Summer Enrichment Opportunities

List of 17 items.

• Study Skills Seminar

  Open to rising 9th and 10th graders; intended for incoming MSJ freshmen; other students accepted
  Cost: $150
  
  Sessions Offered
  

  June 21 – June 24

  Session 1:  8:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

  Session 2:  10:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

   

  June 27 – July 1

  Session 3:  8:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

  Session 4:  10:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

   

  July 11 – July 15

  Session 5:  8:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

  Session 6:  10:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. (THIS SESSION IS NOW FULL)
  

  
  The Study Skills Seminar is designed to introduce incoming 9^th grade and high school students to skills that are necessary for learning and lead to success in school. The program will focus on the effectiveness of these skills for many learning situations in everyday life as well as in school. For scheduling purposes, six different sessions of the same seminar are offered.

   

  Skills and topics:

  • Developing a positive attitude               
  • Setting goals                                        
  • Listening skills                                       
  • Time management                                 
  • Taking notes                                         
  • Memory techniques
  • Test-taking
  • Building vocabulary
  • Reading textbooks
  • Study techniques

• STEM Camp

  June 21-24, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
  Open to rising sophomores and juniors; MSJ students only
  Cost: $175 
   

  MSJ STEM Camp emphasizes fun while learning and will challenge students to exercise their creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills as they explore topics in physical and environmental sciences, biotechnology, engineering and applied mathematics through a variety of hands-on activities, laboratory investigations and contests, including but not limited to:  

  • Genetic Engineering 
  • Polymer Science 
  • Trajectory Motion
  • Nuclear Waste Disposal 
  • Cryptology 
  • Coding and Maker Space 
  • Model Roller Coaster Construction 

• Drama Camp

  Returning in Summer 2023  
  Open to rising 6th-12th graders; coed
  Cost: $375

   

  Join the Mount Saint Joseph Drama Program for our Summer Theatre Intensive. Performers will dance, sing, and act through the two-week journey concluding in a musical production. Each day will focus on the holistic development of the actor through exercises and rehearsal. All will continue to grow in their technique and performance skills. The final production will be open for all to attend.

• Genetics & Genomics

  Returning in Summer 2023  
  Open to rising juniors and seniors; coed

  Cost: $225
  
  

  For years, bacterial threats were countered by antibiotic “superdrugs” with the power to counter nearly any infection. Today, ‘superbugs’ with developed immunity to our commonly used antibiotics threaten everyday practices in medicine, agriculture, and beyond. In this summer research experience, students will explore the challenges facing scientists attempting to counter antibiotic resistance. They will observe the evolution of antibiotic resistance in the laboratory, and challenge bacteria with environmental stimuli to modify mutation rates. Students will also isolate bacteria from water and soil samples on the Mount Saint Joseph campus and local community and test these bacteria for antibiotic resistances. Students will be challenged to engage in a primary research experience, developing and testing their own hypotheses with fundamental experiments utilizing skills, tools and techniques including maintaining a modern lab notebook, sterile technique, bacterial isolation and culturing, Gram staining and microscopy, bacterial classification, bacterial transformation with antibiotic resistance plasmid, PCR gene amplification, and bioinformatics/sequence analysis (using data sets from pre-existing projects).

• Money $killz Personal Finance & Investment Camp

  June 27-July 1, 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
  Open to rising 8th-10th graders; coed
  Cost: $245
  
  Maximize your money! Success starts early so join this summer enrichment program to learn about compound interest, investing, credit, banking, behavioral economics, crypto currency, block chain, NFT's, taxes, and budgeting. Hands-on activities, games, and group work make learning fun and topics easy to understand. Set your future financials on the right track and build your confidence in money knowledge!
  

• Biodiversity & Patapsco Valley Watershed Camp

  Returning in Summer 2023  
  Open to rising 7th-12th graders; coed

  Cost: $245  
  
  

  Students will be introduced to various community ecology topics in a course divided into fieldwork at Patapsco Valley State Park, laboratory work on MSJ’s campus, and classroom discussion and analysis. By surveying tributaries of the Patapsco River according to Maryland Biology Stream Survey (MBSS) protocols, students will learn to assess water quality, stream bank erosion, identify macroinvertebrates, distinguish between native and invasive plants, and learn about issues facing the Chesapeake Bay watershed and how Maryland monitors the health of its water resources. In addition, students will learn how stream restoration protocols and other interventions help reduce sediment load and improve water quality.

• Algebra I Boot Camp

  June 27-July 1, July 5-8, 10:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
  Open to rising 9th and 10th graders; coed
  Cost: $175
  
  Could your algebra skills use a review? Do you need to improve your understanding of polynomials, factoring, and algebraic equations? Do you need help finding X? Then the Algebra I Boot Camp is for you! You will revisit factoring, systems of equations, graphing equations, and even the quadratic equation. And, yes, we will definitely find X!
  

• Field Trips of Faith

  Returning in Summer 2023
  Open to rising 9th-12th graders; coed
  Cost: $175 
  
  Join the MSJ Theology Department on tours of the following sites:
  

  • Basilica and Cathedral Mary Our Queen - Baltimore
  • National Shrine and Franciscan Monastery - Washington, DC
  • Grotto at Mount St. Mary’s / Elizabeth Ann Seton - Emmitsburg, MD
  • Shrine of St. Anthony - Ellicott City

• Fire Protection Engineering

  July 11-15, 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
  Open to rising juniors and seniors; coed
  Cost: $245

   

  Students will learn basic fire protection engineering principles. Students will begin with an overview of fire phenomena and learn about concepts including material flammability, compartmentation, ventilation, suppression, and detection. Once the foundation is established, students will work in teams to design a small-scale structure with fire detection and suppression systems designs. In this way, students will gain experience in creative design and construction while applying fire protection engineering fundamentals. The week culminates in a controlled burn test of the students’ structures (at facilities at the University of Maryland, College Park, if available). 
  
  

  Sponsored by UMD College Park. Corporate partner: LS Systems 

• Art with Adobe Photoshop®

  July 11-15, 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
  Open to rising 6th-10th graders; coed
  Cost: $245
  
  In this week-long studio session, students will explore the variety of ways that artists create using Adobe Photoshop®. In this introductory course (no experience necessary), students will learn the basic functions and interface of Photoshop as they create dynamic pieces in response to art problems, each of which are designed to teach technical skills, encourage experimentation, and ask students to think and reflect critically. Students will learn to take dynamic photographs and edit them professionally, bend reality by manipulating images in digital collage, illustrate monstrous creatures and eventually even learn to make your very own gif animation. Artists should come with excitement and a desire to explore the possibilities of digital art creation.
  

• National History Day

  July 11-15, 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
  Open to rising 7th-12th graders; coed
  Cost: $100
  
  

  This NHD seminar will allow students of all experience levels to get a jump start on their NHD projects for the fall. The program will start with an examination of the yearly NHD theme and the possibilities that it presents for project topics. Participants will also learn how to develop a thesis, conduct historical research, compose an annotated bibliography and select an effective project format.

• Model United Nations

  July 11-15, 12:30-2:00 p.m.
  Open to rising 7th-12th graders; coed
  Cost: $100
  
  The MUN seminar will cover research, writing, parliamentary procedure, interpersonal communication skills, and public speaking. Students will take part in at least two Model UN conference simulations. The seminar will be tailored to accommodate all experience levels.

• Xaverian Leadership Institute

  July 11-15, 12:00-3:00 p.m.
  Open to rising 10th-12th graders; MSJ students only
  Cost: $175
  
  The Xaverian Leadership Institute is a one week summer leadership program open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors that is designed to be a challenging, fun, and enriching experience. Led by Mr. Bianco, Mr. Ader, and Ms. Gallagher, the XLI seeks to develop 21st century leaders faithful to the Xaverian charism. Attendees will participate in seminars, creative brainstorming, small and large group discussions, and team building activities. Students will have the opportunity to hear from outside speakers while gaining practical skills in leadership. This program emphasizes:
  

  • Developing transformational and servant leaders
  • Evaluating personal strengths and weaknesses
  • Learning to fail and responding to failure
  • Practical applications of leadership
  • Catholic and Xaverian values and principles in leadership
  • Effective communication skills for leaders
  • Emotional intelligence: interaction with and impact on others
  • Conflict resolution
  • Importance of diversity in building teams
  • Goal Setting
  • Project planning and delegating
  • Developing soft skills: time and stress management, teamwork, critical and creative thinking, problem solving, etc.

• Middle School Xaverian Leadership Camp

  Returning in Summer 2023
  Open to rising 7th-9th graders; boys only
  Cost: $100
  
  The MSJ Middle School Leadership Camp is a three-day program open to rising 7th, 8th, and 9th graders. The camp offers an opportunity for students looking to grow in areas of leadership in a fun and challenging environment. Led by Mr. Bianco, Director of Student Life at MSJ, and other Mount faculty members, this program seeks to develop skills in leaders faithful to Catholic principles and values and the Xaverian charism. Attendees will participate in seminars, small group discussions, and team-building activities, and will also have the opportunity to hear from guest speakers. This program emphasizes basic leadership theory, the development of leadership skills, and values-based leadership.
  

• Creative Writing Camp

  July 18-22, 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
  Open to rising 9th-12th graders; coed
  Cost: $175
  
  Students will explore and write fiction, poetry, plays, and creative non-fiction (all the writing you often don’t get to do in school), and will show off their skills at the end of the week. Great opportunity for fun and a little writing practice in the summer!

• English Boot Camp

  July 18-22, July 25-28, 10:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
  Open to rising 9th and 10th graders; coed
  Cost: $175
  
  Review the skills you learned in middle school and learn new strategies for reading comprehension, grammar, and composition. During this course, you will read and write about interesting topics and draft your summer reading essay. Strengthen your skills so that you are ready for high school English.
  

• FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC) Robotics Camp

  July 25-29, 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
  Open to rising 8th and 9th graders; coed
  Cost: $245
  
  The Mount Saint Joseph Robotics Camp affords students the opportunity to design, build, program, and drive robots with FIRST^® Tech Challenge (FTC) approved kits. Participants will work in teams, along with current MSJ student mentors, to create a robot of original concept and objective.
  
  Supported by a grant from AFCEA-Central Maryland