Youth programs and summer camp

• Overview
• Adult courses
• Youth programs and summer camp
  • Infants and Tots (< 3)
  • Li'l Bears (3-4)
  • Tykes (5-6)
  • Explorers (7-8)
  • Big Reds (9-10)
  • Junior Cornellians (11-12)
  • Teens (13-16)
  • Older teens (17+)
• Housing
• Program fees
• FAQ
• Registration
• Arthur Frommer on CAU

"Our kids were thrilled and did not want to leave. Having some independence from us was probably the highlight for all three of them. It was good for us, too, especially knowing how much fun they were having in a safe environment."

James Reavis '85
North Kingstown, Rhode Island

Teens (13-16)

Teens participate in a morning enrichment program of their choice taught by one or two Cornell student mentors. The rest of the day is devoted to non-stop elective activities: special-interest workshops, recreation and sports, field trips, community volunteering, crafts, music, art, and games.

This is a great opportunity for teens to explore Cornell, meet new friends, and discover interests and skills in a well-supervised, encouraging environment. Teens without parents or guardians on campus are welcome to attend for one or more weeks.

Options

• Resident Teens live in a dorm with their counselors from Sunday afternoon until Saturday morning; see Housing for details.
• Commuter Teens attend from 8:30 a.m. until 10:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Program dates

Weekly Fees

• Resident Teens: $1,030, with a reduced rate of $930 for second and additional youngsters accompanying a registered adult in residence on campus. There is an additional charge of $250 for unaccompanied Teens staying in residence over a weekend, to cover the cost of extended supervision, dining, and dorm accommodations.
• Commuter Teens: $625.

Morning Courses for Teens

Outdoor Teen Adventures

Featuring rigorous challenges for novice and experienced climbers supervised by instructors from Cornell Outdoor Education (COE), this program will include teen-level ground games, Hoffman Challenge Course elements, ascents on COE’s West Campus Climbing Wall, and a Tyrolean traverse across Beebe Lake Gorge. If you’re a teen who enjoys non-competitive but highly physical activity, this is a good recreational opportunity in a safe but exciting learning environment. Additional fee: $140. Register now.

Sailing on Cayuga

This complete introduction to sailing and tying knots, with lectures, demonstrations, and practice on Cayuga Lake, will be taught by certified instructors and supervised by Cornell’s superb Department of Athletics and Physical Education. You must know how to swim and be prepared to fall in and tread water, rain or shine. Additional fee: $130. Register now.

Veterinary Science: Field, Farm, and Clinic

If you love animals and are considering a career as a veterinarian, farmer, zookeeper, trainer, or pet-shelter technician, this course will introduce you to the training, skills, and responsibilities required to work in the profession. You’ll explore veterinary public health and preventive medicine, animal welfare and clinical ethics, and the human-animal bond and its implications for husbandry and medicine. Field trips on and off campus will alternate with informal classroom discussion and learning. Register now.

Writers' Circle: Writing Sampler

From hip-hop to Shakespeare, poetry to prose, personal narrative to fiction, this course will take you through a wide range of experiencing and experimenting with language, thought, and feelings . You’ll develop a sharper eye and ear for what makes or breaks a poem, essay, or story. Discover how writing works and how to make yours powerful! Register now.