Summer Programs for High School Students

Summer 2024 Institutes

Check out the amazing programs happening this summer...

2025 Institute information coming soon!

Are you looking to ignite your creativity?

At the Arts Institute (also known as GIA!) you are given the platform to amplify your artistic voice and join a community of young artists from all over Vermont for an exciting two weeks of collaboration, creation, and inspiration. The experience helps develop skills in whatever artistic disciplines you choose alongside fellow creators who share a passion for art and creative thinking! With immersions into theater, music, writing, visual arts, film, dance, and more, the community at the Arts Institute fosters a diverse, meaningful, and life-changing shared experience.

At this Institute you will…

Discover new ways to interact with a variety of artistic mediums and styles.
Explore new media and professional-grade equipment to create emergent forms of art.
Network with professional artists and learn about their artistic practices.
Make new friends with artistic peers from all over the state who share your passions and interests.
Learn about college options and opportunities in professional art careers.
Unleash your unique talents and hone your original voice.
Have the time of your life!

Click here to learn more!

Engineering

2025 Institute information coming soon!

Are you driven to think creatively and create a better future?

At the Engineering Institute you learn to think like an engineer and help create a sustainable future through a week-long program on Norwich University’s campus. Collaborate, iterate, and expand your creative thinking by developing your own projects in fields like energy, robotics, and structural engineering. Surrounded by peers who share your interests, you will work together to create resilient solutions to the planet’s most pressing problems. With access to professional equipment and the guidance of renowned engineers, everyone at Engineering works together to build bridges to a better future!

At this Institute you will…

Dive into several areas of engineering to explore possibilities.
Meet other young Vermonters who share your interests.
Learn to “think like an engineer,” analyzing and solving real-world problems.
Take on a variety of design challenges to hone creativity and problem-solving.
Hear from a wide range of engineers and discover academic and career pathways.
Explore technology and equipment used by engineers.
Have the time of your life!

Click here to learn more!

Entrepreneurship: Creativity & Innovation

2025 Institute information coming soon!

Do you want to turn your creativity and innovation skills into profit?

At the Entrepreneurship Institute you bring your passion and curiosity to a transformative and world-expanding dive into creativity and innovation. Learn how to develop, produce, and market new products and services with your own ideas and interests. With the guidance of proven entrepreneurs and examples from experts, everyone at the Entrepreneurship Institute joins an active network of peers and future collaborators that work together, empowering you to leverage your own unique business ideas and propel your ambitions into future success.

At this Institute you will…

Learn how to translate your ideas into a real, successful, and sustainable business.
Examine your own strengths and learn to develop a winning team of business partners.
Acquire financial, operational, and marketing insights to enable you to launch and grow your own business.
Delve into the ethics, sustainability, and social responsibility of business.
Network with successful Vermont business people and visit local businesses.
Work with professional mentors to make your product ideas a reality.
Have the time of your life!

College credits available.

Click here to learn more!

Environmental Science & Technology

2025 Institute information coming soon!

Are you ready to revolutionize the ways you understand our natural world?

At the Environmental Science & Technology Institute you get to investigate what’s in our air, water, and soil. Focused on adventure and real-world exploration, we collect environmental data from your own communities across the state and bring those samples to UVM’s state-of-the-art labs to analyze, interpret, and make inferences. Combined with investigations of our surrounding environment, this Institute creates new ways of thinking through research, discoveries, and solutions.

At this Institute you will…

Explore local environmental issues, gathering lake, stream and soil data.
Combine outdoor field research with computing and laboratory technology.
Evaluate the distribution of pollutants in our air, water, and soil.
Learn the scientific method, collect environmental data, and present your work.
Identify academic and professional career paths for emerging scientists.
Connect with peers who share your interests.
Have the time of your life!

College credits available.

Click here to learn more!

Global Issues & Youth Action

2025 Institute information coming soon!

Do you aspire to make a difference in the world?

At the Global Issues and Youth Action Institute you can take on the political, environmental, and social justice issues you care about through education, discussion, collaboration, and action. Together, we create a community of motivated youth who work together to tackle the topics society is facing, such as climate change, race, gender, sexuality, freedom, economic inequality, and more. Our learning community mobilizes into action by connecting with activists from around the world and leading movements for real change and a more informed future.

At this Institute you will…

Learn about current events, leadership, activism, politics, and social change.
Meet and work with Vermont’s political leaders and activists.
Examine all sides of political issues and perspectives, and learn tools for productive inquiry, dialogue, and debate.
Make friends and build community with young leaders from around the globe.
Develop skills to lead from any seat at the table.
Learn how to make a difference in your community.
Have the time of your life!

Click here to learn more!

Health & Medicine

Students can choose between either the Northern or Southern Session with different dates and locations!

NORTHERN SESSION
2025 Institute Information Coming Soon.
Hosted in Partnership with the Northern VT Area Health Education Center (NVTAHEC)

SOUTHERN SESSION:
2025 Institute Information Coming Soon.
Hosted in Partnership with the Southern VT Area Health Education Center (SVTAHEC)

Do you want to learn the science of saving lives?

At the Health and Medicine Institute you can step into the world of health care in a real-world way! By diving into hands-on medical and health science skills, you will experience what it’s like to work in medical careers and will be guided every step of the way by professional healthcare mentors and faculty. The personalized curriculum explores topics in a variety of health careers such as general surgery, nursing, emergency services, and healthcare technology. In addition to being eligible to earn a wide variety of industry-recognized credentials, you can also lead your own lab work, participate in crisis simulations, and sample a huge array of health care occupations.

Students can also earn their CPR, Stop the Bleed, and Vermont Emergency First Responder (VEFR) Certification at this Institute.

At this Institute you will…

Explore careers in health science, research, and medicine.
Practice hands-on medical skills like assessing vital signs and interviewing patients.
Earn certifications in CPR, First Aid, and Emergency First Responder.
Choose from a variety of hands-on lab activities and workshops led by health professionals and college faculty.
Work closely with medical student mentors throughout the week.
Have the time of your life!

Click here to learn more!

Kenneth I. Gross and Tony Trono Mathematical Sciences Institute

2025 Institute information coming soon!

Do you love math with a passion?

At the Kenneth I. Gross and Anthony Trono Mathematical Sciences Institute you are surrounded by fellow math lovers in a community of collaboration and knowledge. We work together to explore theoretical and real-world applications of mathematics in the classroom and beyond. This Institute seeks to expand your knowledge bases and perspectives, encouraging you to take on challenges and explore statistics, programming, geometry, and more. If you’re looking for hands-on mathematics, engaging lectures, exciting career opportunities, and a chance to revel in all the things that make math so much fun, this is the Institute for you!

At this Institute you will…

Take on advanced math challenges and puzzles that keep mathematicians awake at night!
Explore hands-on practical applications of math.
Network with professional mathematicians.
Learn about the academic and career pathways open to people who enjoy mathematics.
Celebrate the ways math can help us understand our surroundings.
Make lifelong friends with peers who share your interests.
Have the time of your life!

Click here to learn more!

Technology & Design

2025 Institute information coming soon!

Do you come to life in a digital world?

At the Technology and Design Institute you get to dive into game design, 3D modeling, cybersecurity, graphic design, programming, and more! Creating a shared interest community for all things tech, design, and creative, the experience is filled with exploration and creation in state-of-the-art computer labs using professional software and hardware. Choose your own classes to create projects, games, art pieces, screenprinting, and whatever you imagine. Supported by Champlain College’s faculty and undergraduate advisors, this Institute provides a window into the tech world and the career paths of the future.

At this Institute you will…

Explore the intersection between technology, art, and culture.
Collaborate as designers and creators on projects that excite you.
Learn how iterative design practices can enhance your digital and graphic design skills.
Program microcontrollers, model game assets in 3D, and experiment with the Adobe Creative Cloud.
Learn about the technical, artistic, and business aspects of technology and design.
Make lifelong friends with peers who share your interests.
Have the time of your life!

Click here to learn more!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Institute dates and locations?

Each Institute takes place at a different time during the summer, and on different campuses. Visit each Institute’s page on our site for more info about each Institute including the specific dates for each!

How much do the summer Institutes cost?

Tuition uses a sliding scale model, which means you only pay what your family can afford. Check out the summer tuition page for more details!

Who can attend?

Students currently in 9th - 11th grade who go to school in Vermont, or at a school that has an arrangement with VT school districts. We’re also willing to consider out-of-state students on a case by case basis.

Do my grades matter for attending GIV?

In most cases, no! We don't look at grades/transcripts when considering applicants. The only exception is our Math Institute, where we need to know which classes you have taken and your grades in just those classes.

How do I apply?

Applying is easy - just hit one of the many “apply” buttons on our website, create a SurveyMonkey account, and fill out the application. It will ask you to enter your contact info and some additional details about your interests, then prompt you to request recommendations from two adults. Don’t forget to hit submit!

Is there a deadline for applications?

Yes- see our Apply page for this year's application dates. We cannot accept late applications, so make sure you submit on time!

When are Summer Tuition fees charged?

Summer Tuition is only requested once a student has applied and been accepted into an Institute. Following application submissions, we will reach out to accepted students and their families to collect information and make a final determination on Summer Tuition based on your family's income and situation. We are always willing to work with families to make sure they can take part in GIV and get the support they need!

When will I know if I’m accepted?

We’ll begin reaching out to students to let them know their application status in mid April, around two weeks after our application deadline.

What illness policies will be in place?

We aim to provide a safe and healthy environment for our in-person Institutes. While people can never be completely shielded from all risk of exposure or illness caused by COVID-19 or other infections, even if vaccinated, GIV expects students, families, guests, and staff to do their part to contribute to a safe and healthy community.

We require that staff and students:
- Arrive healthy. We recommend testing for COVID-19 in the 24 hours leading up to arrival at the Institute. If they are experiencing symptoms of serious transmissible illness* within 24 hours of the first day, they should stay home.
-Be evaluated if presenting symptoms of serious transmissible illness, and follow recommendations such as taking measures to limit contagion.
-Be sent home from the program if testing positive for COVID-19 or any other highly contagious disease. This decision rests with the Program Director, who may consult with a healthcare provider.

*Symptoms of serious transmissible illness:
- Fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
- Persistent cough
- Severe sore throat
- Vomiting/diarrhea
- Difficulty breathing (not asthma-related)
- Too sick to participate in activities after 24 hours
Additional precautions may be required based on the program.

GIV’s policies and procedures are based on the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Camp Association (ACA). They are subject to applicable federal, state, and local regulations, and may be updated according to public health conditions and at the discretion of GIV. We reserve the right to add safety measures as necessary, such as testing, masking, quarantining, and other hygiene-related best practices.
Policies are subject to change in accordance with CDC and/or host college guidance.

How will I get to the Institute?

If you aren’t able to drive or be driven to your Institute, reach out to us directly at [email protected]. We’ll coordinate travel arrangements to get you there!

Can I attend multiple Institutes in one summer?

Possibly! If the dates align, we can explore this option. However, many of our Institutes overlap; if your Institute dates overlap, we ask students to choose one or the other.

Can I return to an Institute that I attended in a previous year?

We want to make sure that all of our Institutes have space for new incoming students, so we generally ask that students returning to GIV multiple years try a new Institute! Part of the GIV experience is trying new things, so we highly encourage returning students to explore a new Institute to expand into new areas of knowledge.

What will my living situation be?

While at GIV, you’ll live in a dorm on your Institute’s host college campus. Most students will have a roommate or roommates. Living on campus is a big part of the GIV experience and is how some of the closest friendships are made!

When will I know my Institute’s schedule?

The dates for each program are listed on the Institute pages here on our website. Otherwise, the Program Director for your Institute will reach out to you via email to share your Institute schedule in advance of the program. If you have questions before then, feel free to email us at [email protected] and we’ll do our best to answer them!

Can I earn high school credit?

Yes! Please reach out to your high school guidance counselor to make a plan to get credit for your participation through the Flexible Pathways Program.

Can I earn college credit?

Yes! Two of our Institutes - Entrepreneurship and Environmental Science & Technology - can be taken for college credit. Visit the Institute Pages for more information!

The GIV Summer Institutes

Summer 2024 Institutes

Check out the amazing programs happening this summer...

Check out the vibe from last year's Institutes...

At GIV You Will...

Each Institute Offers Credits & Proficiencies!

2024 Institute Overviews & Promotional Materials

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Institute dates and locations?

How much do the summer Institutes cost?

Who can attend?

Do my grades matter for attending GIV?

How do I apply?

Is there a deadline for applications?

When are Summer Tuition fees charged?

When will I know if I’m accepted?

What illness policies will be in place?

How will I get to the Institute?

Can I attend multiple Institutes in one summer?

Can I return to an Institute that I attended in a previous year?

What will my living situation be?

When will I know my Institute’s schedule?

Can I earn high school credit?

Can I earn college credit?

Keep in touch with us!