2 - 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: $350 for the first course, $315 for each additional course.
- One-week all-day: $675
- Two-week all-day: $1,665
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 15, 2022.
- 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 2020-2021 academic year for CTD, you must still attach the 2021-2022 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 (Frances Xavier Warde School - 751 N. State Street)
Evanston, IL (Roycemore School, 1200 Davis Street)
Downers Grove, IL (Avery Coonley School, 1400 Maple Avenue)
Please submit applications for CTD courses in Downers Grove to the Avery Coonley Summer program.
Courses at all sites run Monday through Friday.
- AM: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- PM: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
- All-Day: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
(No class on Monday, July 4. For the week of July 5 - 8, classes begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m.)
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.
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. Please note that expectations below as they apply to COVID-19 precautions and preparedness.
Class Sizes, Room Capacities, Building Use
Class capacity will follow current CDC and IDPH guidelines. Maximum enrollment is carefully set to ensure an instructor, teaching assistant, and students can safely be in the room together. Because classrooms have different capacities, enrollment maximums may vary by course and by site.
Mask Policy
While it is strongly 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.
Snack Breaks and Lunch
There will be one snack break in the morning and one snack break in the afternoon. For students who are staying all day, there be a one-hour lunch break. Whenever possible, snack breaks and lunch will take place out of doors. With inclement weather, students will remain in their seats indoors for snack and lunch while maintaining the recommended distance.
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.
Staff Vaccinations
Vaccinations are required for all in-person CTD staff, except in cases where a staff member has submitted a formal request for an exception to this requirement, due to a personal health condition or sincerely held religious belief.
Cleaning Schedule
The site facilities staff will complete a thorough cleaning of each classroom prior to class each day.
- 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
