TDI Johnson 2010: June 20-26
The thirteenth annual Talent Development Institute will take place at Johnson State College, Johnson, VT, on June 20-26, 2010. This year, in response to numerous camper requests to lengthen TDI, we have added one more night, and will finish up on Saturday morning rather than Friday afternoon. This will allow us to enjoy five full days of classes and have our final program and subsequent leave-taking on Saturday, something which parents have requested. As usual, participants will experience fun and challenging learning opportunities with dynamic faculty and stimulating peers. Students entering grades 4-9 will be involved in week-long sessions, daily exploratory activities, and evening entertainment and exercise—including use of the college pool.
Features
This year’s schedule is a healthy mix of popular strands, such as Improvisation and Media Production; new twists on old favorites, such as Blog and Webpage Design, Written Word, and All the World’s a Dance Stage; and many new strand offerings, including: Science: Some Stuff That’s Hot and Some That’s Cool, Self-Snapshots, and Bubbles Galore!
We are pleased to be continuing the Leadership Program for students in grades 10-12 who have previously been TDI participants. This program is partially funded by a grant from the Redducs Foundation. For more information, please contact us.
The Program
TDI may be experienced as a commuter or as an overnight camper. Students engage in a variety of unique classes that nurture the students’ common love of learning.
The overnighter campers are supervised by Institute staff, with housing in the college dormitories. Dinner is at 5:30 each evening, followed by evening activities at 6:30 PM. We are asking overnight campers to arrive between 2:00 and 4:00 PM on Sunday, June 20, 2010. Supper will be provided on Sunday.
Check-in for commuters on Monday morning will begin at 8:00 AM. Mornings begin with a brief opening session for everyone at 8:15 AM, and an opportunity to choose a guided exploratory for late afternoon. The morning strands (classes) start at 8:30 AM, followed by lunch provided for all participants at 11:45 AM.
The afternoon begins at 12:30 PM with two additional strands. Exploratory classes will take place at 4:00 PM. Commuters will be dismissed at 5:00 PM.
Students will be assigned to strands based on the choices sent in with their registration forms. These strands run from Monday through Friday, with a final program for parents, staff and campers on Saturday morning. After the program, parents of overnight campers will go with their children to the dorms, pack up, return keys, sign out, and head home.
Special Note: For overnight participants, the Talent Show will be held on Friday evening this year; please be sure to bring your instruments, costumes, magic tricks, or whatever else you might need if you choose to participate.
The Location
Nestled on a hill in the heart of the Green Mountains of Vermont, the Johnson State College campus offers a spectacular natural environment along with modern educational facilities. The Institute is held in classrooms, lecture halls, and computer laboratories on campus. Participants are also able to use the Library and Learning Center as well as the Shape Facility where the college pool and exercise facilities are located.
Johnson State College is just off Vermont Route 15 in Johnson. North and south routes take Interstate 89 to exit 10. Head north on Vermont Route 100 approximately 18 miles until it merges with Route 15 in Morrisville. Head west on Route 15 approximately 8 miles to Johnson. Watch for signs on the right directing you to the campus.
Graduate Class Offered
Concurrent with TDI, the graduate class EDU6340—Social and Emotional Components of Giftedness will be offered. Parents may find this a very helpful tool in raising their gifted child(ren). The description reads: “An overview of the special social and emotional needs of gifted students is provided. Specific skills needed to establish and maintain an emotional and social support system for the gifted and talented, their parents, and teachers are discussed and developed.” The class will be taught by Dr. Carol Story. For more information about auditing or taking the class for credit, please contact Cathy Higley at the Graduate Office (802-635-2356) or e-mail Carol at cmsphd@myfairpoint.net.
The Faculty
The Talent Development Institute is staffed by highly experienced Vermont educators, many with master’s degrees in the education of the gifted, and by Institute alumni who are gifted learners themselves. Short biographies of each instructor can be found on our staff page. Classes have low student to teacher ratio, averaging 10 to 12 students.
Questions and Further Information
For registration, please visit our registration web page for instructions and other information. Please contact TDI Co-Director, Lucy Gage Bogue, at lucybogue@yahoo.com with questions and requests. Student sessions fill quickly; each session is filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Deadline for Johnson Registration is May 21, 2010 ($50 late fee charged after this date). Scholarship Applications due May 1, 2009.