2023 AQ Summer Camps

2023 Aquinas College Summer Camps

We can't wait to have you back on our beautiful campus this summer for these fun and highly interactive camps!

Your adventures at the 2023 Aquinas College Summer Camps are about to begin!

Immerse yourself in our fun, inclusive, and “hands-on” summer camps: From Seriously Fun Jazz and Innovative Science Explorations to Playful Art Creations and building your own fantasy world in an epic Roleplay Gaming Adventure!

Enjoy the safe and nurturing environment of our beautiful, park-like campus while exploring new skills, making new friends, and creating lasting memories!

Week-long day and overnight camp options are available.

  • Are you a Jazz enthusiast who would like to learn the fundamentals of Jazz, explore big bands, and arrange your own Jazz composition - all while having fun playing with other Jazz musicians?
  • Maybe you are a budding scientist and engineer who loves to solve challenging design problems? How about building your own (marble) roller coaster? Calling all creative minds for this fun and interactive “hands-on” camp!
  • Do you like to play with mud and explore one of the most ancient arts in the world, while also learning to create your very own pit-fired ceramics artifact?
  • How about a truly magical day or overnight camp of epic proportions, where YOU are the hero?! Aquinas College's Roleplay Gaming (RPG) Camp (formerly D&D Camp) returns - so don't wait! Join AQ's “Masters” who will teach you to create your own unique fantasy universe, bring to life heroic characters and diabolical villains, and ultimately lead you through a dramatic encounter of your very own design. If you like Dungeons & Dragons, art, gaming, theater, or fantasy literature, you’ll love earning your "Dungeon Master's" degree from Aquinas this summer!

Located just 2 miles from downtown Grand Rapids, the park-like atmosphere and natural beauty of Aquinas’ 107 wooded acres campus play an integral part for our campers’ experience. They provide a sense of place, and a safe and nurturing environment. Under the guidance of our experienced camp directors -- all of them are Aquinas faculty and staff -- teaching and learning, exploration and reflection take place both indoors and outdoors.

Register for the Jazz Camp Now

Register for the Science Camp Now

Register for the Ceramics Camp Now -- sorry, as of June 23. the Ceramics Camp has been canceled for 2023

Register for the Roleplay Gaming Camp Now

 

AQ SUMMER JAZZ CAMP

Jazz CampThe very popular AQ Summer Jazz Camp has been a true treasure for West Michigan students for close to 40 years. The faculty of the AQ Music Department in collaboration with expert Jazz musicians from various parts of Michigan, are very excited to host the annual Summer Jazz Camp again in 2023, coming back stronger than ever with this creative, expressive, and educational experience that has been enjoyed by so many young musicians!

SCHOLARSHIPS:
This year, the AQ Summer Jazz Camp offers 10 half-tuition scholarships for students who are completing grades 6-8 and have high financial needs. Interested campers can apply here. Scholarship Application Deadline: May 1, 2023.

WHEN:
Sunday, June 11 – Friday, June 16, 2023
Sun., June 11 | 2:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Mon., June 12 – Fri., June 16 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

WHERE:
Aquinas College Art & Music Center at Aquinas College

FOR:
Grades 6 through 12

HIGHLIGHTS:
Combos, big bands, faculty concerts, concerts featuring students with Faculty, Master classes and electives

CHOICES:

  • Jazz theory & analysis 
  • Jazz composing & arranging
  • Jazz styles & rhythmic exploration
  • Jazz keyboard accompaniment 
  • Jazz styles & performance techniques (interpretation and improvisation)

INSTRUCTORS:
All camp instructors are recognized jazz masters whose careers as teachers and players are well established and widely respected.

COST:
$300 (until April 1)
$325 (until May 15)
$350 (until June 1*)
The camp fee includes all materials, classes, lunches & a camp T-Shirt!
*After June 1, registrations will be accepted on a case-by-case basis. 

CONTACT:
Dr. Tom Polett, Camp Director
Professor of Music
tcp001@aquinas.edu | 217-242-8702

REGISTRATION:
Here via Eventbrite

The Aquinas College Music Department is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

 

AQ SAINTS SCIENCE CAMP

Summer 2022 Science Camp

The AQ Science faculty are excited to host the AQ Saints Science Camp again this year, building on our tradition of offering creative, fun and interactive “hands-on” summer science programs. We seek to inspire campers with awe and wonder about the beauty and complexity of nature, and we also begin to plant the seeds of "service through science." Science is all around us, and we look forward to exploring scientific challenges with you, and finding answers to design and engineering questions. We especially look forward to welcoming our new "class" of campers to our brand-new and stunning state-of-the art science building, better known as the Albertus Magnus Hall of Science!

SCHOLARSHIPS:
Thanks to a Donor Scholarship, Aquinas College has 10 full-tuition scholarships available to students who are entering grades 5 through 8, and who have high financial needs. 

Interested campers can apply here. Scholarship Application Deadline: May 1, 2023.

WHEN:
Week #1 Monday, June 12 – Friday, June 16, 2023 > grades 5-7 Mon – Fri 9:00 a.m. – noon
Week #2 Monday, June 26 – Friday, June 30, 2023 > grades 6-8 Mon – Fri 9:00 a.m. – noon

WHERE:
Albertus Magnus Hall of Science at Aquinas College

FOR:
Grades 5 through 8

HIGHLIGHTS:
Week #1 (grades 5-7), for new campers:

  • Design a toothpick bridge and test its strength
  • Use your critical thinking skills to design and build a roller coaster
  • Learn about nature’s design and how animals cope with challenges

Week #2 (grades 6-8), for new or returning campers from 2022

  • Explore the science of motion by designing an obstacle course
  • Learn about animals sounds and how animals defend themselves with sounds
  • Build catapults and cantilevers and test their strength
  • Create your own cool inventions!

COST:
$225 per student*
The camp fee includes all materials, supplies, classes & a camp T-Shirt!
*After June 1, registrations will be accepted on a case-by-case basis.

CONTACT:
Sr. Damien Marie Savino, Camp Director
Dean of Science and Sustainability
dms002@aquinas.edu | 616-632-2056

REGISTRATION:
Here via Eventbrite

SPONSOR:

DTE Foundation

Science Camp at Aquinas College is supported by the DTE Energy Foundation

 

AQ CERAMICS CAMP

Update from June 23, 2023 -- Sorry for the late notice, but this year's Ceramics Camp has been canceled due to unforeseen circumstances. Our apologies. For those who have already registered, you will get a full refund.

Ceramics Camp 2022

Do you like to play in the mud? In this fun and creative art camp, you will learn the fundamentals and techniques of working with wet clay and the traditional pit-fire experience, while enjoying plenty of instructor-led practice time that guides you in creating and unearthing your very own ceramic artifact! At the end of this 4-week AQ Ceramics Camp - which is offered once a week on Wednesdays - you'll have a good understanding of and connection to ceramics, while having tons of fun!

WHEN:
Wednesdays, July 5, 12, 19, and 26 | 9:00 a.m. – noon

WHERE:
Art and Music Center at Aquinas College

FOR:
Grades 6 through 12

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Discover one of the oldest, most fascinating & respected crafts
  • Learn step-by-step hand-building basics of working with wet clay
  • Explore processes and techniques of traditional pit-fired ceramics
  • Create your own unique ceramic artifact

COST:
$225 per student*
The camp fee includes all materials, classes, snacks & a camp T-Shirt!
*After June 1, registrations will be accepted on a case-by-case basis.

CONTACT:
Jamey Limbers, Camp Director
Ceramics Artist & Adjunct Professor of Art
jtl003@aquinas.edu | 517-490-9165

SPONSOR:
This activity is sponsored in part by the Aquinas College Art Department.

 

AQ Roleplay Gaming (RPG) CAMP

AQ Roleplaying GamingPrepare for an adventure of epic proportions!

Aquinas College's Roleplay Gaming (RPG) Camp (formerly D&D Camp) returns! Faculty and staff “Masters” will teach your adventurer to create their own unique fantasy universe, bring to life heroic characters and diabolical villains, and ultimately lead other adventurers through a dramatic encounter of their very own design. If you like Dungeons & Dragons, art, gaming, theater, or fantasy literature, you’ll love earning your Dungeon Master's degree from Aquinas this summer! Designed for novices and experienced players alike.

SCHOLARSHIPS:

The AQ Department of Communication is offering a limited number of partial scholarships to students with high financial need. Interested campers can apply here. Scholarship Application Deadline: July  1, 2023.

WHEN:
Session #1 Monday, July 17–Thursday, July 20, 2023 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Session #2 Friday, July 21– Sunday, July 23, 2023 | Overnight Camp for grades 9–12 only
Session #3 Monday, July 24–Thursday, July 27, 2023 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

WHERE:
Jarecki Lacks Center at Aquinas College

FOR:
Grades 6 through 12

HIGHLIGHTS:
Your adventure includes courses like:

  • Stage Combat
  • Improv acting
  • Mapmaking
  • Storytelling
  • Creating epic characters
  • Painting, drawing, and visual arts
  • Miniatures
  • Digital role playing games and eSports
  • Monster menageries and magical items

Each camper will receive all* materials necessary to build their worlds including:

  • A full set of polyhedral dice and a dice bag
  • Folder, notebook, mechanical pencil
  • Pre-generated character sheets
  • 3D and 2D miniature figurine(s) and base(s)
  • Dungeons and encounters
  • Monster card(s) and tokens
  • Magic Item card(s)
  • Camp t-shirt
  • Lunch and snacks each day
  • Special surprises!

* Each camper will benefit from access to the “Dungeons & Dragons: Players Handbook” (5th Ed., either electronic or print), which is available from dndbeyond.com or fine bookstores everywhere. If campers already have copies of the D&D (5th Ed.) “Monster Manual” and/or “Dungeon Master’s Guide,” they may bring those as well.

COST:
$300 per adventurer (Day Camp)*
$450 per adventurer (Overnight /Sleepaway Camp)*
*Fee includes all materials, supplies, classes, snacks, lunch, and a camp T-Shirt!
After July 1, registrations will be accepted on a case-by-case basis.

CONTACT:
Dr. Ian Borton, Headmaster and Camp Director
Professor of Communication
imb001@aquinas.edu | 419-308-7858

REGISTRATION:
Here via Eventbrite

SPONSOR:
This activity is sponsored in part by the Aquinas College Department of Communication.

To learn more and get the latest updates about the Aquinas 2023 Summer Camps, please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.