Our Stories
Great Books Summer Program creates warm and lively communities of learning. We could go on and on about how fun, exciting, and amazing Great Books is and what a difference it makes in the lives of our students.
But what could be better than letting our students and faculty tell you instead?
Hear co-founder and president David Ward’s reflections on how the remarkable teaching at Great Books Summer Program prepares students for university and also for a future of intellectual engagement and ability.
“What brought me to Great Books was my love of learning and literature, but what keeps me coming back is the people and the environment that everyone creates here.” Riya is a return camper sharing her love of the Great Books community and all the gifts that it has given her.
Hear Josephine share her experience with the Great Books community, how she felt supported by her peers, and how her views have changed as a result of her time at Great Books. “Talking with other people and having those open discussions helped me understand those other perspectives.”
Returning for her seventh year, Claire says that returning to Great Books every summer feels like “returning home”. Making lifelong friends at Great Books proves that “Great Books isn’t just a summer camp, its a community…there’s so many people that want to talk with you”.
A returning camper, Gideon was not sold on Great Books his first time around. “I expected it to be a lot of reading and boring books”. But Great Books won him over “Now, not only am I looking into the deeper meaning of books, but (Great Books) also helps me with my daily life.”
“The community at Great Books is one of the best…it feels so welcoming and inviting and fun”. Hear what first-year camper Tessa has to say about her Great Books Summer Program experience and the warm GBSP community.
See What Sets Great Books Apart
Hear from Co-Founder and Amherst Professor Dr. Ilan Stavans on what students gain from a summer at Great Books. From rousing discussions to new friends, Great Books Summer Program is an environment where passionate students can have the experience of a lifetime.
Hear What our Students Have to Say
Welcome to a world of discovery…a world of literature, philosophy, great books, and big ideas. Discussion and fun! Hear from past students about what their Great Books experience meant to them.
Emma from Texas, Third Year Camper
Emma from TX says coming to Great Books Summer Program was “one of the best decisions I ever made.” Learn why this three-year camper calls Great Books her “second home” and how it has helped improve both her writing and critical thinking skills.
Hear From the Great Books Students
Hear students share their first-hand stories of inspiration and growth through literary exploration at Great Books. Learn about the skills, confidence, and lasting friendships they leave with each summer.
Why Choose Great Books @Oxford
Walk in the steps of famous writers like C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien. Read Macbeth and then see it performed at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. Live your literature at Great Books Oxford program.
Meet Co-Founder Dr. Stavans
Could your dreams fuel your day-to-day life? Dr. Ilan Stavans opened this discussion during his summer 2016 session, “In Dreams Begin Responsibility.” Learn about his work with and appreciation for Great Books students.
A Student Perspective
Hear Gina explain why she returns to the Great Books Summer Program each year with middle and high school students from around the world. A Massachusetts resident, Gina is a five-year camper at Great Books.
Hear Great Books Co-Founder and President.
Great Books Co-Founder and President, David Ward, answers frequently asked questions and shares the vision that brought Great Books to life. Learn if Great Books is the right fit for your student.
Deep discussion, debate, and critical thinking.
Hear students share what they love about the Great Books Summer Program and Great Books Online! Following our 20-year history of success, our new online program is in a class of its own, with programs for literary exploration and Writer’s Workshops too.
A Teacher’s Perspective
Hear our Writer’s Workshop Academic Director Jonathan Volk share a typical day at our summer writing program. Our Writer’s Workshop is the perfect environment to spark the imagination of students who love writing and reading books.
Mentors Drive Learning & Help You Find Your Own Best Thinking
Meet Spencer Lenfield, one of the many program assistants at Great Books camps. His goal is to create a welcoming place to communicate a love of ideas. Spencer is a standout role model, as both a Harvard graduate and a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford.
Visiting Teacher: Dr. Brett Wisniewski
Visiting teacher, Dr. Brett Wisniewski, shares his enthusiastic observations after watching students engage in a level of civil discourse “typically reserved for undergraduates.” Dr. Wisniewski, who teaches Upper School Greek and Latin at The Browning School in NYC, was invited by one of his students who is a multi-year Great Books camper.
Witness Thinking in Action
Get a sneak preview inside a Great Books seminar on Chaucer. See how literary discussions empower students to see new points of view and reach insightful conclusions.
The Power of Great Books
Hear how Great Books Summer Program expands the realm of academic thinking while connecting students with like-minded peers. Learn why first-time attendees become repeat campers who found “where they belong.”
Great Books Writer’s Workshop
Writer’s Workshop is the perfect environment to spark the imagination of aspiring writers who want to hone their craft. Hear from students who worked with accomplished faculty and emerged with the ability to create new worlds, effectively use the play and pause of time in pieces, and develop authentic characters. And, most importantly, they brought home a refined sense of their own voice and a portfolio brimming with creativity!
A Q&A With Students
Hear Great Books alumni and first-time campers describe their favorite parts of our summer program. Learn why the program gives them an academic edge back in school, and how enhanced critical thinking and civil discourse positively impact their lives every day.
See life and literature aboard the H.M. Gamage
Great Books students set sail as part of their first experiential learning program off the beautiful coast of Maine. High school-age students studied maritime literature and lore while living and learning to sail on a tall ship.
How Literature Creates Dialogue
Great Books Co-Founder Dr. Peter Temes discusses how studying literary greats, like Walt Whitman, can help students aspire to be better versions of themselves. Students learn to appreciate different perspectives and create lasting connections.
A Passion for Literary Learning
Teaching by asking questions is the key element that keeps students returning to Great Books Summer Program. Watch this short, student film to learn more about their group discussions and inspired learning.
Exploring the Mystery of “Book People”
Great Books students showcase their film talents after a week-long movie elective. This memorable mockumentary explores the migration patterns, eating habits, and elusive behaviors displayed by a unique breed known as “Book People.”
Filmed by Students for Future Students
What happens when great young minds meet Great Books? Literary discussions, the exploration of new viewpoints, and more. Watch this film created by Great Books students on the campus of Stanford University.
Prepping for Your College Experience
How do students learn a greater appreciation for thinking deeper? Watch this short film made at Amherst College by campers, who explain their drive and inspiration for smarter discourse.
Teacher Resources
© 2024 Great Books Summer Program.
The Great Books Summer Program is independent of Amherst College, Stanford University, Northwestern University, Haverford College, University of Oxford, and Trinity College of Dublin. All names are trademarks of their respective owners. Great Books Summer Program and Great Books Global Forum are trademarks of Great Books Summer Program. This program does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national or ethnic origin, or disability. Admission to the program is limited and shall be granted or denied at the sole discretion of the program administrators. The camp in Amherst, MA must comply with regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and be licensed by the local board of health. Images of Amherst College courtesy of Amherst College Public Affairs office.