An Unforgettable Learning Experience
Readers. Writers. Thinkers. Leaders.
The world-renowned Great Books Summer Program gives middle and high school students an exceptional pre-college experience on some of the most beautiful and prestigious campuses in the world. Students enjoy a challenging curriculum, arts and literature electives, and social activities in a welcoming, fun, and well-supervised environment. Critical Thinking, Writing, Leadership, Entrepreneurship programs, and more. Rising grades 6-8, 9-12, and gap year. Residential, Day, and Online. One-week and multi-week programs.
– 7 campuses to choose from in the U.S. and abroad.
– Read, discuss, and learn with advanced peers.
– Critical thinking and civil discourse.
– Led by distinguished professors and scholars.
– Serving families for 25 years.
On These Campuses in 2026:
Amherst College, Amherst, MA
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Haverford College, just outside Philadelphia, PA
And Literary Travel Abroad in:
Oxford
Dublin
Athens
Verona & Venice
Exciting Programs for Advanced Learners
Literary Travel
England, Ireland, Greece, & Italy
Explore culture and history in beautiful literary destinations around the world! We engage students in a challenging curriculum as we explore the richness of the host campus and surrounding city in the landscapes that inspired the country’s great authors and brilliant thinkers. Join us for an exceptional, once-in-a-lifetime adventure! Rising grades 9-12, & gap year.
Leadership Programs
For an aspiring leader, acquiring strong strategic thinking, reasoning, and persuasive skills can be a breakthrough in their current education, confidence levels, maturity, and life-preparation. These leadership skills are an advantage for life. Join us for highly efficient, immersive leadership programs on the campus of Haverford! Rising grades 9-12, & gap year.
Critical Thinking for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Students step into a world of bold ideas, imaginative problem-solving, and groundbreaking possibilities. This immersive program is designed to spark creativity while building the skills that drive visionary thinking. Each session is crafted to spark creativity while strengthening the ability to use evidence, logic, insight, and intuition to tackle complex problems. Join us for this exciting one-week, highly interactive experience on the campus of Stanford! Rising grades 9-12, & gap year.
Writer’s Workshops, Experiential Writing, and Abroad Writing Programs
Develop your voice as a writer! Our writing programs are welcoming spaces for beginners and advanced young writers alike. In our on-campus and online Writer’s Workshops, our Experiential Writing Adventures, and our Abroad Writing Programs, students work with accomplished writers to hone their craft and explore their creativity. Students come away with new ideas, a brimming portfolio, and a refined sense of their own voice. Rising grades 6-8, rising grades 9-12, & gap year.
Great Books & Big Ideas
Build advanced critical thinking and powerful self-expression skills! Seminars and discussions are led by esteemed college professors and award-winning educators. Students are mentored and supervised by accomplished scholars who model critical thinking, analytical reading, and open inquiry. Imagine your child arriving at college with the confidence and experience to engage with professors and excel in the classroom! Rising grades 6-8, rising grades 9-12, & gap year.
Let us help you explore and choose…
We are educators, scholars, camp enthusiasts, and yes, we are parents too. We believe every student deserves an enriching summer experience full of challenge, fun, and friendship. We are invested in your child’s success.
Call: 203-612-9470
Email: info@greatbookssummer.com
Get the 2026 Brochure!
Includes complete program details, schedules, and registration instructions.
