C.A.M.P. at The Woods Programs - Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

C.A.M.P. at The Woods, June 7-14, 2026

High school students who are rising sophomores, juniors or seniors are encouraged to apply to participate in the Challenging Ambitions and Maximizing Potential or C.A.M.P. at The Woods program and earn two college credits! The program will be facilitated on the SMWC campus from June 7 – 14, 2026 (7 days) as a day camp program from 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Eastern Time daily on June 7, 8, and 9 then a discovery trip is planned for each session from June 10 – 13 with all sessions reconvening on campus on June 14. Students accepted into the program from outside the local area will need to plan for their own lodging – please reach out to us if suggestions are needed.

Embraced by key faculty who are experts in the respective subject areas for the program offerings, C.A.M.P. at The Woods has generated the opportunity to develop new and innovative curricula for high school students. The programs are immersive, engaging and share an academic core framework, ensuring the quality of delivery and facilitation.

CAMP at the woods application

Applications open February 2, 2026. Applications close March 2.
Candidates will be selected and notified by March 6.
The registration fee is $250. The first payment of $100 is due March 27, 2026. The remaining $150 is due by May 1, 2026. This fee covers all daily activities, breakfast and lunch daily.

If financial assistance is needed, please contact us at CampAtTheWoods@smwc.edu

2026 C.A.M.P. BROCHURE Download

Into C.A.M.P. The Woods

The Into C.A.M.P. at The Woods event is to be held February 19, from 5 – 6 p.m., in the Woods Student Center inside Rooney Library on the SMWC campus. This will be an opportunity for prospective participants and their families to learn more about each C.A.M.P. at The Woods offering and engage in immersive experiences highlighting each program. The in-person evening event includes break-out sessions for each of the four program offerings. The Pre-College Outreach admissions representative will be present to assist prospective students. A virtual component will be offered to meet the needs of those who cannot attend in person. There is no cost to attend the Into C.A.M.P at The Woods. For inquiries about Into C.A.M.P at The Woods, inquiries about Into C.A.M.P at The Woods, CampAtTheWoods@smwc.edu or 812-535-5229.

Questions? Check out our FAQ page!

DISCOVERY Adventure

Four courses are offered this year at C.A.M.P. at The Woods and each will include both an on-campus and discovery travel immersive experience connected to the course. Funding for travel is provided by the Indiana Youth Programs on Campus, a Lilly Endowment, Inc. grant. No passports will be required. Stay tuned for more information about the 2026 Discovery Adventure details!

Course options

The four C.A.M.P courses are facilitated by key faculty in the academic content areas of Global Leadership, Equine Industry, Nursing and Teachers of the Future. This reinforces that C.A.M.P. participants are learning from experts in each content area. All C.A.M.P. at The Woods participants will share what they learned in a Showcase on the last day. Parents, family, K-12 school district staff and faculty and other community members will be invited to the Showcase event. Participants who complete C.A.M.P. at The Woods programs will earn two SMWC credit hours that will be documented on an SMWC transcript.

All students must include a letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor, an essay and high school transcripts. Additional preferred qualifications are provided under each course description below.

C.A.M.P. at the Woods course selections

Discovery Travel – NU 150: Nurses for the Future

This course will develop an awareness of and willingness to increase understanding and application of a growth mindset. It also establishes an awareness for the supportive networks offered to encourage student at SMWC during this C.A.M.P. at The Woods course. This C.A.M.P. course is for students considering nursing as a profession and includes topics focused on the expansive role of the professional nurse, the history of nursing, nursing ethics, professional communication, career opportunities, the use of technology and basic nursing skills. Nursing Discovery Travel includes an immersive New York City experience where students will visit Ellis Island to learn how nursing shaped immigration history, explore global health issues at the United Nations, and engage in cultural immersion and Eastern medicinal practices in Chinatown.

Preference Will Be Given To:

9-12 grade and preferred successful completion of an introductory biology course.

Taught by Dr. Crystal White

Discovery Travel – EQ 150: Introduction to Equine Industry

This course will develop an awareness of and willingness to increase understanding and application of a growth mindset. It also establishes an awareness of the supportive networks offered to encourage students at SMWC during this C.A.M.P. at the Woods course. This course is designed to introduce pre-college students to the world of equine studies. Students will learn introductory horse handling, riding, grooming, and general care instruction, as well as an introduction to the science of the equine industry (nutrition, reproduction, and general physiology of the horse). Equine Discovery Travel includes an immersive experience in Kentucky where students participate in on-site visits to major equine industry venues including Churchill Downs, Keeneland Racecourse, regional thoroughbred breeding farms, and the Kentucky Horse Park to observe racing operations, breeding management, and industry career pathways.

Preference Will Be Given To:

9-12 grade and preferred completion of high school biology, Algebra 1 and 9th-grade physical education.

Taught by Dr. Edward Ferguson

Discovery Travel – GL 150: Leaders of Positive Change

This course will develop an awareness of and willingness to increase understanding and application of a growth mindset. It also establishes an awareness for the supportive networks offered to encourage students at SMWC during this C.A.M.P. at the Woods course. Responsible global leadership and leaders of positive change lessons provide the foundation in this C.A.M.P. at the Woods course for students in grades 9-12 to develop a project proposal that can influence positive change on a globally local (glocal) level. Students will participate in initiatives that can increase their growth and global mindset in a variety of ways, such as through cultural immersion. Global Leadership Discovery Travel immerses in Key Largo, Florida, where you’ll gain hands-on experience in nonprofit operations and responsible global leadership while working with the Coral Restoration Foundation to re-build coral reef, snorkel among coral nurseries, and learn how global organizations can drive environmental change. Immerse yourself in Cuban culture at Little Havana and return home with real-world business skills to create positive impact in your local community.

Preference Will Be Given To:

9-12 grade and have an interest in leadership. Recommended to highlight leadership experience in your essay.

Taught by Dr. Kimberly LaComba

Discovery Travel – ED 150: Teachers of the Future

This course will develop an awareness of and willingness to increase understanding and application of a growth mindset, ED 150 Teachers of the Future is an introductory Education course for high school students who are interested in becoming elementary teachers (PreK-6th grade). The focus of ED 150 will be to provide students with experiences integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) concepts into elementary school curricula though hands-on, engaging activities that align with grade level content standards. An emphasis will be placed on the learning strategy known as “Do it, Talk it, Read it, Write it.” this learning strategy effectively combines learning literacy skills and STEM content for grades kindergarten through sixth grade. Blended learning instructional strategies utilizing a variety of educational technologies will be modeled in ED 150, inquiry-based learning, problem-solving skills, collaborative learning (teamwork) and creative thinking are all key components of instructional strategies that will be modeled in this course. Education Discovery Travel will explore Washington, D.C., where students learning to teach STEM to elementary school students will explore science-focused museums, kayak, and experience monuments on a dusk tour. This immersive trip combines hands-on outdoor activities with visits to educational institutions that will enhance their understanding of engaging ways to teach science to young learners.

Preference Will Be Given To:

10-12 grade and have an interest in, or are already pursuing, the Education Professions at their high school.

Taught by Bob Jackson, M.Ed.