Academic Summer Camps

List of 5 items.

• "Cav-Ademics” Learning Readiness Camp

  Description of Camp: 

  
  

  PART ONE: Incoming 9th Grade Students: 

  
  

  Archbishop Spalding High School and the Learning Resource Center invite incoming 9th-grade students to participate in a two-day Learning Readiness Camp designed to ease the transition to high school and build essential skills for academic success. This engaging program focuses on developing key executive function skills such as time management, organization, goal setting, and effective study strategies. Through interactive workshops and hands-on activities, students will practice planning assignments, managing schedules, and prioritizing tasks, setting a solid foundation for high school success. The camp also offers opportunities to familiarize students with school resources, connect with peers, and gain confidence as they embark on their high school journey. 

  
  

  PART TWO: Current 10th - 12th Grade Students: 

  
  

  For current Archbishop Spalding High School students, a two-day part two of the Learning Readiness Camp provides an opportunity to build on the executive function skills they have already developed. Through advanced workshops and collaborative activities directed by Learning Specialists and the Learning Resource Center, students will refine their strategies for managing complex assignments, balancing extracurricular commitments, and setting long-term academic and personal goals. Participants will also explore techniques for improving focus, resilience, and self-advocacy to tackle high school’s increasing demands with confidence. This program aims to enhance students’ skills, deepen their understanding of effective learning habits, and empower them to take ownership of their academic journey.

  
  

  With camp enrollment, each student will receive a “Cavademics” school supply bundle, ready-use resource access, and two First-Quarter group check-in meetings with their session’s Learning Specialists. 

  
  

  Dates:

  • July 21/23 - Pt. 1 Session A (M/W) 
  • July 22/24 - Pt. 1 Session B (Tu/Th) 
  • July 28/30 - Pt. 1 Session C (M/W)
  • July 29/31 -  Pt. 1 Session D (Tu/Th)
  • August 11/13 - Pt. 1 Session E (M/W)  
  • August 14/15 -  PT. 2 Session A (Tu/Th) 

  
  

  Times: 8:30 am - 2:30 pm 

  Location: Room 116 (Learning Resource Center)

  
  

  Price: $300 per student  

  
  

  Age Range: Pt.1 Sessions: Incoming 9th grade to ASHS; Pt. 2 Session: Current ASHS students (10th - 12th grade) 

  
  

  Max Enrollment Per Session: 20 

  
  

  Lunch: Bring Your Own bagged lunch; Snacks/ drinks provided throughout the day 
  
  Click Here to Register! 
  
  Please contact Shelby Smith for more information: Smiths@spaldinghs.org.
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  

• Art Summer Camp

  Art Camp 

  Students will use multiple arts and crafts media to create many 2D and 3D visual artworks. Exploration of media such as oil pastels, watercolor, and acrylic paints, plaster cast mask-making, printmaking, and process journaling. Students will learn about the elements and principles of design anchored in color theory. 

  
  

  Creative Visions: Advanced Art Camp

  Unleash your creativity and explore the foundations of visual art. This camp is a dynamic summer camp designed for teenagers passionate about art and design. Whether you're a budding artist or looking to refine your skills, this immersive experience will help you develop a strong understanding of the Principles of Art and Design. 

  
  
  

  Camp Date/Time: 

  • July 7-10 and July 14-17 (Art Camp) | 9 am - 3 pm 
  • July 21-24 (Advanced Art Camp) | 9 am - 3 pm 

  
  

  Ages/grades of students who can attend:

  • Art Camp - Ages 10 -14 (rising 6th to 9th grade)
  • Advanced Art Camp - Ages 13- 16 

   

  Price: 

  $400 - this includes funds to buy supplies

  
  Important Information:

  All students should pack a snack, lunch, and personal water bottle.
  
  

  Please contact Bill Ford for more information: fordw@spaldinghs.org.

  
  

  Camp Registration Link

• Creative Writing & Writing Competition Camp

  Dates: 

  Session 1 - June 23rd to June 27th

  Session 2 - July 14th - July 18th

  • Note: Both sessions will offer the same program.

  Cost: $360

  Time: 9 AM - 3 PM

  Location: Archbishop Spalding High School

  Age group: Rising 6th - Rising 9th grade students

  Materials: Students should bring with them each day a computer, charger, snack, lunch, water bottle, and optional money for vending machines.

   

  In this camp, students will hone their creative writing skills while also having an opportunity to polish and submit work to a couple of competitions, The Young Playwrights Festival and the Scholastic Awards Competition. For the past decade since I started helping students enter these competitions, at least one of my students has won an award in one or both competitions each year.

   

  The Program: 

  • Students will receive instruction and lessons on creative writing throughout the camp.  Students will have time to workshop their writing in small groups in addition to one-on-one time with Mrs. Fistere.  Each session will be capped at a maximum of 20 students to ensure plenty of one-on-one instruction.
  • Students will write a short story and a microfiction to submit to the Scholastic Writing Awards. This competition has a long standing history of recognizing prestigious writers and artists since 1923. More information about the competition can be found here: https://www.artandwriting.org/
  • Additionally, students will have opportunities to work with me to write, polish, and submit a 10 minute play to the Young Playwrights Festival, which is a free competition. The possible award for this competition is as follows: 1) student’s play earns one of six spots in the professional performance (professional actors perform the play at Baltimore's Center Stage), 2) student playwrights meet with directors to decide on stage design and other creative aspects of their play, 3) students are also invited to watch rehearsals,  and 4) students are invited on stage for applause on the night of the show

  • Mrs. Fistere will submit the writing for all campers.  Students are encouraged but not required to have their work submitted.

  • Students who want experience learning creative writing techniques, but are not interested in submitting work to a competition, are welcome to join the camp to hone their writing skills in playwriting and other forms of fiction writing.
  • Students will also learn how to write microfiction.

  
  

  Mrs. Allison Fistere - English Teacher

  Allison Fistere is a full-time English teacher at Archbishop Spalding High School.  She has over twenty years of teaching experience, ranging from grades 4 through 12.  She has experience teaching a variety of levels of English, including Honors Writing and Rhetoric, AP Language and Composition, CP World Literature, Aquinas World Literature, and over 12 years of experience teaching middle school English. For the past decade since she started helping students enter the Scholastic Writing Awards and the Young Playwrights Festival competitions, at least one of her students per year has won an award in one or both competitions. Mrs. Fistere holds a BA from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master’s degree from the University of Maryland, College Park. She loves creative writing and has been working on writing her own middle-grade fantasy novel. 

• SAT/ACT Camp

  Dates: June 9th - June 20th
  Cost: $650
  Time: See session times below!
  
  The Summer 2025 SAT/ACT Bootcamp is designed to prepare students for testing dates in the 2025-2026 summer & school year. 
  
  The Program: 
  

  • Consists of 10 sessions designed to increase each student's aptitude, comfort, and knowledge of the College Board SAT and ACT exams. Each session is capped at 25 students, which ensures individualized instruction and attention.
  • In the first session, students will take a diagnostic test to ascertain their base-level score. The following eight sessions will individually address each student's strengths and weaknesses. Classes will devote time to the math, verbal, grammar, and writing skills that students need to utilize on the test.
  • The tenth session will consist of a final diagnostic exam to ascertain the progress and accomplishments of each student.
  • Lastly, after the final session, an email will be sent out to each student outlining their growth from the course and giving them a continued plan of study.

  
  Sessions: (ALL CLASSES WILL TAKE PLACE IN ROOM 212)
  

  • June 9th - ACT or SAT Practice Test 1 – Diagnostic 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  • June 10th - Introduction/English I 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM
  • June 11th - English  II 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM 
  • June 12th - English III 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM 
  • June 13th - English IV / Science 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM
  • June 16th - Math I 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM
  • June 17th - Math II 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM
  • June 18th - Math III 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM
  • June 19th - Math IV 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
  • June 20th - ACT or SAT Practice Test 2 -  Diagnostic 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM post June 20th - Emailed Evaluations

  
  ***As part of the paid tuition for the course, students may attend any future Spalding SAT/ACT Prep session free of charge. For instance, if your student should take the course in the spring of his or her junior year and plan to take the test again during his or her senior year, they may drop in any course the following year.  We offer courses in the fall, spring, and summer every year.
  
  Staff:
  

  Ms. Katherine Mach - Course Coordinator and Department Chair, Mathematics 

  Katherine Mach has been teaching mathematics at Spalding for fourteen years. She has been involved in the SAT/ACT program for the past twelve of those years. She has experience teaching honors, intermediate, and college preparatory levels of mathematics.  Her current and previous courses include Algebra I and II, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, and calculus.  Ms. Mach has a BS in Mathematics and a BA in Latin from Mount Saint Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, MD, and a Master’s degree from the University of Maryland.  Ms. Mach is excited to help the students learn how to better their skills so that they can excel on the SATs and the ACTs. 

  
  

  
  

  Mrs. Angela Bentzley - Department Chair, English Instructor

  Angela Bentzley has been teaching English at Spalding for eighteen years.  She has experience teaching all levels of English including Honors World Literature, Honors Sophomore English, IB Junior English Literature, IB Senior English Literature, and Major British Writers.  Currently, she serves as the coordinator of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme and nearly 100% of all students who have taken IB English Literature for the last 10 years have passed the exams.  Mrs. Bentzley holds a BA from Loyola University Chicago and a Master’s degree from Notre Dame of Maryland University.  With skill-building as her specialty, Mrs. Bentzley will help students identify their strengths and opportunities for growth on the SATs and ACTs.

  
  Details: 
  

  • The course is open to Spalding or non-Spalding students in their sophomore and junior years.  The sessions will be held on the campus of Archbishop Spalding High School in Severn, MD.
  • Due to our small size, we offer one of the best student-to-teacher ratios of any preparation session in the area.  The small class size ensures individualized attention and instruction at all times.
  • Students should come to sessions dressed comfortably and bring with them a pen or pencil, calculator, and notebook. Students will also need to have a computer device for the first and last sessions since the practice exams will be done online. A short break will be offered during each session and students are welcome to bring a drink and/or a snack with them to class.  Vending machines are also available in the school.
  • Each student will receive a textbook as part of the course. These comprehensive test materials provide the basis for instruction for the class as well as the materials for the student’s continued independent study.
  • Every student, upon completion of the program, will receive an individualized assessment of his or her progress and a comprehensive evaluation. 

  
  Please contact Kate Mach for more information: machk@spaldinghs.org.
  
  Camp Registration Link | Camp Brochure
  
  

• Theatre Camp

  Camp - June 23rd-27th - rising 6th grade - 12th grade - $350

   

  Step into the world of Broadway and shine on stage! At our Musical Theater Camp, students will explore and perform iconic numbers from popular musicals. Whether you're a seasoned performer or new to the stage, our immersive experience starts with an exciting "audition," then under the guidance of our experienced directors and music director, you'll rehearse, perfect your performance, and have fun while bringing a piece of musical theater magic to life. Ready to sing and act your way into the spotlight? We can’t wait to see what you’ll bring to the stage!
  
  

  Rep Study Camp: Elevate Your Craft - August 4th-8th - Experienced 6th-12th graders - $400
  
  

  This camp is designed for the seasoned performer ready to refine their skills and take their artistry to the next level. With a focus on set songs and monologues, you'll receive both individualized and group coaching from the esteemed directors of Spalding Theatre. Whether you're preparing for an upcoming audition or working to perfect a specific piece, this camp offers a tailored experience to help you grow as an artist. Hone your technique, expand your repertoire, and gain the confidence to tackle any role. This is your chance to sharpen your craft in a supportive, professional environment—let’s make your next performance your best one yet!
  
  

  Behind the Scenes: Performing Arts Production Camp: June 30th - July 3rd - rising 7th-12th - $300
  
  

  Ever wondered what goes into making a show come to life? This camp is for those who are passionate about the production side of theater. Students will dive into the world of stage management, lighting, sound, and set design, learning all the essential skills needed to bring a production together. You'll work hands-on to build a small set for a show of your choosing, gaining valuable insight into the creative process, technical requirements, and teamwork involved in putting on a performance. Whether you dream of being a producer, stage manager, or designer, this camp will equip you with the tools and knowledge to get your next show off the ground.
  
  

  Please contact Lauren Schene  for more information: schenel@spaldinghs.org

  
  

  Camp Registration Link