Teacher/Admin/District Opportunities
The Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted (WATG) is proud to offer Summer Scholarships to support gifted students in pursuing enriching educational experiences beyond the traditional classroom. These scholarships provide financial assistance for students to attend summer programs, camps, and other specialized learning opportunities that align with their unique talents and interests. Whether exploring STEM, the arts, leadership, or other advanced studies, our scholarships help ensure that all gifted students have access to meaningful growth experiences. WATG is committed to fostering the potential of Wisconsin's gifted youth by expanding access to high-quality learning opportunities.
As part of the application, students must submit either an essay or a video/multimedia presentation, along with one reference letter from a teacher or a non-family member. The essay or presentation should address the following:
- Personal background and advanced enrichment needs.
- A description of the summer program or class you wish to attend and the reasons for your interest in it.
- An explanation of why you believe you are a strong candidate for this scholarship.
Student Summer Scholarships
The Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted (WATG) is proud to offer Summer Scholarships to support gifted students in pursuing enriching educational experiences beyond the traditional classroom. These scholarships provide financial assistance for students to attend summer programs, camps, and other specialized learning opportunities that align with their unique talents and interests. Whether exploring STEM, the arts, leadership, or other advanced studies, our scholarships help ensure that all gifted students have access to meaningful growth experiences. WATG is committed to fostering the potential of Wisconsin's gifted youth by expanding access to high-quality learning opportunities.
As part of the application, students must submit either an essay or a video/multimedia presentation, along with one reference letter from a teacher or a non-family member. The essay or presentation should address the following:
- Personal background and advanced enrichment needs.
- A description of the summer program or class you wish to attend and the reasons for your interest in it.
- An explanation of why you believe you are a strong candidate for this scholarship.
Student Summer Scholarships
Nicholas Green
Distinguished Student Award
Eligibility: Wisconsin Students in grades 3-6
Award: $250 check, WATG certificate
Application Deadline: June 14, 2025
You will be required to complete the application form and upload the following documents for your application to be considered.
- An essay composed by the student that describes:
- Background information about themselves (personal history and general information that the student would like WATG to know about them)
- A special area of interest or activity
- How the student got interested or involved in this activity
- What impact the activity has had on the student and others
- How the student's future plans and goals have been affected by this activity or area of interest
- One letter of recommendation from someone other than a family member. The letter should explain why the nominee is deserving of the award, what sets them apart from other students, and how the nominee is impacting others.
Nicholas Green was a bright seven-year-old who was killed in a senseless shooting while on vacation in Italy. Nicholas' parents started the Distinguished Student Awards because they wanted to recognize young people who are working hard to make the most of their lives and develop their unique gifts and talents, and who are now about the age that Nicholas was when he died. Nicholas' parents donated the money they had saved for his college expenses to fund a scholarship to recognize a gifted student in each state, every year from 2000-2013. WATG decided to continue this recognition in Wisconsin and has been presenting a Nicholas Green Distinguished Student Award to a deserving student in grades 3-6 since 2014.
The Wisconsin Association for the Talented and Gifted (WATG) is pleased to promote a scholarship fund for Wisconsin students attending courses offered by the Badger Precollege. Badger Precollege is part of the Division of Continuing Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. An anonymous donor has established an endowment to honor the late Dr. Robert Clasen and his wife Dr. Donna Rae Clasen, both leaders in gifted education in Wisconsin. Additional donations to the fund can be made in any amount as tributes to the Clasens.
Please send your donation with a check made out to "UW Foundation" and a memo line of "Clasen Scholarship for the Wisconsin Center for Academically Talented Youth" and/or "Fund Number 132300053" to this address:
UW Foundation
U.S. Bank Lockbox
Box 78807
Milwaukee, WI 53278-0807
You can make online donations by clicking the button and entering the fund name, number, or both, through the "Write your own designation" tool.
Thank you for helping gifted students in Wisconsin.
Donna Rae and Bob Clasen Scholarship Fund
Are you looking for ways to keep your gifted learner engaged and challenged this summer? Whether your child is interested in academics, STEM, the arts, leadership, or outdoor adventures, there are a variety of enriching programs available. From scholarships to specialized camps, this comprehensive list offers opportunities for students of all ages to explore their passions, develop new skills, and connect with like-minded peers. Take a look at the diverse options available for Summer 2025 and find the perfect fit for your child’s learning journey!
Thank you to our friends and colleagues in the GDCALN, the Greater Dane County Advanced Learner Network (one of Wisconsin's regional gifted coordinator/teacher groups) for sharing this outstanding list of summer opportunities!
Summer 2025 Opportunities
Scholarships
WATG provides Nicholas Green Distinguished Student Award
- For students in Grades 3-6
- $250
- Due: June 14th
WATG provides Summer Program Scholarships
- For students in Kindergarten and older
- Application Deadline: April 15th
Wisconsin DPI Pre-college Scholarships
- For students in Grades 6-12
- Full and partial scholarships are available
Summer Camps and Opportunities
Specialty Camps
Art
- Monroe Street Fine Arts Center - Ages 3-14
- Midwest Clay Project - Ages 6+
- Madison Museum of Contemporary Art - all ages
Music
- UW Madison Summer Music Clinics - Junior Grades 6-8 & Senior Grades 9-12
- UW Whitewater Summer Music Camps - Middle School and High School
- Madison Youth Choir - ages 7-18
Dance
- Madison Ballet - ages 3 & up
Drama
- Young Shakespeare Players
- Children's Theater of Madison - ages 4 & up
Outdoor/Nature
Academic and Intellectual Opportunities
UW Madison Pre-College Programs
- Growing Early Minds (GEM) - Grades 1-4
- Pre College Academic Campus Experience (PACE) - Grades 5-8
- Summer Transitional Enrichment Program (STEP) - Grades 6-8
- Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) - High School
- Badger Pre College Online - High School
- Badger Summer Scholars - High School
- Camp Biotech - Grades 9 and 10
- Youth Apprenticeship Program in Biotechnology - Dane County
- Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies - Grades 9-12. Online Camp
- Earth Focus Day Camps: UW Arboretum - Kindergarten-grade 8
- A Celebration of Life XXVII: Planetary Explorers! - Grades 6-8; NO CAMP LISTED YET
- Milwaukee School of Engineering Summer Programs - Grades 4-9
- Milwaukee School of Engineering Summer Programs - Grades 10-12
- MCDS Summer Research Academy - Motivated students entering grades 8-12. The Summer Research Academy (SRA) is an opportunity to explore areas of science & humanities in-depth, beyond what is covered in a typical high school classroom. SRA is open to students from MCDS and the general public.
Greater Madison Writing Project: Summer Writing Camps for aspiring writers entering grades 3rd-12th
- Young Writers Camp - Grades 3-8
- High School Writing Camps
- Graphic Novels Writing Camp - Grades 5-8
- Rise Up & Write Camps - High School
- Youth Press Corps - High School
- MCDS Summer Research Academy - Motivated students entering grades 8-12. One-week summer writing program to develop creative writing and thinking skills. See course description below for details.
UW Whitewater
- STEM Training for Early Engagement and Readiness (STEER) - Grades 6-8
- Global Awareness for Sustainability (GAPS) - Grades 6-12
UW Stout: Summer STEAM Experience - Grades 9-12
MAYDM Camps - Maydm provides fun and engaging STEMS programs for students entering grades 6- 12. Scholarships are available.
Camp Invention - Entering grades 1-6 (Click on find a camp near me.)
Concordia Language Villages: Summer Language Immersion Programs - Ages 8-18
Wisconsin Area Health Education Center: Summer Camps - High school students. Upward Bound Summer Camp
Northwestern University Center for Talent Development: Academic Summer Day and Residential Camps - Grades 6-12
Purdue's Gifted Education Research & Resource Institute (GER²I): Residential Summer Camps - Grades 5-12
Stanford Pre-College Summer Institute - Current Grades 8-11
Stanford Summer Humanities Institute - Current Grades 10-11
EAGLE Summer Camps - entering grades 1-9; open to all Madison area gifted, talented, and advanced students; great array of programs for young learners including Arts & Crafts, Chess, Chinese, Spanish, Dungeons & Dragons, Science Olympiad, Speech & Debate, Podcasting, Advanced Music Composition, Musical Theater, and more! 2 weekly session
SOAR Camp - Traditional summer camp for gifted 3-8th graders in northern Wisconsin
