What is OWL Camp?

OWL Camp is a vibrant summer program designed to meet the intellectual, social, and emotional needs of gifted and talented middle school students in Ohio. We are committed to nurturing the development of exceptional abilities of gifted students through opportunities to expand their minds, create a lifelong passion for learning, and develop meaningful friendships. Hosted on the Ohio Wesleyan University campus, OWL offers both overnight and day camp experiences for students currently in grades 5–8 (at the time of application):

• Grades 7–8: Overnight camp option available
• Grade 6: May choose overnight or day camp
• Grade 5: Day camp only

What Makes OWL Camp Unique?

• Academic Enrichment
  Campers dive into hands-on classes in humanities, creative arts, mathematics, science, logic, and computers—designed to spark curiosity and stretch their thinking.
• Social & Emotional Growth
  OWL is more than academics. It's a place where students connect with peers who share their interests, build confidence, and form lasting friendships.
• Creative Exploration
  From crafts and campus tours to movie nights and the legendary OWL dance, campers experience a joyful mix of learning and play.
• Supportive Environment
  Campers live in family-style groups with dedicated adult family group leaders who provide 24-hour supervision, mentorship, and encouragement.

Who Should Apply?

OWL Camp is designed for students who demonstrate academic excellence, creativity, leadership, or unique talents. Selection is based on a holistic review of each application, including essays, recommendations, and academic records.

Application Overview

OWL Camp has a selective admissions process, similar to college. Students apply during our winter application window, which runs from December through January 31st. All forms are submitted electronically and must include:

• Parent/guardian form (submitted by parent/guardian)
• Student application form (submitted by student)
• Two teacher recommendation forms (from different teachers; links emailed to each teacher)
• Academic school form with state testing scores (link emailed to a gifted coordinator, school counselor, or principal)

What Families Need to Provide

Parents/students must supply accurate names and email addresses for:

• Two teachers who will complete recommendation forms
• One school official who can provide testing scores

Families are responsible for identifying the appropriate school contact for testing data.

Getting Started

• The parent/guardian initiates the application.
• The student completes a brief form with a few questions.
• Once both forms are submitted, the parent/student enters the three required names and email addresses for the school personnel requested above.

Monitoring Progress

It is the parent's responsibility to ensure the two teacher recommendations and the academic school form are completed.

What Happens Next

• After the January 31st deadline, families will be notified of acceptance and assigned camp week.
• Class selection opens mid-to-late March and will be announced via email.
• Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, similar to college. Each camper selects four classes.

Class Selection Notes

• If you choose a double-period class, you must select it for both periods.
• Choosing a different class in one of the double-period classes may result in losing your spot in the double-period class.
• If a class is full, you may add it to your waitlist after selecting your four other classes.
• Waitlisting does not guarantee placement, but if a spot opens, you'll be notified and given the option to switch.

Stay in the Loop

You'll receive several reminder emails from OWL. To ensure you receive them:

• Add OWL@owu.edu to your contacts
• Check your spam folder periodically