Academic summer camp in Berea, Kentucky • Ages 8–18
For curious kids who love to create, explore, and learn.
Appalachian Institute Summer Camp gives campers a place to try new things, build confidence, make friends, and spend part of their summer in a community that values curiosity, creativity, and belonging.
Who
Rising 3rd–12th grade students who love learning, creativity, and trying new things.
When
Week 1:
7/19 - 7/25
Week 2:
7/26 - 8/1
Where
Berea College
Berea, KY
Cost
Residential:
$959 per week
Day:
$590 per week
Before You Register
A few helpful links for families preparing for camp.
A summer built around curiosity, creativity, and community.
Why Families Choose AICL
AICL gives students room to explore ideas, develop new skills, and spend time with like-minded campers in a welcoming environment.
Campers choose classes, join activities, build confidence, and make friendships while learning alongside peers who are excited to be there.
Explore classes, projects, and hands-on learning experiences.
Camp Classes
Campers build their schedules from a wide range of creative, academic, leadership, and community-centered classes designed to encourage curiosity and exploration. Click the arrows see all classes offered this year.
Class selection is first-come, first-served. The class selection link is provided in the campers enrollment email.
Ready to select class? Open this printable list to see what class schedule. Click here to download a copy.
Creative Arts & Storytelling
- AICL Literary Journal (Graham Marema)
- The AICL Front Porch Songbook (Phil Blank)
- Crochet! Chrochet! Chrochet! (Lamont Holley)
- Diorama Dynomite (David Kyser & Emmett Haruch)
- Electro Tropical Dance (Natasha Tylosky)
- Embroidery (Lane Demaske)
- Floral Arranging (Isaiah Krider)
- Guerilla Filmmaking (Dylan Bradley)
- Handmade Hand Bags (David Kyser & Emmett Haruch)
- Haunted House Costumes (Jamie Turner)
- How to Read Poetry Out Loud (Phil Blank)
- Inflatables (Helen Tynes)
- International Folk Singing (April McGregor)
- Intro to Choreography (Jessica Young)
- Just Five Notes (Phil Blank)
- Live Action Sitcom (Jeremy Williams)
- Oral Storytelling (Dylan Bradley)
- Paleoart (Natasha Tylosky)
- Poetry (David Dykes)
- Printmaking and T-shirt Design (Phil Blank)
- Radio Theater (Matthew Perkins)
- Scrappy Sculpture (Spencer Page)
- Shared Universe (Emmett Haruch & David Kyser)
- Sound On (Jamie Turner)
- Storybook Theater (Matthew Perkins)
- Theater Performance (Graham Marema)
- Vocals/Singing & Songwriting (Graham Marema)
- What’s in a journal? (Spencer Page)
- Words and Images (Phil Blank)
- Zines Machine (Spencer Page)
Science, Nature & Inquiry
- Birdwatching (Helen Tynes)
- Cartography (Helen Tynes)
- Climate Inspiration (Rachel Burton)
- Food Waste Detectives (Rachel Burton)
- How to Survive in the Woods (Jeremy Williams)
- Marble Roller Coaster (Matthew Perkins)
- Robot (Ozobot) (Matthew Perkins)
- Rocks & Minerals (Lane Demaske)
- Science of Goo - Advanced (Rachael Burton)
- Science of Goo - Beginner (Rachel Burton)
- Statistics & Narratives (Natasha Tylosky)
- The Science of Design (Natasha Tylosky)
Humanities, Culture & Big Ideas
- Case Study Conductions (Isaiah Krider)
- Crosswords (David Dykes)
- History Repeating (Lamont Holley)
- Italian Neorealism (Dylan Bradley)
- Legacy of Rome (Thomas Kaine)
- Sappho: 3,000 Years Young (Thomas Robinson)
- Say It Like You Mean It (Isaiah Krider)
- Spanish (David Dykes)
- Story Structure (Lane Demaske)
- The Search for Happiness (Lane Demaske)
- What is Love? (Lane Demaske)
- What’s Up w/ Berea? (Graham Marema)
- Women’s Lit (Helen Tynes)
Leadership & Community
- I’m Alright (Lamont Holley)
- LIT: Ignite the Night, formerly CIT Class (Noah Johnson)
- The Leadership Lab (Will German, Chad Watson)
- Unionize AICL! (Lane Demaske)
Strategy & Collaborative Play
- Dice & Destiny (Dylan Bradley)
- Emergency Response (Jenn Conner)
- Follow the Rules! (Lamont Holley)
- How to be a Scoundrel (Jeremy Williams)
- Making a Haunted House (Jeremy Williams)
- Making a Putt Putt Course (Jeremy Williams)
- Nomic (Helen Tynes)
- Pickleball!!! (Matthew Perkins)
- Tomfoolery (Jeremy Williams)
- TTRPGCC - TableTop Role Playing Game Crash Course (Thomas Kaine)
Food, Home & Practical Arts
- AICL Chef School (April McGregor)
- How to Be a Kitchen Witch (April McGregor)
Camp continues after classes end.
Beyond the Classroom
AICL days are full, but they are not only about classes. After afternoon classes, campers move into activities, clubs, evening programs, and dorm time with their counselors and peers.
These shared moments are where a lot of camp connection happens: trying something new, laughing with friends, joining a club, playing games, talking through the day, and settling into the rhythm of camp life.
The Daily Flow
Morning: Breakfast, meeting, classes
Midday: Lunch, meeting, classes
Afternoon: Counselor-led activities
Evening: Dinner, clubs, activities, dorm time
A glimpse into the classes campers will experience this summer.
Meet Some Teachers
Many AICL classes begin with a teacher sharing something they genuinely love:
an idea, a skill, a creative practice, or a lifelong interest they want to
explore with campers.
Led by people who know what AICL feels like from the inside.
Our Staff
Many AICL staff members were once campers themselves. That shared history creates
a deep sense of connection across generations and helps preserve the spirit of
camp from year to year.
Some staff have been part of the program since before AICL became a nonprofit,
including people who served on the very first staff. They carry forward a clear
sense of what makes AICL different: curiosity, creativity, care, and community.
Our teachers bring their real-world interests, careers, and life experiences into
classes shaped by the AICL approach to learning. Our counselors bring empathy,
memory, and commitment because many of them remember what it felt like to be a
camper here for the first time.
“AICL felt like finding my people.”
I came for the classes, but what stayed with me were the friendships,
the conversations, and the feeling that curiosity was something to celebrate.
— Former Camper
More than classes.
AICL is where many campers discover new interests, lasting friendships, and a community that celebrates curiosity and creativity.