Summer Camps & Programs

Program Description

Salem Spotlight at Salem Academy and College

Summer Academic Camps
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

		Program Description Program Overview Visit Web Site Get Free Info See Photos

For More Information, Contact
Salem Spotlight
Salem Academy and College
P.O. Box 10578
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27108-0578
800-883-1753 (toll-free)
http://spotlight.salem.edu
E-mail: spotlight@salem.edu

Type of Program: Academic enrichment
Participants: Girls entering grades 8–12
Enrollment: 75 students each session
Program Dates: Multiple two-week sessions in June, July, and August
Head of Program: Douglas Murphy, Program Coordinator

Location

Salem Spotlight at Salem Academy and College is located in beautiful Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Spotlight takes full advantage of Salem Academy and College’s historic campus as well as the bustling neighboring areas. Located 80 miles northeast of Charlotte, Winston-Salem is one of the most culturally active cities in the nation, and Salem Spotlight students enjoy—and often participate in—many of the special offerings in town. Within a few hours of the campus are mountains for skiing, camping, or hiking; rivers for white-water rafting; and the beautiful beaches of North and South Carolina for sun and fun.

Background and Philosophy

Salem Academy and College created Spotlight as a premier summer academic enrichment program for young women, a natural extension of its rich heritage and institutional commitment dating back more than 235 years. Salem Academy and College, which was founded in 1772 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is the oldest girls’ school in continuous operation in the nation and shares an exquisite, historic 64-acre campus with Salem College, a liberal arts college for women. Spotlight is an opportunity for bright, intellectually curious young women from around the country to live and learn together in a place where extraordinary moments in ordinary days become treasured memories.

Program Offerings

Forensic Science In this program, students explore one of the fastest-growing and most exciting fields in science. From popular TV shows to Academy Award–winning movies, criminal investigations have become a national obsession. This course is an introduction to crime-scene investigation and the techniques and tools that are critical to analysis, operation, and gathering of evidence. The course re-creates the history of forensics, and students learn through case studies, fingerprinting, and the incredible variety of other tools and technology available to criminologists and investigators. At the conclusion of each course, students get to tackle a mock crime scene, collect evidence, link clues, and solve the mystery.
Writer’s Workshop Writing skills are essential to success in learning environments such as Salem Academy and College. By honing and improving her written voice, a student can enhance her ability to communicate with the world and to change it. The workshop focuses on mechanics, fiction, journalism, blogging, poetry, and journaling. This program is a comprehensive education in the craft of writing, and it outlines the lessons students need in order to be good writers. With careful attention to the development of each student, the Writer’s Workshop can improve the quality of writing for girls of all ages and skill levels.
Fine Arts Regardless of a student’s skill level when she arrives, Salem Spotlight staff members challenge her abilities to excel. The instructors understand that many fine arts students already have a favorite medium or style. Students in a chosen area of study can continue to develop those skills—in addition to participating in the other art modules—while identifying new talents and interests and broadening their artistic horizons. The course includes photography, painting, drawing, mixed media, collage, and more. Each session concludes with a student-run gallery exhibition showing the best of each girl’s work.
Journalism Spotlight’s journalism course trains girls in a wide range of analytic thinking and writing skills. Students leave this course equipped with the tools needed for successful journalism—tools that are also of great benefit in essay and nonfiction writing. Students can apply abilities gained in this class to anything from college application essays to blog entries; well-trained writers are increasingly in demand and appreciated in today’s rapidly growing information society. Students learn the techniques of interviewing and reporting though fun, real-world projects. Part of the excitement of journalism is its variety of field assignments; students have many opportunities to get out of the classroom and discover stories for themselves. Instructors also provide a solid background in basic journalistic practices, with a focus on the unique structures of journalistic essays and house styles, as well as techniques used in specific subject fields such as feature, sports, and editorial writing.
Spanish Language and Culture Most students who are learning Spanish read books, work on grammar, and study vocabulary; however, few get the chance to immerse themselves in the culture, food, customs, or vernacular that make the language unique. Salem Spotlight’s Spanish program is designed to pick up where a student’s traditional Spanish class ends. Rote memorization can ultimately drive students away from foreign-language study; the goal of this program is to immerse students in the Spanish language and culture. Personal interviews with each student determine the level of individualized study and expectations for their two weeks. In each session, Spanish students can look forward to a special evening out with their friends and teacher hosted by an authentic Spanish restaurant, and there are additional academic trips to important Spanish-speaking locations.
Environmental Studies Environmental science introduces students to the study of the interactions among the physical, chemical, and biological components of the environment, with a special focus on the pressing current issues of global warming, the food system, and environmental degradation. This interdisciplinary field draws upon knowledge from areas such as economics, ethics, and social sciences; instructors take advantage of its breadth in order to offer girls avenues into a number of disciplines, making the class much more than a straightforward science course. The course’s flexibility allows girls who are interested in specific areas, such as biodiversity, renewable energy, or hydrogen technologies, to investigate them deeply. On field trips around Winston-Salem to fields, streams, and other natural areas, students explore a variety of interrelated topics in environmental policy, economics, and ethics and come to see the hidden mechanisms that affect the Earth. Innovative, interesting lab work supplements the students’ field studies.
Business and Leadership A complicated and necessary responsibility of citizens involves identifying a need for change, participating in creating that change, and leading one’s community to the successful expression thereof. It takes enormous courage to accept the responsibility of leadership. This course explores various dimensions of business and leadership, including the intersection of the pragmatic, such as economics, with the personal. It also examines major themes and concepts in business, such as marketing strategies and long-term financial stability. The group creates a mock business and then devises a cohesive business plan for the company. In addition, the course focuses on the nature of leadership through self-expression and personal growth.
Performing Arts Spotlight’s Performing Arts program has something for everyone—from students who are newly interested in acting to those who are in every school play and are looking to improve their skills. Students can learn the most valuable “tricks of the trade,” including how to get up on stage for the first time without freezing. Tips for quickly memorizing lines and improving improvisational skills for those unforeseeable mid-play goofs are also favorite topics. Through one-on-one work with her teacher and collaborating with new friends, each student develops her skills from a platform of three critical performing arts building blocks: acting, improvisation, and dramatic acting. Spotlight’s ideal location allows participants to visit some of the city’s top performing arts groups, including the Winston-Salem Symphony, the Wachovia Little Symphony, the Piedmont Opera Theatre, the Little Theatre, and the Piedmont Chamber Singers.
Psychology This course is perfect for students who are fascinated by or curious about the inner workings of the mind. It begins with the themes central to the study of psychology. It then delves deeper into two of the most fascinating areas of study: social psychology and abnormal psychology. The curriculum is designed to give students broad exposure to the many areas of study in psychology, and course work is pursued both in the classroom and in real-world settings. The focus on social psychology uses both the classroom and unique social experiments to explore this topic: how will other members of the campus community react to various staged situations—and why?

Daily Schedule

	Though actual schedules may vary, the following is a typical schedule for program participants.
	7:45–8:45 9:00–10:15 10:15–10:30 10:30–11:45 12:00–1:00 1:15–3:15 3:30–4:45 5:00–6:00 6:15–7:30 8:00–10:30 11:00 Breakfast Classroom Session I Morning break Classroom Session II Lunch Afternoon activities Classroom session III Dinner Evening Seminar Movies, games, free time Students in rooms (most nights)

Extra Opportunities and Activities

Every year, all Salem Spotlight students go on two fun and exciting field trips. Staff members are always working on new and stimulating field trips for Salem Spotlight in order to create the most rewarding excursions possible. This year, plans include trips to an amusement park and a concert or a day trip to one of the great neighboring areas.
    Course-specific off-campus field trips are organized to make the most of North Carolina and its surrounding attractions. Living History students spend time at Old Salem, while the young entrepreneurs from Business and Leadership head straight to Charlotte for a meeting with top executives at Wachovia Corporation’s world headquarters.

Facilities

All girls live in the remodeled McMichael Residence Hall, which adjoins Salem Academy’s housing. It features modern suite-style rooms and common study and social lounges. Students are supervised by teachers who live in the dorms with the students.

Staff

The heart and soul of Spotlight is its incredible staff. Outgoing and intelligent, the teachers are both great role models and caring, compassionate mentors. They are present at all times, live in the dorms with the students, and encourage every girl to make friends, have fun, and learn. The maximum student-teacher ratio is 8:1, ensuring each student receives the most of her time spent at Spotlight.

Medical Care

Medical care is available 24 hours a day at nearby hospital facilities. All participants must submit comprehensive medical forms and proof of insurance.

Costs

In 2008, the tuition for each two-week session was $2395. This included all instruction, instructional materials, breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day; a dorm room with linens; self-service laundry facilities; all sports and recreational activities; transportation for sponsored trips; admission tickets to excursion destinations; and total 24-hour supervision for the duration of each camp session. In addition, there was a $100 field-trip account that allocated spending money to each student for field trips.

Financial Aid

No financial aid is available at this time.

Transportation

Airport pick-up and drop-off are available from Greensboro Airport (GSO) for an additional fee.

Application Timetable

Inquiries are welcome at any time. Applications are accepted until June 1. After June 1, acceptance to the program is based on availability, and applications must include a late fee of $100.