Camp That’s Intense, Not in Tents: Coding and Learning at the Wolfram Summer Camp

Summer camp. To some, the words paint an idyllic picture of sitting around a smoky campfire and telling spooky stories. But summer camp has shifted its meaning over the years. No longer just a place for camp songs or friendship bracelets, summer camp can be a wonderful way to explore interests, develop new skills and make lifelong friendships.

While the traditional summer camp model has its place, some students want something different. Perhaps they’re bursting with ideas and want to spend their free time cranking out lines of code. Maybe they’ve got a burning entrepreneurial drive and a love of technology. If so, the Wolfram Summer Camp might be the camp for them.

What Is the Wolfram Summer Camp?

Tucked away in Waltham, Massachusetts, a city on the outskirts of Boston, is Bentley University. From July 1–July 14, it will be the site of a summer camp started by Stephen Wolfram, the founder of Wolfram Research. This camp, aptly named the Wolfram Summer Camp, is a chance for high schoolers under the age of 18 to dive deep into big ideas.

Instead of shrinking down summer break into lazy days, this two-week camp allows campers to tackle projects based around real-world concepts. Campers give ideas tangible form through the Wolfram Language. By the end of camp, they’ll leave with a project demo — and the skills needed to further future projects.

All manner of interests is welcome. Previous campers have covered a dizzying spectrum of ideas, from music theory to puzzle creation and more. Some of their projects can be viewed here, and their thoughts on their experiences can be found on the camp’s alumni page. The alumni page features campers from last year’s 2017 session all the way back to 2012.

The Camp Wolfram Experience

What is the Wolfram Summer Camp actually like, though? Is it just a bunch of dreary days spent in a dull classroom?

Former camper Katie Orenstein shared her thoughts on her camp experience in an article called “Letter Home from Camp Wolfram,” posted on the WIRED blog. In the article, she gives a rundown of the classes and lectures she attended — and why they were so fun and rewarding. It’s true that the Wolfram Summer Camp is primarily education driven, but as Orenstein points out, for many Gen-Z students, that’s exactly what they want. They want to better their already innate knowledge of technology, and they want to use that knowledge to further their goals. At one point in her article, she even says, “Having grown up with our devices, we are almost required — instinctually — to be creative with them.”

The classrooms at the Wolfram Summer Camp are led by teachers with a wide range of experience. Although there are plenty of lectures, and plenty of classrooms, the camp is set up to be project based. The result is akin to a science salon in the Age of Enlightenment, with staffers and campers alike sharing ideas. For many students, this is an invigorating way to engage in critical thinking and learning.

And of course, classes aren’t all there is to camp: between listening to lectures and crunching code, campers have a chance to hang out with other students, talk through projects with mentors and explore the campus. There are even weekend field trips around the Boston area.

Camp Admissions

In some ways, the application process to attend the Wolfram Summer Camp mimics applying for a tech-centered job. Because the camp is project oriented, and because campers need a can-do attitude, the application comes in two parts: a questionnaire and a problem set.

Work at camp is rigorous, albeit rewarding, so STEM knowledge is necessary to follow along with the curriculum. Likewise, computational thinking is a vital component for breathing life into projects. Although knowing the Wolfram Language isn’t strictly necessary, understanding how to talk to computers through code is imperative.

It’s not just about raw talent, though. While campers are all individuals, with their own drives and desires, among them is a shared curiosity and a willingness to engage with new ideas. Admissions counselor Carol Cronin, who’s been involved with the camp for years, explains, “We regularly accept students with a wide variety of skills and experience. In fact, we are specifically looking for students who can bring their own unique perspectives to the program.”

After a prospective camper submits an application through the online form, they’ll receive a problem set. This problem set assesses logic and mathematical knowledge, ensuring that everyone has the proper foundational knowledge needed to succeed in the program. The Wolfram Summer Camp is designed so that all campers who attend are able to thrive, and that means that the camp must be thoughtful in its selection process.

While this may all sound daunting, Cronin encourages prospective campers to not be nervous, particularly about the problem set. “Not every question has a single correct answer — in fact, many of the most interesting questions do not! Some of the questions will require creative thinking and intuition, which is one reason we allow students up to two weeks to complete the problem set.”

Beyond the Wolfram Summer Camp

Alumni testimonials paint a rosy picture of camp. Many alums remark on the friendships they cultivated while coding and chatting well into the night. But what if a prospective camper just missed the age cutoff?

For prospective campers who’ve passed their 18th birthdays, Wolfram offers up another opportunity to engage in professional development: the Wolfram Summer School. Much like the Summer Camp, the Wolfram Summer School allows its students to tackle a wide range of technical projects. It also features dormitory-style accommodations, allowing students to mingle and develop similar connections to their Summer Camp counterparts.

If someone’s looking to challenge themselves, regardless of age, both the Wolfram Summer Camp and Wolfram Summer School offer launchpads for skill acquisition, technical growth and fun.

About the blogger:

Jesika Brooks

Jesika Brooks is an editor and bookworm with a Master of Library and Information Science degree. She works in the field of higher education as an educational technology librarian, assisting with everything from setting up Learning Management Systems to teaching students how to use edtech tools. A lifelong learner herself, she has always been fascinated by the intersection of education and technology. She edits the Tech-Based Teaching blog (and always wants to hear from new voices!).