2019 Summer Camps & Summer Classes Bring Old Favorites and New Innovations
Randolph-Macon Academy’s summer programs are expanding this summer, incorporating opportunities for all students in grades six through twelve.
The Middle School Summer Enrichment Camp for rising fifth through eighth grade students (sixth through eighth grade for overnight campers) has added two new options: a flight track and a robotics track. This year’s camp theme is Space Exploration and Investigation, and will continue to include course options in science, math, language arts, history, and music. The summer camp combines fun with just enough academics to keep students’ minds sharp over the long summer break. Two-week and four-week camp options are available.
The Flight Camp has been expanded this year. As in the past, participants in the flight camp will have the opportunity to fly in school-owned Cessna 172 aircraft, receive instruction from the school’s on-staff flight instructors, and participate in ground school. In addition to all of that, students will learn from industry professionals about various aviation careers, visit aviation museums and businesses, and fly unmanned/remote aircraft. In 2018, campers were able to experience hot air balloons and helicopters, and the flight instructors hope to repeat those opportunities this year. Flight camp participants will also be able to experience the new flight simulator on campus, the Redbird TD. The Flight Camp typically fills up in April; early applications are encouraged.
Rising juniors and seniors will benefit from the College & Career Summer Seminar, a half-day, four-week program designed to help students discover their strengths, explore possible career interests, and begin preparing for the college application process. Sessions will cover college exploration and career and leadership exploration as well as writing the personal essay and mastering the application process. Students will visit college campuses throughout the Shenandoah Valley and Northern Virginia so that they can learn about the differences between public and private institutions, and the different advantages offered by small colleges and large universities. They will also become adept at listening to what is said and what is not said, and gain an understanding of what questions to ask when on a college visit. 
On the Summer School side of the summer offerings, R-MA will continue to offer thirteen courses for a full high school credit for students who would like to get ahead or need to catch up on a credit. There are also nineteen courses available for repeat credit, for students who would like to improve their grades. New to the summer school program this year is Innovation 101, a half-day course that could complement a repeat class or the College & Career Summer Seminar. This course allows students to explore the new Hadeed Innovation Wing, where they can use coding, robotics, 3-D printing, and other technology to create innovative solutions to the world’s challenges and develop answers to their own questions.
All programs take place between June 30 and July 26, 2019. Applications for all R-MA summer programs are now being accepted. For more information on the summer programs, visit rma.edu/summer or call 540-636-5484.