Online Summer Programs!

Great Books Literature & Discussion Online and Writer's Workshop Online
One-Week and Multi-Week Programs
July 2 – August 4
For Students in Rising Grades 6 – 8 & Grades 9 – 12
For 22 years, GBSP has gathered exceptional middle and high school students from across the world to read, discuss, and debate selections from the greatest works of literature.
Lots of Fun, Live Programs are online for summer 2023! Choose Great Books Literature and Discussion Online or Writer's Workshop!
Staffed by the same distinguished faculty and scholars as our on-campus summer camps, Great Books Online brings the program to you. Experience college-style seminars, engage in lively discussion, and enjoy summer camp fun with other literary-minded students.
This is nothing like "online school." The media may be digital but that's where the similarities end. This is world-class enrichment - interactive and full of fun!
Join Us for Amazing Academics and Fun!

Wherever students join us, each and every program features world-class academics and, of course, lots of summer fun too!
Learn more about everything Great Books Summer Program has to offer. See a typical day for students entering grades 6-8, or see a typical day for students entering grades 9-12.
Middle School Programs grades 6 - 8
Great Books Online
Time Zones: GBO 12:30 pm - 5:00 pm (Eastern) or Asia 9:00 am - 2:00 pm (Beiing)
Summer 2023 - Eastern | Dates | Grades |
GBO Seminar & Discussion | July 2 - July 7 | Grades 6-8 |
Writer's Workshop | July 9 - July 14 | Grades 6-8 |
GBO Seminar & Discussion | July 16 - July 21 | Grades 6-8 |
Summer 2023 - Asia | Dates | Grades |
Asia: GBO Seminar and Discussion | July 23 - July 28 | Grades 6-8 |
Asia: Writer's Workshop | July 30 - August 4 | Grades 6-8 |
High School Programs grades 9 - 12
Great Books Online
Time Zones: GBO 12:30 pm - 5:00 pm (New York) or Asia 9:00 am - 2:00 pm (Beiing)
Summer 2023 - Eastern | Dates | Grades |
GBO Seminar & Discussion | July 2 - July 7 | Grades 6-8 |
Writer's Workshop | July 9 - July 14 | Grades 6-8 |
GBO Seminar & Discussion | July 16 - July 21 | Grades 6-8 |
Summer 2023 - Asia | Dates | Grades |
Asia: GBO Seminar and Discussion | July 23 - July 28 | Grades 6-8 |
Asia: Writer's Workshop | July 30 - August 4 | Grades 6-8 |
Discussion, Debate, Close Reading, Thinking, and Friendship
Great Books Online
Great Books Online is back for a third summer with all the fun and comraderie of summer camp!
Students explore timeless literature together in morning seminar. Using the materials as the catalyst for growing critical thinking, close reading, and civil discourse skills, small discussion groups of 8-12 campers meet each day in late morning. Afternoons include academic mentoring in groups of 5-8. These pods are led by our Program Assistants, a select group of outstanding college and graduate students chosen through our nationwide search. Pods also participate in games and other fun activities together each afternoon.
Great Books Online programs run from Monday through Friday with optional special events in the evenings twice weekly. Students are also invited to orientation each Sunday.
A Typical Day Online (East Coast Schedule)
12:30 pm | Seminar One: Homer's The Odyssey |
1:15 pm | Poetry Cup & Camp Meeting |
1:35 pm | Snack Break |
1:45 pm | Seminar Two: William Carlos Williams' poems |
2:30 pm | Discussion Groups |
3:30 pm | Break |
4:00 pm | Pod Reading & Hangout |
5:00 p.m. | Afternoon Dismissal/Family Time |
7:00 p.m. | Special Events on Select Evenings |
Writer's Workshop Online
A stand-alone program or add to a week of Great Books Online.
Full-Week Intensive Writing Program
We offer one-week sessions of Writer's Workshop Online in addition to our traditional literary exploration programs. Gain valuable skills for personal essays and build your writing tool kit.
In these programs, aspiring young authors explore techniques, genres, and styles with a distinguished faculty of university instructors and accomplished writers. For students in Grades 6 - 8 and Grades 9 - 12.
Learn more

Meet our summer camp Academic Directors. The same distinguished faculty and scholars as our hallmark on-campus programs. They include:
- Dr. Ilan Stavans, Lewis-Sebring Professor of Humanities, Latin American and Latino Cultures at Amherst College.
- Dr. Amanda Lagji, assistant professor of English and World Literature at Pitzer College, one of the Claremont Schools.
- Max Suechting, a doctoral candidate in Stanford University’s Program in Modern Thought & Literature.
See more of our esteemed Great Books Online faculty.
Last Summer's Award-Winning Special Guest Speakers

Great Books is thrilled to continue the tradition of a summer guest speaker series sure to inspire, intrigue, and delight our students. Enroll now to meet some of the world's most talented writers and luminaries, while embarking on your exciting summer literary adventure. Learn more about these very special guests, and stay tuned for more announcements!
These award-winning and passionate intellectual leaders visit Great Books virtually and in-person to talk with students and share their invaluable stories and insights. Our amazing guest speakers include Pulitzer Prize winners and other thought leaders from the worlds of literature, publishing, journalism, film, and the arts.

More Weeks, More Learning
Great writers are great readers. Grow your reading and critical thinking skills by adding a week or more of Great Books Online literary exploration programs to your Writer’s Workshop sessions.
Tuition & Fees
Tuition rates for Great Books Online and Writers Workshop Online are $825 per week. Tuition includes a non-refundable deposit of $95. You can attend up to 5 weeks of online programs.
Get More Info!
You can reach us anytime via phone, text, email, or jumping on our website for a live chat. We're here to help!