Gifted Atlanta

Not all of these programs are restricted to gifted and talented children. This list is simply intended to help you find opportunities that match your child’s interests. I have tried to include a bit about the application process, where there is one, to give you an idea of how selective the program may be.

To keep this list manageable, I have mostly limited it to programs in and around metro Atlanta. There are many residential programs elsewhere. To find them, you can visit the sites recommended on the Resources page of this site.

You can find more information about summer programs in the blog section of this web site. You can go directly to relevant posts by clicking on “Summer Programs” in the right-hand sidebar under “Browse Posts by Topic.”

A final note: A program’s inclusion on this page should not be interpreted as an endorsement from me. Carefully investigate any program before registering your child. Some of these summer programs are quite expensive. Do not assume that a high price necessarily equates to high quality.

For elementary and middle-school students

Fernbank Museum of Natural History: A combination of permanent and special exhibits, including dinosaurs. The museum has week-long summer camps for ages 5 through 13.

Georgia Aquarium – Camp H2O: This week-long summer camp with a marine biology focus is open to kids ages 5 to 13. The camp is also offered during spring and winter breaks.

Critter Camp: This one-week camp for ages 6-13 gives kids hands-on interaction with amphibians and reptiles. It’s operated by the local non-profit group The Amphibian Foundation. Two locations: Decatur and northeast Atlanta.

Serendipity Summer Program: Operated by DeKalb County Schools, this is a two-week program for children who have been identified as gifted by the DeKalb County School System. Students choose from classes that focus on special topics in math, science, social studies and English / reading. Call (678) 676-0175.

Xanadu: Three weeks of day camp operated by the Gifted and Talented Education program of the Atlanta Public Schools. Students need not be enrolled in APS to attend, although fees are significantly higher for non-APS students.

Emory National Debate Institute: A one-week program for students as young as rising 4th graders, providing an introduction to public speaking and debate.

Atlanta History Center camps: Camps centered around historical topics for kids ages 6 to 11; writing camps for ages 12 to 14.

Georgia Tech CEISMC camps: These camps for rising 2nd-12th graders offer hands-on experience in science, mathematics, engineering and technology. Past sessions have included rocketry, forensics, aeronautics and robotics. Applicants must submit a report card and a teacher recommendation. (CEISMC also offers programs for high-school students.)

TEC Camp at Georgia Tech: This one-week camp is for rising 7th and 8th grade girls with an interest in technology, engineering and computing. Application is competitive.

MSM Steam Academy (formerly known as Ben Carson Science Academy): Operated by the Morehouse School of Medicine, this is a four-week science program with lab activities, field trips and classroom instruction. Open to rising 5th-8th graders.

Callanwolde Fine Arts Center: Camps are offered in visual arts, drama and dance, for toddlers through teens.

Summer University at Kennesaw State: A series of one-week camps throughout the summer, in a wide variety of topics. Open to rising 1st – 12th graders.

Summer Academy at University of Georgia: Day and residential camps for ages 11 to 17.

Camp Carlos at Emory University: Camps with art and history themes for ages 7 to 17.

University of West Georgia: Summer programs with an academic emphasis for grades K to 12.

Appalachian Institute for Creative Learning: This residential camp isn’t local, but it’s worth a look. It has been invaluable for kids whose unusual interests and tastes may have made it hard to connect with their peers, as the AICL culture celebrates walking to the beat of your own drum. Open to children rising to grades 3 through 12, AICL is held each summer at Mars Hill University, near Asheville, N.C. Campers take classes in several subjects of their choosing and enjoy camp games and activities.

Smart Girls Summer Camp at Atlanta Girls’ School: STEAM-themed camps for rising 1st-9th grade girls.

iD Tech Camps: STEM camps for kids ages 7 to 18, held on the campuses of Emory University and Georgia Tech. Offerings include a girls-only camp for ages 10 to 15.

Emagination: Technology camp with computer programming, robotics, and digital art, offered as a day camp or overnight camp.

STREM HQ: Week-long camp sessions teaching technology and robotics, for ages 6 and up.

Coding with Kids: Week-long camps in coding and app development for ages 5 to 18.

Discover Science Center: Science-focused day camps for ages 6 to 11.

Vanderbilt Summer Academy: Residential academic camp at Vanderbilt University for high-achieving students (those with test scores in the 95th percentile or above). VSA offers a one-week program for rising 7th and 8th graders.

Clemson University Summer Scholars: Residential academic camp at Clemson University for high-achieving students rising to grades 7 through 12.

Clemson University Space Camp: Residential astronomy camp held at Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute in western North Carolina. Middle-school students can attend a one-week session that includes utilizing research-quality telescopes to explore space.

Duke University Pre-College: Having shut down its longstanding Duke TIP program in 2020, Duke now offers Pre-College Programs for middle-school and high-school students. Where Duke TIP was reserved for students who had earned exceptional ACT and SAT scores in the Duke TIP Talent Search, Pre-College is open to “academically motivated” students.

Summer Study in the USA: A non-commercial, searchable database of summer programs at more than 100 colleges and universities, for rising 7th graders and up.

For high-school students

Governor’s Honors Program: This highly selective, residential program at Berry College in Rome is for rising juniors and seniors. Applicants must be nominated by a teacher in a specific subject, which they study in depth. Formerly a six-week program, GHP was shortened to four weeks in 2010 because of budget shortfalls. The program is free for participants.

VOX Media Cafe: Two-week sessions for teens ages 13-19 focus on multimedia storytelling, combining journalism with video and website production, and giving students the opportunity to publish and present their work. Small groups are taught by media professionals, with field trips to local media organizations.

Georgia Tech CEISMC Summer PEAKS camps: Rising 9th-12th graders can get hands-on experience with STEM topics.

Summer Academy at University of Georgia: Day and residential camps for ages 11 to 17.

University of West Georgia: Summer programs with an academic emphasis for grades 6 to 12.

Emory National Debate Institute: Residential program at Emory University teaching research, critical thinking, and debate strategies.

Callanwolde Fine Arts Center: Camps are offered in visual arts, drama and dance, for toddlers through teens.

Camp Carlos at Emory University: Camps with art and history themes for ages 7 to 17.

Xanadu: Three weeks of day camp operated by the Gifted and Talented Education program of the Atlanta Public Schools. Students need not be enrolled in APS to attend, although fees are significantly higher for non-APS students.

Summer Science Academy: The Emory University School of Medicine hosts this two-week program for rising 9th and 10th-grade students interested in biology, healthcare or medicine. The program’s stated mission is to serve students from underrepresented minority backgrounds.

CDC Disease Detective Camp: This one-week camp gives rising juniors and seniors an inside look at how the CDC works to protect public health. The program is selective. The field of applicants is narrowed based on an essay, and those who pass the essay phase are entered in a lottery for available spaces. The camp is free. Because of regulations, students must be 16 or older on the first day of camp.

MSM STEAM Academy: Rising 9th to 12th graders can attend this six-week program at the Morehouse School of Medicine, where they will serve as assistants in biomedical research labs. The program’s stated goal is to increase the number of minority students pursuing careers in biomedical science.

Emory Pre-College Program: Open to rising juniors and seniors, this program introduces students to the college atmosphere and allows them to enroll in college-level courses. A six-week program offers college credit for up to two classes. A two-week program is also offered, but is not for credit. Students can live on campus or commute.

Savannah College of Art and Design: SCAD has two summer programs for rising sophomores, juniors and seniors. SCAD Summer Seminars are one-week programs which include two hands-on workshops and afternoon and evening activities. SCAD Rising Star offers a five-week residential or nonresidential program at its Savannah and Atlanta campus, where rising seniors can take college-level art courses and earn college credit.

Summer University at Kennesaw State: A series of one-week camps throughout the summer, in a wide variety of topics. Open to rising 1st – 12th graders.

Clemson University Space Camp: Residential astronomy camp held at Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute in western North Carolina. High-school students can attend a two-week session that includes utilizing research-quality telescopes to explore space.

iD Tech Camps: STEM camps for kids ages 7 to 18, held on the campuses of Emory University and Georgia Tech. Offerings include a girls-only camp for ages 10 to 15.

Emagination: Technology camp with computer programming, robotics, and digital art, offered as a day camp or overnight camp. Hosted at Mercer University’s Atlanta campus.

STREM HQ: Week-long camp sessions teaching technology and robotics, for ages 13 and up.

Appalachian Institute for Creative Learning: This residential camp isn’t local, but it’s worth a look. It has been invaluable for kids whose unusual interests and tastes may have made it hard to connect with their peers, as the AICL culture celebrates walking to the beat of your own drum. Open to children rising to grades 3 through 12, AICL is held each summer at Mars Hill University, near Asheville, N.C. Campers take classes in several subjects of their choosing and enjoy camp games and activities.

Vanderbilt Summer Academy: Residential academic camp at Vanderbilt University for high-achieving students (those with test scores in the 95th percentile or above). VSA offers a two-week program for rising 9th and 10th graders, and a three-week program for rising 11th and 12th graders.

Samford University Bulldog Pharmacy Camp: One-week residential camp at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., for rising juniors, seniors, and college freshmen. Students learn about pharmacy careers and do hands-on activities. Applications are due during the winter.

Duke University Pre-College: Having shut down its longstanding Duke TIP program in 2020, Duke now offers Pre-College Programs for middle-school and high-school students. Where Duke TIP was reserved for students who had earned exceptional ACT and SAT scores in the Duke TIP Talent Search, Pre-College is open to “academically motivated” students.

Summer Study in the USA: A non-commercial, searchable database of summer programs at more than 100 colleges and universities, for rising 7th graders and up.

Teen Ink has a comprehensive list of summer programs for teens held at sites across America and beyond.

This page was updated on December 7, 2023. If you find errors in the links or the information presented, or if you would like to submit information for consideration, please send a message using the Contact page of this site. Thank you.