Academic Adventures
This summer, join academically motivated and curious students from around the country and the world on the campus of Fay School, the premiere junior boarding school in the United States.
Discover a new interest!
Have you ever wanted to learn more about a topic, but don't have time during the school year? Summer is the perfect time to explore your interests and develop new passions, and our courses offer something exciting for everyone.Dive deeper into your passions!
Academic Adventures is a hand-on and enriching program that is perfect for students looking to dive deeper into a specific interest through fun and meaningful projects.Have fun!
Our courses are designed to be fun and engaging, but during each day Academic Adventure campers also have time to enjoy our swimming pools and adventure course, and to participate in our traditional day camp activities. The weekends also offer fun activities and day trips to local attractions.2025 Dates & Information
2 two-week sessions for ages 10-15
Session 1: July 6 – 18
Session 2: July 20 – August 1
Program Details
Academics
Students enroll in workshops that meet each weekday morning during the two-week session. These 60-80 minute courses are hands-on learning labs, where students are actively involved in fun projects that lead to a deeper understanding of the subject area and conjure excitement about new ideas.Students in Academic Adventures choose an academic focus – Arts/Humanities or Science/Technology. Based on the focus they choose, students are enrolled in two workshops that meet each weekday during the session. These 60-80 minute classes are hands-on learning labs, where students are actively involved in fun projects that can lead to a deeper understanding of the subject area and conjure excitement about new ideas.Extracurriculars
Students spend a part of each day participating in traditional camp activities, which can include swimming, ropes courses, sports and games, arts and crafts, drama, and music.Weekends
On the weekends, Academic Adventures students take off-campus trips to various New England locations, which may include adventures in nearby Boston or visits the beach or other local attractions.Location
FaySummer’s Academic Adventures Program takes place on Fay School’s 66-acre campus in Southborough, Massachusetts, USA, 25 miles from Boston and 190 miles from New York City. During the school year, Fay serves students in Kindergarten - Grade 9, with an optional boarding program for Grades 7-9. Our 150 boarding students come from across the US and 25+ countries. As the first junior boarding school in the US, we are experts in middle school, and our well-prepared graduates go on to top secondary schools around the world. Click here to learn more about Fay School.Facilities
Academic Adventure participants have access to all of Fay School's state-of-the-art facilities, including two pools, athletic fields, tennis courts, gyms, indoor rock climbing wall, outdoor adventure course, theater, visual arts center, and a Center for Creativity and Design. Student stay in comfortable, air-conditioned dormitories, in double or triple rooms. Dorm parents live in the dorms, providing 24-hour supervision and care. Students enjoy family-style meals in Fay’s historic dining room, where students have access to an array of nutritious options.Our Team
Our team is composed of Fay School’s faculty and staff, teachers from the local community, professionals in their fields, and college students who have experience working with children.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What does a student's typical day look like during the program?
A sample weekday schedule for Academic Adventure students is below.
8:00-8:30 am Breakfast
8:30-9:00 am Morning Meeting / Advisory
9:00-10:30 am Workshop #1
10:30-11:00 am Recess and Snack
11:00-12:30 pm Workshop #2
12:30 - 1:15 pm Lunch
1:30-3:00 pm Afternoon activity #1
3:15-4:45 pm Afternoon activity #2
4:45-5:30 pm Dorm Time
5:30-6:30 pm Dinner
6:30-8:20 pm Evening Activities
8:20-9:20 pm Dorm and Tech Time
9:20-9:30 pm Lights Out -
Can I attend if I am not a native English speaker?
If you are registering for Academic Adventures and you are not a native English speaker, you must submit a graded essay from your school as part of your registration so that we can assess your level of English proficiency. Please email the camper’s graded essay to summer@fayschool.org. Once the essay has been received, we will review the camper’s registration and notify you of our admission decision within two weeks. -
What type of visa do students need?
International students attending our overnight programs are able to enter the United States on a B-2 visitor visa. A visitor visa (B-2) is sufficient to participate in our program because, according to the U.S. government, a person is allowed to enroll in a recreational enrichment course of 18 hours or less. -
Which immunizations and exams are required to attend?
All students must be examined by a licensed physician within the 13 months leading up to the start of Academic Adventures. All students will be required to submit, accurately completed in English and signed by a physician, a health record, a permission to treat form, a record of physical exam, and a record of immunization.
All Academic Adventures participants must be fully immunized under U.S. Department of Public Health requirements prior to arriving on campus.
Please contact the Fay Health Office for more information at 508-490-8228. -
Can family members visit campus?
If parents/guardians wish to take students off campus, they must make the appropriate arrangements with FaySummer. It is important that students become fully integrated into our programs, develop relationships with their peers and dorm parents, and also immerse themselves fully in the programs; we ask that families respect our visitation policy. We ask all students to participate in all our activities; however, we allow for visits on the following occasions:Weekdays: Monday through Thursday between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. Please call or email to arrange visits with the Director.Weekends: Students enjoy participating in our weekend activities, so please call or email the Director in advance to arrange visits and to confirm the best times when your child will be on campus from Friday afternoon through Sunday evening. -
Is there transportation from the airport to campus?
We can arrange transportation to and from Fay School from Boston–Logan Airport and New York–JFK Airport. It is recommended that you travel to Boston-Logan. All airport travel fees will be paid using the student’s incidental account. -
What are your refund policies?
A non-refundable deposit is due upon registration. Any families deciding to cancel their registration prior to June 1, 2025 will receive a full refund minus the non-refundable deposit. There are no refunds for families that decide to cancel after the June 1, 2025 deadline. If FaySummer cancel a program for any reason, a full refund will be provided.
Meet our Program Director
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Paul Abeln
Dr. Paul Abeln has worked at Fay since 2012 and currently serves as the Associate Director of Advancement for Alumni and International Programs. In this role, he has worked with Fay students, families, and alumni, traveling on behalf of Fay to the Dominican Republic, China, and Korea, and Japan. Dr. Abeln previously served as English Department Chair, where he developed curriculum, oversaw faculty, and mentored teachers for the School’s English, Language Arts, and ELP programs from kindergarten through grade nine. He earned his Ph.D. in American and Comparative Literature from Washington University, and his bachelor’s degree from Villanova University.
FaySummer
Summer Camp Programs for ages 3-15
48 Main Street, Southborough, MA 01772 | 508.490.8371 | summer@fayschool.org
Learn about Fay School
FaySummer complies with regulations of the MDPH and is licensed by the Town of Southborough Board of Health.
Learn about Fay School
FaySummer complies with regulations of the MDPH and is licensed by the Town of Southborough Board of Health.
