The 2018 Philosophy Camp for Teens is quickly approaching. Taking place in the summer, all 7th-12th graders are encouraged to apply. The camp will start June 11 at 8:30am and end each day at 3:30pm, the last day being June 15. There is no registration fee and the camp is offering a possible dual language opportunity.
Aggie Philosophy Camp for Teens, directed by Dr. Claire Katz, will introduce students to some of Western philosophy’s most influential ideas and persistent questions, but you will learn so much more than what some old guys thought many years ago! Taught by Texas A&M University faculty and graduate students, the Philosophy for Teens camp offers students a transformative experience. Philosophy camp students will have the opportunity to discuss and reflect on these big ideas, learn and practice critical thinking, and improve logical and creative thinking. Just a few of the big questions discussed last summer:
- What is ethics?
- What is friendship?
- Do we have moral obligations to animals?
- Are we free?
- What makes a government just?
- What is art?
- What is the meaning of life?
If you ever found yourself wondering about these or similar questions, this camp is for you.
At Philosophy Camp, students will work collaboratively with faculty, graduate student counselors, and with each other to think carefully about important philosophical ideas, that not only appear throughout history and but also in our world today. Expect to challenge yourself to better understand your own perspective and those of your peers. If you are interested in philosophy, or just want to know more about what philosophy is, this camp is the perfect place to start!
2018 Theme: Literacy, Democracy, and Education
Monday, June 11: Introductions
- Building and caring for friendships
- Respectful Disagreement
Tuesday, June 12: Democracy and Education
- What is the relationship between education and democracy?
Wednesday, June 13: Education and Literacy
- What does literacy mean within a political context?
- What is the relationship between literacy and democracy?
Thursday, June 14: Literacy and Books at Cushing Archival Library
- Paper making, using the printing press, and viewing archival materials
- How does technology facilitate literacy?
Friday, June 15: Literacy & Dissent in Democratic Societies
- Can things like novels and plays be political speech?
- Is all art political or is some just for entertainment?
Do you want to apply to the camp? Instructions–read carefully. This form cannot be saved. However, a copy will be emailed to you upon submission and you will be able to return to the form to edit your answers. Parts 2-4 are camper registration sections. Part 5 is the camper application, which requires the camper to answer a few short essay questions. All applicants, even previous philosophy campers, must answer these. If you have multiple campers, you can apply for them on the same application.
Completed application/registration must be received by March 1 to ensure full consideration.
Camp enrollment is limited to 40 applicants total, approximately 20 campers in each group (Middle School and High School).
Click here to fill out the application.
Do you want to volunteer with the camp? In order to volunteer, you will need to fill out a short application indicating your interest in working with the camp. All volunteers are required to attend pre-camp meetings for planning, as well as training in P4C pedagogy. (If you are coming in from out of state, we can Skype you in for these.) Volunteers largely help camp facilitators in moving the campers from place to place, passing out materials, helping distribute lunches, and other key support functions. Please be aware that for a variety of reasons, we cannot guarantee that all volunteers will have the opportunity to facilitate an actual session. However, all volunteers will gain exposure to the P4C pedagogy by seeing trained facilitators in action.
Volunteer application coming soon.
