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

C.A.M.P. at The Woods, June 9-13, 2025

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 9 – 13, 2025 (5 days) as a day camp program from 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Eastern Time daily. 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. Students accepted into the program from outside the local area will need to plan for their own lodging. On Thursday night, June 12, all students have the option to stay for an evening and overnight experience.

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 10, 2025. Applications close March 14.
Candidates will be selected and notified by March 21.
The registration fee is $250. The first payment of $100 is due April 4, 2025. The remaining $150 is due by May 2, 2025. This fee covers all daily activities, breakfast and lunch daily, and the Thursday overnight experience.

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

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 27, from 6 – 7 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!

Go Global

The three Go Global courses will culminate after the June on-campus program by providing the opportunity for students to participate in a fully-funded, faculty-led study abroad experience. Funding for travel is provided by the Indiana Youth Programs on Campus, a Lilly Endowment Inc. grant.
In Fall 2025 (following the summer program),
–Go Global – GL 150 students will be traveling abroad to the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
–Go Global – EQ 150 students will be traveling to Ireland
–Go Global – NU 150 students will be traveling to London, England
All Go Global students are required to obtain a passport or show proof that they have a current passport prior to the summer program. Passport costs are covered by the C.A.M.P grant, if needed.

Domestic Travel

Students participating in the ED 150 will have the opportunity to participate in a faculty-led travel experience to Wyoming during the fall of 2025.

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.

Choose from one of these C.A.M.P. options:

Go Global – 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 students 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. There will be a Go Global component to the course. Students participating in the Go Global NU 150 course will have the opportunity to participate in a faculty-led travel abroad experience in London, England, during the fall of 2025.

Preference Will Be Given To:
9-12 grade and preferred successful completion of an introductory biology course.

Taught by Dr. Crystal White

Go Global – 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). There will be a Go Global component to the course. Students participating in the Go Global EQ 150 course will have the opportunity to participate in a faculty-led travel abroad experience in Ireland in the fall of 2025.

Preference Will Be Given To:
9-12 grade and preferred completion of high school biology, Algebra I and 9th-grade physical education

Taught by Dr. Edward Ferguson

Go Global – 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. Students participating in the Go Global – GL 150 course will have the opportunity to participate in a faculty-led travel abroad experience in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, during the fall of 2025.

Preference Will Be Given To:
9-12 grade and have an interest in leadership. Speaking Spanish is not required. Recommended to highlight leadership experience in your essay.

Taught by Dr. Kimberly LaComba

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 through 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. Students participating in the ED 150 will have the opportunity to participate in a faculty-led travel experience to Wyoming during the fall of 2025.

Preference Will Be Given To:
10-12 grade and have an interest in, or are already pursuing, the Education Professions Pathway at their high school.

Taught by Bob Jackson, M.Ed.