Summer Enrichment Opportunities

Overview

Students are invited to participate in the several camps and enrichment seminars offered this summer. Please read the descriptions for information on specific age ranges; all programs are coed. Minimum and maximum enrollments may apply for some programs.

Schedule

Week of June 15 Study Skills (Sessions 1 & 2)
Week of June 22 Pathways Through American History | Algebra & English Boot Camps (Session 1)
Week of June 29 Xaverian Leadership Institute | Lego Robotics | Algebra & English Boot Camps (Session 1)
Week of July 6 Cartoon & Graphic Novels | Middle School Leadership | Fire Protection Engineering | Environmental Leadership
Week of July 13 Sports & STEM | Jazz Band | STEM Camp | Fire Protection Engineering (Session 2)
Week of July 20 Money Skills and Investment | Model UN & Mock Trial | Study Skills (Session 3)
Week of July 27 Gael Robotics Camp | Performing Arts | Algebra & English Boot Camps (Session 2) | Study Skills (Sessions 4 & 5)
Week of August 3 National History Day | Algebra & English Boot Camps (Session 2) | Study Skills (Session 6)

Grades 4-6

List of 4 items.

Cartoon & Graphic Novel Design Camp

July 6-9, 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Open to rising 4th-6th graders; coed
Cost: $140

Do you love comics or graphic novels and have ideas for making your own? In this week-long camp, campers will read and explore different short form comics with the goal of writing their own. Campers will read and explore age-appropriate graphic novels while learning how stories are told through sequential art using panels, action, dialogue, and visual storytelling.

Students will create their own original comics and short graphic stories, developing characters and story ideas from start to finish. Along the way, they’ll strengthen reading comprehension, writing, and creative visual thinking in an encouraging, hands-on environment. No prior experience is required — just imagination and a love of storytelling and drawing.
Gael Robotics Workshop
July 27-31, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Open to rising 6th-9th graders; coed
Cost: $300

Step into the world of robotics and making at the Gael Robotics Workshop—a full-day, hands-on camp hosted at MSJ in partnership with STEM Space! This camp is designed for curious and creative rising 6th–9th graders who want to build, experiment, and discover new skills in robotics and making.

Camp Highlights:
- Design & Build Robots: Work in small teams to brainstorm, assemble, and experiment with a range of robotics projects using accessible materials.
- Hands-On Maker Challenges: Take on daily robotics and maker challenges that encourage problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork.
- Explore Digital Fabrication: Learn the basics of digital design and bring your ideas to life with rapid prototyping!
- Campus Exploration: Enjoy guided tours of unique MSJ features, such as the hydroponics farm and innovation spaces.
- Mentorship: Benefit from high school and college volunteers assisting as camp mentors and helpers, providing guidance and support throughout the week.
Who Should Attend: Open to rising 6th–9th graders. No prior robotics or maker experience needed—just curiosity and a willingness to try new things! All materials provided.
Lego Robotics Camp

This camp is now full.
June 30-July 2, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Open to rising 4th-6th graders; coed
Cost: $125

The Lego Robotics camp at MSJ is hands on, practical, and fun! Students will engage in problem solving, agile production, and critical thinking through a beloved physical medium. By building, coding, and revising their robots, students will develop skills in engineering and computer science all while having a great time exercising their creativity and fine motor skills.
Sports & STEM Camp

July 13-16, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Open to rising 4th-6th graders
Cost: $300

Spend your mornings on the athletic fields and courts of Mount Saint Joseph High School—and your afternoons in our STEM labs!

This unique week-long camp gives students the chance to participate in a variety of athletic activities each day, including basketball, football, soccer, volleyball, baseball, track & field, pickleball, and more. In the afternoon, students will tap into their curiosity as they take on hands-on engineering challenges and exciting science experiments.

Grades 7-9

List of 10 items.

Gael Robotics Workshop
July 27-31, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Open to rising 6th-9th graders; coed
Cost: $300

Step into the world of robotics and making at the Gael Robotics Workshop—a full-day, hands-on camp hosted at MSJ in partnership with STEM Space! This camp is designed for curious and creative rising 6th–9th graders who want to build, experiment, and discover new skills in robotics and making.

Camp Highlights:
- Design & Build Robots: Work in small teams to brainstorm, assemble, and experiment with a range of robotics projects using accessible materials.
- Hands-On Maker Challenges: Take on daily robotics and maker challenges that encourage problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork.
- Explore Digital Fabrication: Learn the basics of digital design and bring your ideas to life with rapid prototyping!
- Campus Exploration: Enjoy guided tours of unique MSJ features, such as the hydroponics farm and innovation spaces.
- Mentorship: Benefit from high school and college volunteers assisting as camp mentors and helpers, providing guidance and support throughout the week.
Who Should Attend: Open to rising 6th–9th graders. No prior robotics or maker experience needed—just curiosity and a willingness to try new things! All materials provided.
Jazz Camp

July 13-16, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Open to rising 7th-12th graders; coed
Cost: $160

The summer jazz camp at Mount Saint Joseph is an exciting week-long camp for brass and woodwind players, guitarists, pianists, bassists and drummers (6th-12th). The camp provides an opportunity to play jazz for those new to the genre as well as to further develop skills for those who have experience already. Students will learn tunes and improvise solos using lead sheets as well as playing actual big band style charts, covering the different styles such as swing, latin, funk and fusion. All levels are welcome.
Middle School Leadership Camp

July 7-9, 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Open to rising 7th-9th graders; coed
Cost: $140

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 Mount faculty members and upperclassmen, 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.
Mock Trial Seminar

July 22-23, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Open to rising 7th-12th graders; coed
Cost: $110

The Mock Trial seminar will cover research, writing, debate procedures, interpersonal communication skills, and public speaking. Students will take part in at least two Mock Trial simulations. The seminar will be tailored to accommodate all experience levels.Consider coupling this experience with the Model United Nations camp, which runs M/T of this week.
Model United Nations Camp

July 20-21, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Open to rising 7th-12th graders; coed
Cost: $110

The Model United Nations Camp 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. Consider coupling this experience with the Mock Trial seminar, which runs W/Th of this week.
Money $killz Personal Finance & Investment Camp

July 20-23, 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Open to rising 7th-10th graders; coed
Cost: $190

Maximize your money! Success starts early so join this summer enrichment program to learn about compound interest, investing, credit, banking, behavioral economics, cryptocurrency, blockchain, 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!
National History Day Seminar

August 4-6, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Open to rising 7th-9th graders; coed
Cost: $160

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.
Pathways Through American History

June 22-25, 9:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m.
Rising 7th-12th graders, coed
$260

Walk where soldiers marched on iconic Civil War battlefields; step onto hallowed ground and feel the weight of history. Teacher-led tours will bring the past to life as you discover hidden stories, understand diverse perspectives, and draw parallels to today's world. You’ll learn to honor the past, to challenge myths, and the importance of preserving factual historical narratives for our national community.

*Final itineraries to be determined and shared with registrants at a later date. Antietam and Gettysburg battle fields, Museum of African American History in DC, as well as Walking tour of historic Philadelphia (Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and hopefully the Reading Terminal Market for lunch) are on the initial agenda.
Performing Arts Seminar

July 27-29, 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Open to rising 7th-9th graders; coed
Cost: $200

Join the Mount Saint Joseph Theatre Program for our Acting Workshop! Each day students will sharpen their skills by experimenting with the roles of actor, director, or tech to help them expand their knowledge of how theatre works. Students will work together in groups to put together a short skit that incorporates what they learn into their performance. By the end of the workshop, the performers will be more prepared to take the stage for their next audition or performance with confidence and skill!
STEM Camp
July 13-16, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Open to rising 7th-9th graders; coed
Cost: $210
MSJ STEM Camp blends hands-on fun with meaningful learning, challenging students to think creatively, collaborate effectively, and solve real-world problems. Throughout the week, students explore concepts from engineering, biotechnology, physical science, environmental science, and applied mathematics through engaging laboratory investigations, design challenges, and friendly competitions. Camp activities include:
- Race car design
- Genetic engineering
- Polymer chemistry
- Nuclear waste disposal
- Water filtration and environmental testing
- Roller coaster design
- Electrical engineering

Study Skills Seminars & Boot Camps (Grades 9-10)

List of 3 items.

Algebra I Boot Camp

Session 1: June 22-25 and June 29-July 2, 10:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Session 2: July 27-30 and August 3-6, 8:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

Open to rising 9th and 10th graders; coed
Cost: $250

Could your algebra skills use a review? Are you seeking practice that will help you transition successfully into your high school math class? Do you need help finding X? Then the Algebra I Boot Camp is for you! We will work with solving equations, simplifying expressions, manipulating and graphing linear functions, and dealing with exponents, monomials and fractions. And, yes, we will definitely find X!
English Boot Camp

Session 1: June 22-25 and June 29-July 2, 8:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Session 2: July 27-30 and August 3-6, 10:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Open to rising 9th graders; coed
Cost: $250

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.
Study Skills Seminar
Open to rising 9th and 10th graders; intended for incoming MSJ freshmen; other students accepted
Cost: $150

Sessions Offered

June 15-18
Session 1: 8:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Session 2: 10:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

July 20-23
Session 3: 10:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

July 27-30
Session 4: 8:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Session 5: 10:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

August 3-6
Session 6: 10:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

The Study Skills Seminar is designed to introduce incoming 9^thgrade 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

Grades 10-12

List of 8 items.

Environmental Leadership Summer Seminar

July 6-10, 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
(Overnight portion of camp runs July 8-10)
Rising 10th-12th Graders
Cost: $425 total ($350 for camp and $75 for food during overnight trip)

Canoe through marshes, stay overnight at the Karen Noonan Environmental Education Center in Crocheron, MD, learn about local watersheds, experience life and work on the Chesapeake Bay, and contribute to an environmental action project. The Environmental Leadership Seminar offers all these experiences and more!

Students begin the Environmental Leadership Seminar by investigating our local Gwynn’s Falls watershed and school campus. Participants will conduct habitat surveys, water quality assessments, and make observations about the health of our local watershed. Then, students will participate in a three-day, overnight trip to the Karen Noonan Center. During this time, students will participate in programming from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, which will include learning about the history and culture of the Chesapeake Bay region, as well as exploring and learning about the local ecosystems. Finally, students will demonstrate their knowledge by designing an environmental action project to be implemented during the 2026-2027 school year.
Fire Protection Engineering Camp

[SOLD OUT] Session 1: July 6-10, 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Session 2: July 13-17, 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
*Note: Session 2 will run as long as sufficient enrollment is met. Families will be notified either way and refunded if enrollment is not met.*

Open to rising 11^th and 12^th graders, as well as advanced rising 10th graders with strong interest; coed
Cost: $325

The Fire Protection Engineering Design Challenge (FPEDC) camp is a week-long design and construction camp that ends in a team competition. In teams of 3 or 4, participants will design, test and build a two-room apartment along with the notification, detection and suppression systems in that apartment. The teams will bring their apartments to be fire-tested in a competition at the end of the week in the University of Maryland fire labs.

Sponsored by Sciens Building Solutions
Jazz Camp

July 13-16, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Open to rising 7th-12th graders; coed
Cost: $160

The summer jazz camp at Mount Saint Joseph is an exciting week-long camp for brass and woodwind players, guitarists, pianists, bassists and drummers (6th-12th). The camp provides an opportunity to play jazz for those new to the genre as well as to further develop skills for those who have experience already. Students will learn tunes and improvise solos using lead sheets as well as playing actual big band style charts, covering the different styles such as swing, latin, funk and fusion. All levels are welcome.
Mock Trial Seminar

July 22-23, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Open to rising 7th-12th graders; coed
Cost: $110

The Mock Trial seminar will cover research, writing, debate procedures, interpersonal communication skills, and public speaking. Students will take part in at least two Mock Trial simulations. The seminar will be tailored to accommodate all experience levels.Consider coupling this experience with the Model United Nations camp, which runs M/T of this week.
Model United Nations Camp

July 20-21, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Open to rising 7th-12th graders; coed
Cost: $110

The Model United Nations Camp 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. Consider coupling this experience with the Mock Trial seminar, which runs W/Th of this week.
Money $killz Personal Finance & Investment Camp

July 20-23, 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Open to rising 7th-10th graders; coed
Cost: $190

Maximize your money! Success starts early so join this summer enrichment program to learn about compound interest, investing, credit, banking, behavioral economics, cryptocurrency, blockchain, 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!
Pathways Through American History

June 22-25, 9:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m.
Rising 7th-12th graders, coed
$260

Walk where soldiers marched on iconic Civil War battlefields; step onto hallowed ground and feel the weight of history. Teacher-led tours will bring the past to life as you discover hidden stories, understand diverse perspectives, and draw parallels to today's world. You’ll learn to honor the past, to challenge myths, and the importance of preserving factual historical narratives for our national community.

*Final itineraries to be determined and shared with registrants at a later date. Antietam and Gettysburg battle fields, Museum of African American History in DC, as well as Walking tour of historic Philadelphia (Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and hopefully the Reading Terminal Market for lunch) are on the initial agenda.
Xaverian Leadership Institute
June 29-July 1, 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Open to rising 10th-12th graders; coed
Cost: $200

The Xaverian Leadership Institute is a three-day summer leadership program open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors that is designed to be a challenging, fun, and enriching experience. This leadership camp 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.