Summer Programs Connecticut | The Hotchkiss School

Summer Portals Offers On-Campus and Virtual Programming in 2023!

Hotchkiss Summer Portals is excited to welcome you back to our campus in 2023! Our residential programming runs in two two-week sessions; July 2 to 15, 2023 and July 16 to 30, 2023. Students typically enroll in two courses, one course per session, and stay for the entirety of our four-week program, though students may elect to participate in a single two-week session. Each day students are immersed in their academic course after which they enjoy a range of afternoon and evening activities such as intramural soccer, hiking, swimming or bonfires at Fairfield Farm. Our picturesque 800-acre campus serves as both classroom and playground for Summer Portals students. Course offerings and dates as well as course descriptions and tuition information are detailed below. Tuition is all inclusive of room, board, course expenses, most on and off campus activities, and technology and health center fees.

Hotchkiss-Run Residential Programs

Coding & Software Engineering

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Computer Science & Mobile App Design

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Environmental Science

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Equity Is the Work: Writing for Justice

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Fly Fishing

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The Physics of the Electric Guitar

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Piano Program

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Robotics

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Theatre

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Writers & Writing

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Speech & Debate

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Studio Art - Drawing the Observed World

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Structural Engineering - Race Car Design

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2023 Program Highlights

Hotchkiss-Salisbury Golf School

Workshop: Build a Guitar

Session I - July 17 - 21
Price: $850

Starting from a few blocks of wood and some hardware, students will spend a week drilling, shaping and finishing a guitar body; carving and smoothing a guitar neck and fretboard; and soldering and installing electronics. Specialized wood working and guitar building tools will be introduced and used. At the end of the week students will have their own custom, high-quality electric guitar.

Partner-Run Day Programs

Rafa Nadal Academy

Session I - July 3 - 8

The Rafa Nadal Academy camp returns to The Hotchkiss School to offer the same high performance tennis methodology and training used at the highly successful official Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain. Juniors and adults work with coaches from the Rafa Nadal Academy with both on and off court training. The camp appeals to a range of players and offers a total tennis experience not available anywhere else.

This program is offered by Hotchkiss partner; therefore, registration will take place on the Rafa Nadal Academy website:
athena.rafanadalacademycamps.com

Arsenal Soccer Camp

Session I - July 3 - 7

Premier league giants Arsenal FC will be running a one week soccer camp at the Hotchkiss School. Designed for boys and girls ages 7 to 14 and of all abilities, the camp gives young players access to official Arsenal coaches and the same successful training methods used at the Arsenal academy in London. Training sessions have been designed for players to improve the fundamental techniques of soccer with repetition and at match tempo. Players will be given a complete perspective on soccer tactics to understand each role and position and how they are related. All in a fun and supportive environment.

This program is offered by Hotchkiss partner; therefore, registration will take place on the Arsenal website: arsenalcampsus.com

Nike Basketball Camp

Session 1: July 10-23
Time: 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Age: 6-16, Boys and Girls
Cost: $325

Session 2: July 24-27
Time: 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Age: 6-16, Boys and Girls
Cost: $325

The Complete Skills Camp offered by Nike helps players of all abilities develop athletically, refine fundamental basketball skills, and enhance their skill set at the post, wing, or guard position.

Highlights Include:

Daily emphasis on fundamental shooting development, team play, and more
Discussion of nutritional goals and off-court activities to benefit on-court game
Receive a Nike Basketball Camp t-shirt and other prizes!

Lead Coach: Joe Busacca
Joseph Busacca is currently the head boys basketball coach at The Hotchkiss School. He is originally from Staten Island, NY, and completed his undergraduate degree at Misericordia University in Pennsylvania. He was a two-time conference champion, conference player of the year, and an All-American his senior year. In 2016, Busacca became an assistant men's basketball coach at Manhattanville College, where he also completed his master's degree in business management. At 24 years old, he became one of the youngest NCAA head basketball coaches in the country at Curry College. After three years as head coach, Busacca became an assistant coach at one of the premier academic institutions in the country, Amherst College.

Partner-Run Residential Program

The Concord Review

The Concord Review

July 16-28

Hotchkiss Summer Portals developed the The Concord Review History Camp to align with The Concord Review’s mission. This intensive workshop in history, research, and writing offers students an advisory structure in which to work on historical research papers on topics of their own choosing. Students arrive at the program with a research topic in hand that they then develop over the course of two weeks, with the end goal of writing a first draft of a historical research paper on their topic.

The Concord Review is a journal that showcases the academic excellence and writing ability of high school students who are studying history. It is meant to inspire others to achieve the next level of performance. The Concord Review was founded in 1987 to recognize and to publish exemplary history essays by high school students in the English-speaking world. With the Fall Issue (#134), 1,460 research papers have been published from authors in 46 states and 45 other countries. The Concord Review remains the only quarterly journal in the world to publish the academic history papers of secondary students.

This program is offered by a Hotchkiss partner; therefore, registration will take place on The Concord Review website: varsityacademics.org/hotchkisshistorycamp

Partner-Run VIrtual Programs

ACT Prep

College Essay Support

This program is designed to give students applying to US colleges and universities the opportunity to work with experienced English teachers and college counselors to help shape the personal narrative portion of their application — the essays. Via live synchronous online instruction, our teachers will help each student to shape impactful essays that will distinguish themselves from other highly qualified applicants.

Freedom of Expression and The Politics of Social Media

June 12 – June 29
Cost: Cost: $4,650

Students will meet synchronously from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. CST (10 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST).

Social media presents a variety of current case studies in which to examine the tensions among freedom expression, private industry, and government regulation. The tensions exhibit in elections, politics, schools, employment, and our personal lives as we and social media companies learn to navigate this new landscape. This course explores the complexities of these issues from a basis in the theory, principles, and practices of free expression and their very tangible manifestations in personal, professional, and civic contexts.

Students will read classical and current texts on freedom of expression, examine case law in free speech, and explore current controversies and statements and policies of social media organizations. At the same time, students will participate in a simulation of Congressional Hearings on social media regulations. Assuming roles as Senators, journalists, lobbyists, and leaders of social media organizations, students will actively bring their learning into practice by navigating the world of social media, politics, and policies. Learn more at University of Chicago website.

The priority registration deadline is Jan. 18, 2023 and the regular deadline is March 1, 2023.

Application Deadlines and how to apply

Required materials for the application include:
Personal Profile and Program & Course Selection
Transcript
Test Scores (optional)
Financial Aid & Scholarship Program Application: Students should complete this section if they require need-based aid
Supplement Essays: Two short essays
Writing Sample: Essay with a grade that was submitted to their school
Letter of Recommendation: Students enter their teacher emails, and teachers submit a letter through a secure link
Parent Confirmation: Link emailed to parents

SAT Prep

The SAT boot camp will prepare students with the skills and test-taking strategies necessary for success on the SAT exam. The expert instructors will cover content and strategies for the Reading, Writing, Math and optional essay. The course will feature 18 hours of synchronous live instruction that will cover exam structure, general and section specific test-taking strategies. The course is intended to serve as a crash course before students take the August 27 SAT exam. Therefore, students need to register for the August 27 exam by July 25.

SSAT Prep

The SSAT prep course will prepare students for the upper level SSAT Exam. The course will provide students with a crash course and overview of the entire SSAT test, including test-taking strategies and all academic content. The course spends equal time covering all sections of the exam, Writing, Quantitative 1, Reading, Verbal, Quantitative 2, and Experimental. This course will prepare students for the summer 2023 SSAT, and thus students should register in advance for the exam.

Standard Application Online (SAO) Application Essay

Students will learn the foundational skills of essay writing, with a focus on vocabulary and sentence construction, as well as the best ways to structure and plan a personal narrative essay. Students will review the SAO application essay prompts and work on actual drafts of their essays, from outline to finished product. They will receive both instructor and peer feedback as they work towards a more polished draft.

*Dates and Links for the ACT, Collage Essay, SAT, SSAT, and Gateway or SAO Application Support

Session 1	Session 2
SAT Boot Camp Mondays & Wednesdays June 12-July 12 7-8:30pm EDT Registration Link	SAT Boot Camp Mondays & Wednesdays July 24-August 23 7-8:30pm EDT Registration Link
ACT Boot Camp Mondays & Wednesdays June 12-July 12 7-8:30pm EDT Registration Link	ACT Boot Camp Mondays & Wednesdays July 24-August 23 7-8:30pm EDT Registration Link
College Essay Prep Tuesdays & Thursdays June 13- July 18 7-8:30pm EDT No class July 4th Registration Link	College Essay Prep Tuesdays & Thursdays July 25- August 24 7-8:30pm EDT Registration Link
SSAT Boot Camp Mondays & Wednesdays June 12-July 12 7-8:30pm EDT Registration Link
GATEWAY or SAO APPLICATION SUPPORT Tuesdays & Thursdays June 13 -July 18 7-8:30pm EDT No Class July 4th Registration Link

Summer Campus Life

For Enrolled Students

FAQs

How to Apply

Cultivate your passion.

Spend each day immersed learning something that excites you — the arts, science, literature, or debate — and find new friends who are just as passionate and curious as you are.

Hotchkiss Summer Portals offers middle and high-school age students the opportunity to hone a talent or try something new while experiencing the unique learning community that is Hotchkiss. In each two-week session, our dedicated faculty members share their expertise and passion with students from all over the world.

The school year may end, but the learning continues at Summer Portals. Whether you are a budding scientist, have the discerning eye of an artist or the desire to refine your voice as a writer, we hope you will join us and explore your interests.

An International Student Body

Students from across the globe apply to our Connecticut summer program. Whether you're a current Hotchkiss student or hail from the other side of the world, there's a place for you here. Students have the chance to learn alongside peers from different backgrounds and nationalities. There's no better way to develop strong friendships with fellow students from around the world!

Learn by living in a community of friends:

Take part in a wide range of activities
Experience dorm life with the support of caring and fun teachers and advisors
Make new friends
Enjoy the lakes, trails, and woods of the Berkshire-Taconic landscape

Apply to Summer Portals

Where are Portals students from? All over the world....

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