Prince William County Public Schools
Resources for Parents and Families
This page provides information and resources for parents, but it’s essential to understand the following:
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General Information
Activity Books
Elementary Level
Balance Benders Series by The Critical Thinking Company
This series encourages students to develop problem-solving skills and pre-algebra skills as they solve balance puzzles that are more fun and addictive than Sudoku puzzles! Students must analyze each balance to identify the clues, and then synthesize the information to solve the puzzle. Free printable samples are available on the Critical Thinking Company website.
Extreme Dot to Dot Series by MindWare
Intricate, challenging, and wildly rewarding to finish, Extreme Dot to Dot puzzles range from 300 to over 1,400 dots. Free printable samples are available on the Mindware website.
Logic Workbook for Gritty Kids Series by Dan Allbaugh
This series provides visually compelling puzzles and games to engage children in purposeful problem-solving and STEM skill development through grit-building challenges. Each section has a low floor but a high ceiling as puzzles grow in difficulty, inspiring children through early success, which motivates continued engagement.
Mad Libs by Roger Price and Leonard Stern
Mad Libs is the world’s greatest word game and the perfect gift or activity for anyone who likes to laugh! Write in the missing words on each page to create your own hilariously funny stories with the Best of Mad Libs!
One Minute Mysteries: Science by Eric Yoder and Natalie Yoder
These literature-based math and science mysteries take just one minute to read. The brainteasers are entertaining, but even better, their real-world connections help kids see concepts and quandaries as approachable, learnable, and solvable. A fun way to develop deductive reasoning skills and discover the joy of science.
Pattern Explorer Series by The Critical Thinking Company
This series provides rich and diverse collections of pattern problems for students to explore, investigate, discover, and create. These activities tend to build on one another and get gradually more sophisticated. This collection involves reasoning that lays a genuine foundation for algebraic thinking and technique. Calculators are never needed, and their use is discouraged. Free printable samples are available on the Critical Thinking Company website.
Perfectly Logical by Jenn Larsen
Perfectly Logical! helps inquisitive kids develop logical reasoning skills with a mix of 100 challenging puzzles that get more difficult as they progress.
Perplexor Series by MindWare
The Perplexors series is a line of logic puzzle books in a list format – Perplexors, Math Perplexors, STEM Perplexors, Animal Perplexors, and more. Free printable samples are available on the Mindware website.
Unjournaling by Dawn DiPrince and Cheryl Miller Thurston
Unjournaling, Second Edition, is brimming with playful writing prompts that are entirely impersonal, easing the way for hesitant writers while still offering creative challenges for those who are more experienced. This edition updates existing prompts while introducing 50 brand new ones. It includes sample responses— a helpful tool for anyone who gets stuck with a topic and wants to see how it can be done!
Upper Elementary/Middle School
The Creativity Project by Colby Sharp
Colby Sharp invited more than forty authors and illustrators to provide story starters for each other; photos, drawings, poems, prose, or anything they could dream up. When they received their prompts, they responded by transforming these seeds into any form of creative work they wanted to share. The result is a stunning collection of words, art, poetry, and stories by some of our most celebrated children's book creators. A section of extra story starters by every contributor provides fresh inspiration for readers to create works of their own. Here is an innovative book that offers something for every kind of reader and creator!
Books
Bright, Complex Kids by Daniel B. Peters and Jean Sunde Peterson
Well-known gifted experts Jean Sunde Peterson, Ph.D., and Daniel B. Peters, Ph.D., wrote Bright, Complex Kids to be an accessible short course for adults wanting to build a base of knowledge for understanding and supporting the social and emotional needs of highly able children and teens. From how adults can be involved to insights on the social and emotional development of bright kids, each chapter has a section with “points to ponder.”
Bright, Talented, & Black by Joy Lawson Davis
This book addresses the specific needs of high-potential Black students who are at risk in schools across the nation. Parents, families, educators, and advocates will read and be able to use the resources provided in this book to save the dreams of countless Black gifted students and others who have been overlooked and marginalized while improving the outcomes for humanity as a whole.
Freeing Our Families from Perfectionism by Thomas S. Greenspon
As parents, we influence our children’s emotional development. The bad news is, our own attitudes about love, acceptance, success, and failure can create an environment that promotes perfectionism. The good news is, we can make positive changes that will enrich our children’s lives—and our own. In this groundbreaking book, Tom Greenspon explains perfectionism, where it comes from (including influences outside the family), and what to do about it.
The Gifted Teen Survival Guide by Judy Galbraith and Jim Delisle
Based on surveys from more than 1,400 teens, The Gifted Teen Survival Guide covers topics that gifted teens want and need to know about. Full of surprising facts, cutting-edge research, revealing quizzes and survey results, step-by-step strategies, inspiring quotes and stories, and insightful expert essays, the guide gives readers the tools they need to appreciate their giftedness as an asset and use it to make the most of who they are.
A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children by Edward R. Amend, Emily Kircher-Morris, and Janet L. Gore
The Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children includes discussions of social media, screen time, bullying, advocacy, educational planning, access to true peers, and more.
Parenting Gifted Children by Jennifer L. Jolly, Ph.D., Donald J. Treffinger, Ph.D., Tracy F. Inman, and Joan Franklin Smutny, Ph.D.
This comprehensive guide covers topics such as working with high achievers and young gifted children, acceleration, advocating for talented students, serving as role models and mentors for gifted kids, homeschooling, underachievement, twice-exceptional students, and postsecondary opportunities.
Parenting Gifted Children 101 by Tracy Ford Inman and Jana Kirchner
This practical, easy-to-read book explores the basics of parenting gifted children, truly giving parents the "introductory course" they need to better understand and help their gifted child. Topics include myths about gifted children, characteristics of the gifted, the hows and whys of advocacy, social and emotional issues and needs, strategies for partnering with your child's school, and more.
Raising Twice-Exceptional Children by Emily Kircher-Morris
Just because a child is gifted doesn't mean they don't have other types of neurodivergence, like ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and more. The book helps you understand your child's 2E diagnosis, meet their social-emotional needs, build self-regulation skills and goal setting, and teach self-advocacy. It also shows you effective ways to collaborate with teachers and school staff, and it offers advice on finding strengths-based strategies that support development at home.
Success Strategies for Parenting Gifted Kids by Kathleen Nilles, Jennifer L. Jolly, Ph.D., and Joan Franklin Smutney, Ph.D.
Chapters address underachievement, twice-exceptionality, acceleration, underrepresented populations, student advocacy, and more. Additionally, the book includes discussion questions that are perfect for parent support groups, conversations with families and children, and individual parent reflections.
Survival Guide for Gifted Kids by Judy Galbraith
Help gifted children in the elementary grades realize they’re not alone, they’re not “weird,” and being smart is a bonus, not a burden. Based on 1,000 surveys of gifted kids, it speaks directly to all gifted kids, in their language.
Camps and Programs
Note: Not all listed programs are specifically structured for gifted students. Some programs may have a cost associated with participation. This document contains information and content supplied by third parties.
The Virginia Association for the Gifted offers summer scholarships to identified gifted students who wish to attend academic or artistic programs during the summer months. The scholarships range from $100 to $400 and are available for K-12 students. For more information, visit the Virginia Gifted Summer Scholarships webpage. Applications are due in April for the following summer.
| Program | Grade or Age | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PWCS Summer Experience: Discovery | Various | Various | PWCS is pleased to offer opportunities for students to explore interests and strengthen skills. Choose from in-person art, math, STEM, sports, and more. Dates and times vary. |
| Prince William County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism | Various | Various | Offering specialty camps and programs from arts to sports plus everything in between, for ages 3-17 at 16 locations throughout Prince William County. |
| Prince William Public Libraries | Various | Various | Virtual and in-person events and programs for all ages |
| Academic Competitions | Various | Various | Academic competitions play an important part in learning for highly gifted students. They are designed to inspire and enlighten and can create enthusiasm and entice students to try their hardest, helping to maximize their abilities. The Davidson Gifted blog provides a list of academic competitions. |
| BAE Systems Women in Technology Manassas, VA Not currently accepting applications |
Women in high school | November-February, 16 weeks | Women in Technology (WiT) is a collaborative effort between local area high schools and BAE Systems’ Electronic Systems sector. WiT gives female high school students with an aptitude in math and science a practical, hands-on opportunity to explore careers in various technical disciplines. It also provides mentorship to the students to encourage and support them in their pursuit of a technical career. After completing the program, seniors who have been accepted to college with a declared major in STEM are encouraged to apply for a summer internship opportunity at BAE Systems. |
| Building Leaders for Advancing Science and Technology (BLAST) Summer Residential Camp Various locations Application open Dec. 1 - Feb. 1 |
Grades 8-9 | Summer (dates vary by location) | Participating students stay in a college dorm and see what campus life is like on-site at one of five universities: Old Dominion University, Radford University, University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, or William & Mary. Students come away from BLAST with a greater sense of curiosity, deeper insight about the variety of careers that exist in STEM fields, and enhanced readiness for advanced programs in science, technology, engineering, and math. |
| Camp Woods and Wildlife Appomattox, VA Registration opens Feb. 2026 |
Ages 13-16 | June 15-19, 2026 | Camp Woods and Wildlife is an academic, structured, residential camp that focuses on field experiences in forestry and other natural resources. This unique camping experience introduces students to the challenges, unique skills, and knowledge needed for managing forest resources. |
| Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD and online |
Grades 2-12 | Various | The Center for Talented Youth, a nonprofit academic center of Johns Hopkins University, delivers academic excellence and transformational experiences to advanced learners in grades 2-12. Founded in 1979, CTY fosters intellectual growth in exceptional students from all backgrounds and communities. Our day, residential, and online courses are designed to reflect the CTY experience of rigorous coursework; novel context or approach; and a fun and engaging community of advanced learners. |
| College of William and Mary Center for Gifted Education: Saturday and Summer Enrichment Classes Williamsburg, VA |
Grades K-12 | Saturdays (Fall, winter, spring) Summer, three days in person or one week virtual |
Since 1988, William & Mary’s Center for Gifted Education (CFGE) has supported high-ability students through engaging, inquiry-based learning that fosters curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning. Through its Enrichment Programs, students in grades K–12 explore advanced topics in science, mathematics, humanities, and the arts. Led by passionate instructors, these courses challenge students to think critically, collaborate, and pursue self-directed discovery beyond the traditional classroom. Designed specifically for gifted and talented learners, CFGE programs encourage students to ask big questions, build confidence, and approach learning creatively. |
| College of William and Mary Center for Gifted Education: Camp Launch Summer Residential Camp Williamsburg, VA |
Grade 7 | Summer | Camp Launch is a two-week summer camp for rising 7th-grade high-ability students from low-income households. Students will have the opportunity to take classes that are based on science and writing curriculum units. |
| FBI Future Agents in Training - Teen Academy Washington, DC |
Ages 16-18 | Summer | Our Future Agents in Training - Teen Academy program allows high school students an opportunity to get a comprehensive look into today’s FBI. Generally, each course iteration is a minimum of eight hours but can be a week-long program with blocks of instruction and demonstrations at a local field office. Students are provided with several presentations on topics including terrorism, cybercrime, public corruption, polygraph exams, evidence response, SWAT, and the day-to-day operations of a typical FBI office. Students also learn from special agents, intelligence analysts, language specialists, and professional staff about investigative tactics that include gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and assisting with cases. |
| George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program In person, remote, hybrid Application open Dec. - Feb. |
15 or 16 years of age or older by first day of program, depending on lab | Summer, 8 weeks | The nationally known Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) provides transformative research opportunities for high school and undergraduate students. Selected participants work one-on-one with faculty researchers at George Mason University and collaborating institutions using state-of-the-art technology across many disciplines. |
| George Mason University Bioengineering Camp Fairfax, VA Applications due in March |
Rising high school juniors and seniors | Two one-week summer sessions available | For rising Junior and Senior high school students, the BioE Buzz Summer Camp will answer your questions about bioengineering and learn about how it is applied to solve biomedical problems . Campers will learn first-hand from current students about campus life and the exciting discoveries and technological innovations in our labs impacting human health. |
| George Mason University Summer Programs Fairfax, VA |
Grades K-12 | Dates vary by program | Camp options include academics, visual/performing arts, and recreation/sports |
| James Madison University Summer Honors Institute Harrisonburg, VA Applications due by Mar 1, 2026 |
Grades 11-12 | July 12-18, 2026 | The JMU Summer Honors Institute is a unique week-long program where talented, rising high school juniors and seniors get a first-hand look at life in a dynamic university and its Honors College. As a JMU Summer Honors student you can:
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| James River Summer Expeditions Richmond, VA Applications due by April 15, 2026 |
Ages 14-18 | Various, based on skill level |
The James River Expeditions offer students ages 14-18 a unique opportunity to connect with “America’s Founding River” through an immersive week of hands-on adventure, real-life skill development, and outdoor challenge. Guided by expert James River Association educators, students travel down the river by day and camp along its banks by night. Whether navigating whitewater in the mountains or exploring tidal marshes near the coast, participants discover the landscapes, wildlife, and history that connect our entire watershed. This experience is built on the belief that immersion breeds stewardship. While campers are having fun, they are also developing a deep understanding of river ecosystems and environmental science. |
| National Youth Science Camp (NYSCamp) Elkins, WV |
Grades 11-12 | Summer, 4 weeks | Programming at NYSCamp will allow delegates to delve deeper into STEM topics with experts and knowledgeable enthusiasts in multi-day mini-courses or interactive seminars, take tours of facilities like the Green Bank Observatory and National Gallery of Art, and attend world-class lectures by STEM professionals. Two delegates per state will be selected by representatives of their governor’s office to attend the camp. Housing, meals, transportation, and supplies are provided to participants at no cost. Selected delegates must commit to attending the full four-week camp. |
| Northwestern Center for Talent Development Chicago, IL and online |
Grades K-12 | Various | Students have a variety of interests, abilities, and learning needs. They require programs designed to meet their needs, providing the right challenge and support to develop their talents fully. Explore what CTD has to offer:
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| SciGenie Summer Camp Multiple locations Registration closes Jan. 2026 for Fairfax location. |
Ages 6-12 years, ages vary by camp | Dates vary by camp | You don’t have to travel long distances for enriching extracurricular programs or out-of-school activities. Children have the chance to learn STEAM concepts in familiar surroundings. Our programs engage students in coding, robotics, digital art, and math with educators who strive to maximize student learning capacity. SciGenius’ dedication to safe environments, committed educators, quality programs, and innovation all add up to the very best in STEAM educational programs. |
| SigmaCamp Silver Lake, Sharron, CT Applications due in Feb. |
Ages 12-15 Ages 14-17 |
August 1-8, 2026 (Ages 12-15) August 9-16, 2026 (Ages 14-17) |
SigmaCamp and SigmaCamp Next are one-week sleep-away math and science summer camps. Our programs offer middle and high school students (ages 12 to 17) a unique opportunity to dive deeper into STEM topics with professors and researchers from MIT, Yale, Stony Brook University, Princeton, Stanford and many other universities! |
| STEM iD Tech Camps Multiple locations at universities (GMU, Marymount, etc.) |
Ages 7-17 | Various dates based on program | Kids and teens discover coding, game development, robotics, and design in an inspiring, collegiate setting. |
| United States Senate Youth Program Washington, D.C. Applications due by Dec. 1 |
Grades 11-12 | March 7-14, 2026 | Two student leaders from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity will spend a week in Washington experiencing their national government in action. Student delegates will hear major policy addresses by senators, cabinet members, officials from the Departments of State and Defense and directors of other federal agencies, as well as usually participate in meetings with the president and a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. All transportation, hotel and meal expenses will be provided by The Hearst Foundations. In addition, each delegate will also be awarded a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate studies, with encouragement to pursue coursework in history and political science. |
| TeenLife Capital Region | Ages 13-19 | Various | Summer programs, volunteer opportunities, classes, etc. offered in the region. Costs, program length, and requirements vary by opportunity. |
| UVA Advance Charlottesville, VA |
Grades 10-11 | July 11 - Aug. 7, 2026 | UVA Advance is a four-week summer residential program for highly-motivated, rising high school juniors and seniors that offers participants an opportunity to experience college life at the University of Virginia. Participants enroll in two undergraduate courses – one core course specially designed for UVA Advance students and one elective course open to all UVA students. |
| VA Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS) Virtual courses, then summer program in Hampton, VA Application Deadline: October 26 |
Grades 11-12 | Online modules (fall) then summer academy (Various weeks) |
The Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS) program is an interactive online science, technology, engineering, and mathematics learning experience, highlighted by a seven-day residential summer academy at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA. Students selected to participate in the program are immersed in NASA-related research through interaction with scientists, engineers, and technologists. |
| VA Earth System Science Scholars (VESSS) Virtual courses, then summer program in Hampton, VA Application Deadline: October 26 |
Grades 11-12 | Online modules (fall) then summer academy (Various weeks) |
The Virginia Earth System Science Scholars (VESSS) program challenges students to become part of the solution to climate change and its global impacts. Students selected to participate in the program are immersed in NASA-related research and satellite mission design through interaction with NASA scientists, engineers, and technologists. Successful completion of the course is highlighted by a seven-day residential summer academy at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Students can earn up to five free, transferable, dual-enrolled college credits through Virginia Peninsula Community College (VPCC). |
| VA Space Coast Scholars Virtual courses, then summer program in Wallops Island, VA Application Deadline: October 26 |
Grade 10 | Online modules (fall) then summer academy (Various weeks) |
Virginia Space Coast Scholars (VSCS) is a program for high school sophomores focusing on the science, engineering, and technology integral to current missions at NASA Wallops Flight Facility and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. The program features two key elements. The first is a dynamic online science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning experience featuring five modules. Upon completion of the online program, top-performing scholars may be invited to attend a seven-day residential Summer Academy at NASA Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, VA, where scholars will learn firsthand from NASA professionals and their partners about the latest innovative technologies and missions. |
| Virginia Space Flight Academy Virtual courses (academy), Wallops Island, VA (adventure camp) Not offered in 2026 |
Ages 8-14 (academy) Ages 11-16 (adventure camp) |
Academy: various based on course Adventure camp: Various based on selected week |
Academy: The STEM Academy provides year-round, high-quality learning experiences; it features live & on-demand instruction, a specialized materials kit, and ongoing access to STEM professionals. Open your STEM explorer’s eyes to a world of possibilities! Adventure Camp: Space Adventure Camp is an annual week-long camp featuring aerospace, coding, and robotics held at Wallops Island, Virginia. Through this residential camp experience, students learn essential 21st-century STEM skills to become the innovators of tomorrow! |
| Virginia Summer Residential Governor’s Schools Various locations |
Grades 10-11 | Summer (various dates based on location) | Summer Residential Governor’s Schools provide high school juniors and seniors with intensive educational experiences in visual and performing arts; humanities; mathematics, science, and technology; or through mentorships in marine science, or engineering. |
| Virginia Tech C-Tech2 Blacksburg, VA Applications due early March |
Grades 10-11 | June 28 – July 11, 2026 | C-Tech² offers an opportunity to learn about college life--from residence halls to classrooms and everything in-between. It provides access to information and technology necessary to best prepare you for your future. The program is open to rising high school juniors and seniors. Participants will take part in a biomedical engineering themed design project, but will also be exposed to the broad range of engineering disciplines through additional hands on activities. There will be opportunities to connect with faculty and information and resources regarding college preparation will be provided. |
| Virginia Tech Imagination Camp Blacksburg, VA Applications Dec. 1 |
Grades 6-7 | Summer June 14-20, 2026 (Drone Build & Fly; RESIDENTIAL ONLY) June 22-26, 2026 (ECE focus) June 29 - July 3, 2026 (ECE focus) |
In Imagination you will explore the world of science, technology and engineering… Not by watching, but by DOING! You will learn about the engineering design process as you build your own devices and participate in hands on activities exploring the many different aspects of engineering. Rising 7th or 8th graders are invited to apply. Preference will be given to first time applicants. Imagination will host three weeklong sessions. The second and third week will feature an electrical and computer engineering (ECE) project such as building a video game console or digital camera, including learning to solder. The first session will allow you to build, fly and take home a drone. ECE-related camps have both day and residential options. The drone camp is residential only. |
| Virginia Tech Pathways for Future Engineers Blacksburg, VA |
First-Generation College Grades 9-11 |
Summer | Pathways for Future Engineers is a multi-year Virginia Tech College of Engineering program designed to support first-generation students and their families on the pathway from high school to an engineering degree. The program includes pre-college activities (while students are still in high school) as well as additional support as students pursue their undergraduate degree. |
| Virginia Tech Waterford Engineering Excellence (WEE VT) Blacksburg, VA Application open Dec. - March |
Students Grades 10-11 |
Summer July 12-25, 2026 |
The Watford Engineering Experience at Virginia Tech (WEE VT) is a two-week summer residential program at our main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia for rising junior and senior high school students. The program is designed to help you explore all the engineering options at Virginia Tech. You will be assigned to a small group of other participants during the day and take part in hands-on activities presented by faculty and graduate students from a wide variety of engineering departments, and attend informational sessions on topics such as communicating technical topics to a lay audience, financial literacy, and the college application process. You will also meet with current engineering faculty to learn about their work and their stories. Attendees will complete an engineering design project. In the evenings and during the weekend, your Residential Advisors (current VT students) will plan social activities so you can get to know the other campers and the surrounding area. |
| VA Tech Kids’ Tech University (KTU) Blacksburg, VA |
Ages 9-12 | Kids’ Tech University is a semester-long event. Four sessions are held in the Winter/Spring. Each session is an all-day event that consists of an interactive morning session centered on answering a question about the world around us, a break for lunch, and an afternoon hands-on component featuring the Virginia Tech professors, students, clubs, and community. | |
| VCU Diversity Promoting Access to Health Sciences (P.A.T.H.S.) Richmond, VA |
MS and HS | Summer | Middle school students are exposed to an assortment of occupations within the field of healthcare, in addition to a variety of academic programs offered at VCU. Middle school programs include lab field trips, pathway events, and summer exploration programs. High school students are offered a variety of college preparation, health career exposure and exploration programs. High school programs range from academic-year programs and initiatives in select public schools to afterschool and summer programs that are open to students across the RVA. |
| VCUarts Summer Pre-College Program Richmond, VA |
Grades 10-11 | Summer July 12-31, 2026 |
The Summer Pre-College Program at VCUarts is a three-week residency program that offers rising high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to explore Richmond and their interests in the visual and performing arts. Students take classes with VCUarts faculty while developing their portfolios or preparing for an audition. |
| Washington Journalism and Media Conference GMU Fairfax, VA |
Grades 10-11 | July 12-17, 2026 July 19-24, 2026 |
WJMC is a week-long experiential learning program for highly engaged high school students. Students will experience an integrated and forward-thinking approach to journalism and media while acquiring valuable “in-the-trenches” knowledge. The curriculum includes hands-on learning with industry leaders, award-winning journalists, international media outlets, and Washington insiders. |
| Washington Youth Summit on the Environment (WYSE) at George Mason University Fairfax, VA |
Grades 10-11 | June 28-July 3, 2026 | The Summit is a hands-on, interactive program that provides America’s highest-achieving high school students with an interest in the environment, conservation, and sustainability, and with the desire to explore careers in the fields of environmental science, conservation, policy, law, and engineering, with a remarkable opportunity. Students take an active role in the curriculum through explorations of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, and through exclusive field visits, special access to, and activities with, researchers, scientists, directors, and staff. Students will receive one college credit for their successful completion of the Summit. |
| Young Scholars Academy Online |
Various | Various | Young Scholars Academy is a virtual village that helps twice-exceptional, differently-wired, & gifted students to feel seen, nurtured, and happy as heck through strength-based courses, camps, and a community of belonging! |
| Young Writers Workshop Shenandoah University and Online |
Grades 4-12 | The Summer Workshop is a week-long writing workshop offered for students grades 4-7 and 8-12. This event is not only offered in person but also virtually! Each day includes a session with a professional author, genre sessions, writing workshops, and lots of opportunity for creative writing growth. In addition, our young writers will have the opportunity to conference one-on-one with our Teacher Consultants for personal feedback and revision. | |
| Yunasa Summer Camp Deckers, CO and Howell, MI |
Ages 10-15 | Summer | Many traditional programs for gifted youth focus solely on intellectual abilities, overlooking the need for these children to grow in all aspects of their lives. Yunasa supports the whole gifted child, encouraging growth and support of campers intellectually, socially, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Geared toward the unique needs of gifted children, while offering all the enjoyment of a traditional summer sleep-away camp, Yunasa provides a combination of traditional camp activities and special workshops designed specifically to help gifted children learn more about themselves as they develop greater awareness and self-acceptance. |
Last updated: March 25, 2026
Games
Anomia / Anomia Kids by Anomia Press
Anomia and Anomia Kids are simple to play. Draw a card and flip it over for all to see. Does the colored symbol on your card match another player’s? If so, be the first to shout an example from the category or word that starts with the same sound as the image on your opponent’s card.
Bee Genius/The Genius Square by The Happy Puzzle Company
Roll the dice to determine the locations of the worker bees or blockers. The challenge is then to fit all of the colored shapes around the bees or blockers, with no gaps! There are more than 46,000 unique possible combinations in which the dice can fall and all of them have at least one possible solution. Some combinations will be easier to solve, some much harder. There may be times when it seems impossible, but there will ALWAYS be at least one solution!
Blokus by Mattel
Stake your claim and protect your territory with the Blokus game! It takes less than a minute to learn, but offers endless strategy and fun challenges for the whole family. Each player gets a set of 21 pieces – in red, blue, green, or yellow – then takes turns placing them on the board. There’s just one rule: each piece you play must touch at least one other piece of the same color, but only at the corners! The goal is to fit the most pieces on the board.
Buildzi by TENZI
The fast-stacking, nerve-racking, block-building game! Quick, grab a BUILDZI block and start building. Be the first to build your tower, but — careful — don’t let it tumble. 32 BUILDZI blocks, 32 tower cards, 32 block cards and lots of ways to play!
Cat Crimes / Dog Crimes by ThinkFun
Each of the 40 challenge cards presents a cat or dog "crime" and a series of clues to help you identify the culprit. The six suspects feature distinctive characteristics and traits, and the game board supplies additional supporting evidence to help you solve the crimes.
Codenames by Czech Games Edition
Two teams compete by each having a "spymaster" give one-word clues that can point to multiple words on the board. The other players on the team attempt to guess their team's words while avoiding the words of the other team. (Four or more players)
Color Code by SmartGames
SmartGames Color Code is a unique puzzle game where players layer see-through tiles to create different multi-colored shapes shown in the included challenge booklet. With simple challenges for beginners to complex puzzles that will test experienced graphic designers, Color Code is a fun way to develop logical thinking and pattern recognition skills.
Dabble by Ideas Never Implemented
Players race to spell 5 words using their 20 tiles — the first person to finish wins.
Deduckto by Gamewright
Put your sleuthing skills to the test in this race to nab your secret suspect! Use logic and deduction to figure out the animal, disguise, and location on your hidden card. Be the first to suss out your suspect and win!
Foldology Origami Game by Foldology
Foldology has 100 puzzles, 5 difficulty levels, and 50+ hours of fun. Enjoy the beautiful designs and high-quality printing as you uncover the mysteries of these puzzles. Foldology is not a kids’ toy, but inquisitive kids love it!
Genius Star by Smart Games
This is a game of fitting uniquely shaped puzzle pieces onto a star-shaped grid. Roll dice to decide where to place the 7 blockers, and win by fitting all your game pieces onto your grid around the blockers first. Get a double win by completing the puzzle and creating a gold star!
Gnomes at Night by Mindware
Someone has stolen the Queen’s treasures and has dropped them in the castle’s twisty maze. Luckily, the trusty gnomes are here to help! Players work together to maneuver the magnetic gnome movers around the mazes to collect all the treasures before time runs out. Use communication, strategy and quick thinking to find the treasures and win the game!
IQ Twist by SmartGames
Players are challenged to fill the grid with 10 colorful, double-sided pentomino pieces, leaving X’s and O’s in sequence. Featuring 120 challenges and a compact travel case, IQ XOXO offers endless brain-teasing fun!
Itzi by TENZI
ITZI is super-simple to learn, and super-fast to play! Be the first to match the right letter cards to the right clue cards. Plus, there are lots of ways to play with fun, colorful twists.
Izzi by ThinkFun
This pattern-matching puzzle consists of 64 square tiles, each printed with a black and white geometric pattern. Your goal is to assemble the tiles into an 8x8 square following the IZZI rule: In order to place two tiles adjacent to one another, their colored edges must match up precisely.
Kanoodle / Kanoodle Head to Head by Educational Insights
Each puzzle piece is a different combination of connected beads, so it’s up to YOU to complete the 200 puzzle challenges with all 12 pieces in traditional 2D and tricky 3D formats. In Kanoodle Head to Head, race against an opponent to complete the challenge.
Kingdomino by Blue Orange Games
Dominoes with a kingdom-building twist. Each turn, connect a new domino to your existing kingdom, making sure at least one of its sides connects to a matching terrain type already in play. The game ends when each player has completed a 5x5 grid, and then points are counted based on the number of connecting tiles and crowns.
Lion in My Way by eeBoo
How would you get past a lion? Would you float over him with a balloon or offer him a cookie? Lion in My Way is a journey along a path of hazards and barriers which are overcome by the collective cleverness of the players. Armed with the unlikely tools they are dealt, imagination and some silliness, players cooperate creatively to innovate solutions that let them get home together.
Math Dice / Math Dice Jr. by ThinkFun
Math becomes more fun when you think on the fly! Roll the two 12-sided target dice and multiply them to get a target number. Roll the three scoring dice and combine these numbers using addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, or even powers to build an equation that is closest, or equal to, the target.
The Mind by Pandasaurus Games
Work together with your friends to play cards in ascending order, but here's the catch – no speaking or communication allowed. Can you beat the Mind's tricky levels?
Otrio by Marbles Brain Store
Otrio is an excellent 2-4 player head-to-head strategy game! The rules of Otrio are simple: get three circular pieces of your color in a row in either ascending or descending order, the same-sized pieces in a row, or three concentric pieces in the same space!
Paint Chip Poetry by Chronicle Books
Composing a poem is easy and fun with this colorful and creative game! Players draw handfuls of paint chips and a prompt card, then rearrange the chips to create spontaneous poems out of the color names, with results that range from profound to hilarious.
Point Salad by AEG/Flatout Games
Point Salad is a fast and fun card-drafting game for the whole family! There are over 100 ways to score points. Players may use a variety of strategies, and every game of Point Salad is unique!
Proof by Evermade
Quick! Find an equation among the nine number cards on the table. Once you've got one, shout the result before anyone else. Tell everyone the proof! If your math adds up, keep the cards you used. Deal more and keep going. When the deck runs out, the player with the most cards wins.
QBitz by MindWare
This popular MindWare game is all about speed as players race to manipulate their cubes to copy the pattern on the Q-bitz™ pattern card.
Qwirkle by MindWare
Qwirkle is a simple game of matching colors and shapes! Players score points by building rows and columns of brightly-colored tiles that are either all the same color or all the same shape, without creating duplicates; create a line of all six in a row, and you score a "Qwirkle." It’s the perfect combination of skill and chance that all ages can play, understand and enjoy!
Rapid Rumble by Skillmatics
Rapid Rumble is the fastest, funniest, and cleverest category game! Roll the die, set the timer, and get ready to rumble! Match your letter cards to the category before anyone else. Discover animals, things, culture, science, and nature as you play this exciting game.
Rubik’s Race by Spin Master
Rubik’s Race is a fast-paced sequence board game that is designed to get your brain and fingers racing. Shake the scrambler and take your opponent on head-to-head. Shift and slide the tiles to become the first racer to complete the 3x3 center.
Rush Hour / Rush Hour Jr by ThinkFun
In Rush Hour, a sliding block logic game, you have to battle the gridlock as you slide the blocking vehicles out of the way for the red car to exit. With 40 challenges, ranging in difficulty, players can progress at their own speed.
SET by PlayMonster
The award-winning game challenges players to race to find as many SETs as they can. A SET is three cards where each individual feature (color, shape, number, and shading) is either all the same OR all different! The first player to see a SET calls out “SET” and grabs the cards—there are no “turns” and no luck here! And not only is it fast-paced fun, it also builds skills and exercises the brain!
Shape by Shape by Thinkfun
Shape By Shape is an advanced tangram-style pattern game, made more difficult because you also fill in the frame around each shape you make. With 60 challenges, Shape By Shape is a great exercise in conceptual thinking and spatial relationships.
Shape Logic by ThinkFun
Shape Logic is a fun game that helps develop spatial, abstract, and quantitative reasoning skills. To solve the puzzle challenges, stack green pieces on top of blue pieces, or vice versa, to create identical shapes. Through hands-on play, players build key skills, strategies, and mathematical understandings, such as part-to-whole relationships.
Slapzi by Tenzi
The fast-matching, card-slapping, everyone-laughing picture game! SLAPZI is all about speed. Be the first to match the right picture cards to the right clue cards. SLAPZI is super-simple to learn, and super-fast to play!
Smug Owls by Runaway Parade Games
Who better to solve the riddles of the universe than the fabled wise owl? Join the other owls and come up with answers to never-before-seen riddles created by a magic deck. Your answer can be anything - funny, punny, clever, profound, nonsensical - you name it!
Snippets by Evermade
At the beginning of each round, a card is flipped from any of the 3 decks. The card contains a word snippet like "ext". Players then have 60 seconds to write as many words as they can think of that contain the snippet. "Extra," "next," "extraterrestrial," and "text" would all be examples. After the time is up, players compare lists, but you only get points for words that no one else thought of! Bonus points are also up for grabs.
Splurt by Gamewright
Quick – name something fun to play beginning with the letter S! Slide whistle? Slot machine? How about Splurt - the hilarious fast-reaction word game! Flip a card and be the first to shout out an answer that matches the clues. Can you name an animal containing 5 letters? A song ending in E? Think fast – say it first – win Splurt!
Sushi Go by Gamewright
Pass the sushi! In this fast-playing card game, the goal is to grab the best combination of sushi dishes as they whiz by. Score points for making the most maki rolls or for collecting a full set of sashimi. Dip your favorite nigiri in wasabi to triple its value. But be sure to leave room for dessert, or else you'll eat into your score! Gather the most points and consider yourself the sushi master!
Sussed by Sussed Games
Ask a question, pick your answer, and see who really gets you! Be amazed by what you don't know about your friends & family, and what they DO know about you! Players take turns reading a question and three possible answers aloud. They then secretly choose the answer that best applies to them, and other players try to guess which answer they chose. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins
Swish by ThinkFun
Swish is a spatial card game that challenges you to be the first to make matches, or “Swishes.” Swishes are made by stacking as few as two or as many as 12 cards so that every ball swishes into a hoop of the same color. The player with the most matches at the end of the game wins.
Tetris by Buffalo Games
Score points by completing lines, fulfilling achievement cards, and matching pieces to icons on your tower. Keep an eye on what piece is coming up next to plan out your winning strategy. Rotate, move, and drop tetrimino pieces just like the video game.
Topicubes by Blue Orange Games
In this fun word game, players roll 10 dice, 5 with a letter, and 5 with an illustrated topic, and race to find matching words. A winning matching word must start with one of the letters showing on a die, and must belong to one of the categories showing on a die of a different color.
Organizations
Podcasts and Websites
Podcasts for Students
Brains On! Universe
Brains On is a collection of smart, funny shows for curious kids and their families.
GZM Classroom
Podcasts created with middle-grade students in mind
Tinkercast
A diverse collection of educational podcasts that spark curiosity, foster creativity, and inspire young minds. Whether your child is fascinated by science, history, storytelling, or problem-solving, Tinkercast podcasts cater to a wide range of interests and age groups.
Tumble Science
Explore all the amazing stories of scientific discovery with the help of real-life scientists and STEM experts. With episodes in English and Spanish, the Tumble Science podcast will have kids (and grown ups!) looking deeper, asking why, and embracing the process of discovery!
Websites for Students
The Academy of Achievement
The Academy has developed a comprehensive video archive of historical figures, weaving their stories into a unique narrative history of our world. While we believe that everyone can benefit by exploring the lives of these extraordinary leaders, visionaries, and pioneers, we encourage students, in particular, to study these unique figures and to discover how their inspirational life stories can be used to create roadmaps to our own successful destinations.
Brain Bashers
The BrainBashers website has produced over 10,000 brainteasers and puzzles of many types. The site was created more than 25 years ago and new puzzles are still added daily.
Code.org
Code.org® is an education innovation nonprofit dedicated to the vision that every student in every school has the opportunity to learn computer science as part of their core K-12 education. On this site, students can explore the world of computer science with engaging videos, self-paced tutorials, programming activities, and more for all ages and experience levels.
The Kid Should See This
The Kid Should See This is a Webby Award-winning collection of 6,000+ kid-friendly videos, curated for teachers and parents who want to share smarter, more meaningful media in the classroom and at home. TKSST champions smart STEAM, history, and culture-focused content by museums, organizations, and creators who celebrate curiosity, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, kindness, and other essential themes for all ages. Enjoy around 10 to 15 newly added videos every week, browse the collections, and search topics in the archives.
KrazyDad
This website has been offering free puzzles to the public since 2005. Their mission is to provide puzzles to under-served groups that need them, including home-schoolers, hospitals, churches, and classrooms. There are currently about two million individual puzzles on the site and over sixty unique varieties. You are welcome to download, print, and solve as many as you like for your own personal use
MENSA for Kids
MENSA for Kids offers activity plans, games, a magazine written by students, and book suggestions.
Once Upon A Picture
Images, digital art, and animations from this website and the questions that accompany them can be used to stimulate discussion and develop vocabulary or as a prompt for creative writing. All of the work shared here is done so with the permission of the artists.
Ology
Ology is a science website for kids from the American Museum of Natural History. There are games, reading, videos, and hands-on activities from many science areas, including marine biology, paleontology, anthropology, and more.
PhET provides fun, free, interactive, research-based science and mathematics simulations. The interactive experience allows students to investigate cause-and-effect relationships and answer scientific questions through exploration of the simulation.
Scratch
Scratch is the world’s largest coding community for children and a coding language with a simple visual interface that allows young people to create digital stories, games, and animations. Scratch promotes computational thinking and problem-solving skills; creative teaching and learning; self-expression and collaboration; and equity in computing.
VEX VR
In VEXcode VR, a virtual robot can be coded to do many things. Students can learn about key features of coding with blocks in VEXcode VR. The site offers tutorials and challenges for students to complete.