Summer Programs: A Taste of Boarding School (and More)
Camps for robotics, creative writing, theatre, and more offer enrichment.

Summer camp at Mercersburg means adventure, creative exploration, and sport. Online registration is open now.

“Many of our camps—robotics, Young Writers Camp, and some theatre camps—are run by faculty members who live and teach here during the school year,” says Rick Hendrickson, director of summer and extended programs. “They know their discipline, they know the campus, and they love working with young people, so it’s a great introduction for kids who want to learn more about Mercersburg or boarding schools in general.

“But our camps are are really about enrichment—not academic focus, per se—so the emphasis is on personal growth and having a great experience.”

Last year, Mercersburg ran or hosted 32 camp sessions with nearly 2,000 attendees. More than 80 percent of the programming is through Mercersburg directly. The participants and staff who shared the inside story on pratfalls, circuitry, alliteration, horseback riding, and more came from 34 states and 21 countries.

“I’m amazed every year when I see former campers unpacking in the fall,” Hendrickson says. “Right now, we have 32 former Adventure Campers who are now Mercersburg students.” In all, 57 percent of current students attended summer camp at Mercersburg. More than 50 percent of the camp staff members are young alumni of the Academy.

Mercersburg also offers an ESL+ Language Program, adventure programs for three age groups, and wrestling camps run by Mercersburg coaches. The school also hosts additional sports camps for field hockey, squash, tennis, and swimming.

“It’s great to take the phenomenal resources we have here during the school year and repurpose them every summer,” Hendrickson says. “The school's teachers, coaches, and outdoor leaders participate in everything from guiding “Phat Physics” at Adventure Camp to whitewater kayaking on local waterways.”

In addition to summer camps, the school offers Essentials for Excellence-Mercersburg 101. About 65 percent of incoming ninth graders take advantage of the orientation progam, which focuses on time management, classroom expectations, and what you need to succeed in a challenging boarding school environment.