Challenger Learning Center St. Louis
The award-winning Challenger Learning Center-St. Louis provides simulated space missions, science education, and team-building programs. All programs offered by the Challenger Learning Center provide meaningful and engaging science, technology, engineering, and math activities as well as a focus on team-building, cooperation, and critical and creative thinking skills.
Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
CAM offers in-depth art training programs with a focus on contemporary practice for pre-teens and teens via their LEAP Middle School Intensive, New Art in the Neighborhood, and Teen Museum Studies programs. Grades 6 through 12.
Davidson THINK Summer Institute
Davidson THINK Summer Institute (THINK) is a three-week-residential program for exceptionally gifted students, ages 13 to 16. Located on the University of Nevada, Reno, THINK offers students the opportunity to take two college courses taught by university faculty for college credit.
Duke Talent Identification Program (TIP)
The Duke University Talent Identification Program (TIP) is a nonprofit organization that supports academically talented students in grades 4 through 12. TIP helps gifted students assess the extent of their academic abilities with above-grade-level testing, recognizes them for their achievements, and provides them with a variety of enrichment benefits as well as accelerated face-to-face and online educational programs.
Early College Scholars at Washington University in St. Louis
Early College Scholars allows academically advanced high school students to enroll in courses through University College, the professional and continuing education division of the College of Arts & Sciences. This program is an ideal option for students who have unique academic interests not available through their high school; are looking for courses beyond their high school curriculum; need to enroll in a college course to fulfill a high school requirement; are exploring alternative options to AP courses; want to advance their knowledge in a particular academic area such as writing or foreign language; or would like a commuter option to their residential Summer Experiences programs.
PGL parent resource: Rachel Stohler
Easterseals
Easterseals Midwest’s services create nurturing environments that educate and include children of all abilities, including twice exceptional children. Their goal is to partner with families and communities to promote a bright future for each child, working together to develop a custom plan to meet each family’s needs.
PGL parent resource: Rachel Stohler
Epsilon Camp
Epsilon Camp is a residential camp serving promising young mathematicians and their families through an intensive student program and parent workshop. This program is for children who are passionate about math as well as very competent. The camp's mission is to connect precocious children to professional mathematics and build a supportive community with peers and families.
Gifted Arts
Gifted Arts was created in 1997 with 20 students meeting under a large oak tree at Concordia Park in Clayton. The program has since hosted thousands of students from all over St. Louis. The Gifted Arts philosophy centers on positive, thoughtful, and informative analysis of writing. Writing instructors and students (usually a 1:8 ratio or smaller) provide constructive feedback, which the writer can use to guide revision. They want students of all ages to write in an environment that is stimulating, inspiring, and fun.
Gifted Resource Council (GRC)
Gifted Resource Council, founded in 1983, is a local non-profit organization that brings together the resources of the community, the schools, and parents to help bright and talented children achieve their potential. They have three major programs: the Academic Challenge Cup (friendly competitions in the areas of math, language skills and creative problem solving), Saturday Learning Labs, and Summer Academies, the latter two held at Wydown. In addition, GRC offers parenting classes, workshops for teachers, and telephone advice to assist adults in meeting the needs of gifted children. GRC’s goal is to provide support for children and their families to enable young people to enhance their abilities—both academic and interpersonal—and fulfill their potential.
Great Books Summer Reading Program
The Great Books Summer Program is an experience like no other in American education. For over 17 years, GBSP has gathered exceptional middle and high school students from across the world to read, discuss, and debate selections from the greatest works of literature. Students experience college-level seminars, engage in lively discussion, and enjoy summer fun with other literary-minded students. They offer summer camps at the University of Oxford, Amherst College, Stanford University, Northwestern University, Dublin, and Beijing.
PGL parent resource: Robb Hellwig
Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science (IMACS)
At the heart of IMACS is an extraordinary curriculum, carefully crafted to develop both the skill of genuine logical reasoning and the joy found in thinking mathematically. From mathematics enrichment to computer programming to university-level programming, IMACS classes produce students who are poised to achieve uncommon success in their academic and professional careers. IMACS groups by ability, not by age, and their after-school and weekend program offers flexible schedules at various locations.
International Language Center
Brunetti Language School offers an exciting array of children and teen language programs for ages 3 to 18. The flexible programs yield excellent results whether for private, small group, or classroom instruction. An individualized tutorial program will expand the skills and confidence of the older student in need of a little help.
John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth is a nonprofit dedicated to identifying and developing the talents of academically advanced pre-college students around the world. They serve bright learners and their families through research, advocacy, and counseling, as well as signature gifted and talented summer, online, international, and family programs.
Junior Academy of Science - St. Louis
More than 400 middle and high school students from public, private, and home schools across the region experience hands-on opportunities in science, engineering, and medicine through the Junior Academy. Recognizing that each child has potential, Junior Academy membership is open and available to all middle and high school students in the area and offers challenging and engaging science competitions and opportunities for a full range of academic levels. Thanks to donations, Junior Academy memberships start at $30 and scholarships are available to students in need.
Maryville Science and Robotics Program
The Maryville Science and Robotics Program is an engaging opportunity for students who are interested in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. They offer premier, cutting-edge courses for students ages 4–16 with highly qualified faculty, including professors, engineers, computer programmers, and gifted certified teachers. Participants usually work in pairs with ability peers. Class sizes are limited to 12–16 students with an overall faculty/staff to participant ratio of 1:6. Each classroom contains an expert faculty member and a university student assistant teacher.
MENSA for Kids
Mensa is an international organization with chapters in dozens of countries. Mensa and the Mensa Foundation offer a range of benefits for gifted youth, with programs and services specifically designed to meet their unique needs, including BookParade, Bright enewsletter, Bright Kids on Pinterest, CultureQuest®, Excellence in Reading, lesson and activity plans, Mensa Honor Society, scholarships, social interaction, special interest Groups, TED® Connections, the Year of Living Poetically, and YM2: The Young Mensan Magazine. Mensa accepts more than 200 tests for admission, and many members under the age of 14 apply by submitting evidence of prior testing (e.g., the results of the Clayton psychologist-administered test).
Miriam Learning Center
Miriam Learning Center provides specialized services for children who learn differently. A wide variety of services, including IQ, academic and psychological testing, tutoring, in-school supports, social skills classes, counseling, behavior supports, and occupational, speech/language and physical therapy, offer families and schools a coordinated treatment effort to help students learn.
Northwestern Center for Talent Development
The Center for Talent Development (CTD) at Northwestern University exists to serve the gifted community. CTD programs help students, PreK through grade 12, set ambitious learning goals and realize the full potential of their talents. CTD offers a comprehensive suite of academic programs, in-person and online, with varying durations and subject matter. The common denominator among all CTD programs is exceptional research and instruction. All CTD programs engage students in active learning experiences matched to their identified abilities; inspire a love of learning and a desire for self-development; welcome participants into a community of intellectual peers who value scholarship, academic achievement and creativity; and promote the development of autonomous, disciplined approaches to learning.
Elements coursework offers studies in advanced mathematics, based on the Elements of Mathematics series, to highly-talented middle school students. Courses include formal logic, along with a broadened and accelerated course of math that is very different than mathematics curriculum used in schools. Students who are nominated and qualify based on their admissions test are eligible to attend Intro to Elements, Project MEGSSS' premier two-week summer camp, with options to attend in either June or July. In the fall, they will be eligible to attend after-school classes on a weekly basis at one of their locations in the St. Louis area.
PGL parent resource: Chris Win at chrisjif@gmail.com and Jessica del Pilar at delpilarjessica@gmail.com
St. Louis Learning Disabilities Association, Inc. (St. Louis LDA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the understanding and acceptance of learning disabilities. Targeted solutions are developed for children, parents, and professionals in order to help students maximize their potential in the classroom and in life.
Students and Teachers as Research Scientists (STARS)
The Students and Teachers as Research Scientists (STARS) Program offers academically talented students who are entering their senior year of high school a rare opportunity to work within a laboratory research setting with top scientists at Cortex Innovation Community, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Saint Louis University, Washington University in St. Louis, and the host institution, the University of Missouri-St. Louis. More than 60 scientists who work in fields such as biology, chemistry, earth science, engineering, environmental science, medicine, psychology, and public health will share their experiences as they and their research team direct students in research projects.
PGL parent resource: Robb Hellwig
Washington University Math Circle
A math circle brings students who enjoy the beauty and fascination of mathematics together with an instructor who leads the exploration of intriguing topics. The Washington University circle focuses on the interests of students in the 8th through 12th grade, with the goal of having a great time learning and doing mathematics. They are partners with the Missouri ARML team, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a forum for students to study challenging mathematics and to engage in sophisticated problem solving.
