Like the world’s most unfun game, the SSAT is about scoring points to win. But instead of a trophy, your prize is a high school experience that you choose and can enjoy with pride and satisfaction. Learn to score high on the Math and English sections, practicing techniques and skills to help you dunk on the competition. From tackling tough questions to bulking up your algebra and vocabulary to pitching yourself through your personal essay, this training session will prepare you to compete with the pros and come out on top! You’ll also have the opportunity to experience the following special events: a Brooks student panel, Conversations with Admissions (Q&A about applying for a private high school), a campus tour, and lunch in the cafeteria.

The admissions exam for independent schools (the SSAT) can be a slam dunk if you know how to score the points! Join us to bulk up on your techniques for tackling reading, vocabulary, and math. Additional ‘coaching’ will also be offered in pitching yourself in a personal essay, discussing the high school experience with current students, scouting schools, and finding out what to expect from the admissions process!

In this action-packed journey, you’ll embark on a quest to conquer your stage fright and master the art of commanding a room. No more sweaty palms, shaky knees, or that dreaded “um” that sneaks into your sentences. We’ll equip you with the skills and techniques to make any audience hang on your every word! You will get a chance to write and participate in various public speaking modes. Potential activities may include speeches, mock trials, debates, Socratic seminars, “How to…” talks, and more!

Grab your scissors and glue—it’s time to cut, rip, layer, and create amazing collage art! In this session, we’ll explore all kinds of techniques to create mixed-media collages, photo montages, assemblages, and collage books using paper, fabric, beads, wire, stamps, oil pastels, and more. Get inspired by famous collage artists and discover your own favorite approach. Expect a fun, creative mess and a studio bursting with color, materials, and ideas. This class is perfect for artists who want to experiment, play, and love all things collage!

Writing Knowledge of the Ancients: If you are ready to take your reading and writing skills to the next level, Step Up ELA is for you. Designed for students entering 9th, 10th, or 11th grades, week one explores the concepts of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle in a fun, engaging environment that will include writing to convince others, to tell special stories, and to show others what you know. In week two, students will read, discuss, and write about great works of literature in a fun, relaxing environment on the beautiful Brooks School campus. Trips to the gardens, the frog pond, and the lake will serve as background as we encounter literary greats, discuss their motivation and meaning, and write about their intent. We will choose themes to explore in our own writing and try our hands at poetry and prose while improving our revision and proofreading skills.

Turn everyday materials into fashion masterpieces! In Recycled Fashion, you’ll design and construct bold, three-dimensional wearable art using recycled and found materials—think cardboard, plastic, foam, paper, old clothes and paint. This isn’t a sewing class, but an explosion of hot glue guns and wild imagination! Cardboard suit of armor? Paper ball gown? Your imagination is the limit. Along the way, you’ll build creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills while giving new life to recycled materials. We’ll wrap up the week with a mini runway show to show off your one-of-a-kind designs!

After an engaging morning of academic learning, students may extend their day by joining our traditional afternoon Day Camp. Summer Term participants arrive at lunchtime and ease into the rhythms of camp, beginning with a refreshing free swim in our outdoor pools. The afternoon is filled with a variety of age-appropriate activities—archery, gymnastics, arts and crafts, sports, tennis, outdoor exploration, and more—offering students the chance to unwind, build friendships, and enjoy the fun and energy of camp life.

As part of this experience, participants receive lunch, daily snacks, access to special events, and all required materials and supplies. Afternoon Day Camp provides a balanced complement to the morning’s focused academic work, creating a full day that is active, joyful, and connected to the broader Summer at Brooks community.

Prepare to power your way through strategies and skills that will help you improve your scoring on the independent school admissions exam. You’ll bulk up your key vocabulary knowledge and reinforce your skills involving fractions, percentages, algebra basics, and word problems. You’ll challenge yourself with several practice tests and walk away with lots of resources to revisit before you tackle the exam! You’ll also have the opportunity to talk with Brooks Admissions faculty about applying for private high schools (Q&A) and experience a tour around Brooks campus.

Welcome to our enthralling journey through the pages of Utopian and Dystopian Young Adult Literature. In this spellbinding adventure, we’ll explore the captivating worlds of utopian and dystopian literature, referencing past works but focusing on popular fiction of interest for young adults, including but not limited to Scythe, the Divergent series, Red Queen, Station Eleven, The Host, The Selection, Uglies, and others.

Tired of being told what you HAVE to write about? Sick of teachers assigning your topic? Take control of your written words and CHOOSE what YOU want to express to the world! From persuasive pieces trying to convince your parents why you deserve to get a cat to informative articles about T Swift’s musical career to expressive writing about traveling comfortably, you pick what most interests you! Learn grammatical skills that help your sentences pop off the page, and practice writing for audiences beyond the classroom!

Ever wonder how Velcro was invented? Or how a prosthetic limb might be designed for speed or stability? Bioengineering brings together aspects of biology with engineering to solve problems in the natural world. This course will allow students to understand the range and depth of bioengineering, as well as more recent advancements in subfields, such as biomimicry, biorobotics, and environmental engineering. In a final project, students will use the engineering and design process to test out their own ideas for making their world a little better. Get ready to build, test, fail fast, and invent something truly groundbreaking!

In What’s Your Point? Writing for Real Life, students entering 7th, 8th, or 9th grade can explore how great writers like Maya Angelou, Stephen King, and Amy Tan use their experiences to create amazing stories. Students will then get a chance to write their own personal narrative, similar to that which they will write for their college essay. In week two, students attempt to answer the questions: What do I want, and how can I get there? Students will conduct a college and career research project, exploring, learning through research, and writing about what they may want to do for their professional lives.

Grab your scissors and glue—it’s time to cut, rip, layer, and create amazing collage art! In this session, we’ll explore all kinds of techniques to create mixed-media collages, photo montages, assemblages, and collage books using paper, fabric, beads, wire, stamps, oil pastels, and more. Get inspired by famous collage artists and discover your own favorite approach. Expect a fun, creative mess and a studio bursting with color, materials, and ideas. This class is perfect for artists who want to experiment, play, and love all things collage!

Delve into ecology and landscape-level environmental management by using the Brooks School wooded trails, wetlands, and Lake Cochichewick as a living laboratory. Scholars will focus on the science and policy of environmental management, with a sharp focus on the local ecology of North Andover. Expect fieldwork, data analysis in the Science Center, and an active exploration of the campus’s natural environment.

In this course, students will examine topics to prepare them for high school mathematics. With small class sizes, this course enables teachers to meet students where they are in terms of their math progress. Topics may include algebra, geometry, statistics, and precalculus. This is different from your everyday math class. Students will use a hands-on approach to mathematics to make sense of real-world problems and learn various strategies for solving them. Students can expect to use models and tools to persevere through multi-step problems. To foster problem-solving strategies, students are provided opportunities to work both independently and in groups. Students will also learn 21st-century approaches to problem analysis and problem solving.

Can you measure the earth’s gravitational pull or explain how electrons move through a light bulb? What does it mean to control a chemical reaction or predict an outcome? Join us on a scientific journey that explores how experiments reveal important information about our world (and sometimes leave us asking even more questions!). We’ll think and write like scientists as we collect and analyze data, design experiments, and present our understanding in new ways.

Welcome to your adventures in writing! Make the most of your creative writing journey with five distinct and self-contained topics. Sign up for one or all five! Whether you’re an aspiring bard, an imaginative wordsmith, or a storyteller with tales to share, our Creative Writing experiences will guide you through a journey of self-expression, wonder, and literary magic. See the below individual adventure options to decide what journey(s) you are ready to embark on! Unleash your inner child and explore the whimsical world of children’s stories. Reminisce about your favorite childhood stories and learn how to ignite wonder and laughter in young hearts.

Turn everyday materials into fashion masterpieces! In Recycled Fashion, you’ll design and construct bold, three-dimensional wearable art using recycled and found materials—think cardboard, plastic, foam, paper, old clothes and paint. This isn’t a sewing class, but an explosion of hot glue guns and wild imagination! Cardboard suit of armor? Paper ball gown? Your imagination is the limit. Along the way, you’ll build creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills while giving new life to recycled materials. We’ll wrap up the week with a mini runway show to show off your one-of-a-kind designs!

In this course, students will look at topics to prepare them for Middle School Math. Topics include ratios, rates, statistics, geometry, and more! This is different from your everyday math class. We will use a hands-on approach to math so students can make sense of real-world problems and learn different strategies to solve them. Students can expect to use models and tools to persevere through multi-step problems. This course aims to take the pressure out of math, allowing learners to take chances in a fun and engaging environment. Students will leave this course with the math essentials to help them succeed.

After an engaging morning of academic learning, students may extend their day by joining our traditional afternoon Day Camp. Summer Term participants arrive at lunchtime and ease into the rhythms of camp, beginning with a refreshing free swim in our outdoor pools. The afternoon is filled with a variety of age-appropriate activities—archery, gymnastics, arts and crafts, sports, tennis, outdoor exploration, and more—offering students the chance to unwind, build friendships, and enjoy the fun and energy of camp life.

As part of this experience, participants receive lunch, daily snacks, access to special events, and all required materials and supplies. Afternoon Day Camp provides a balanced complement to the morning’s focused academic work, creating a full day that is active, joyful, and connected to the broader Summer at Brooks community.

After a morning of focused academic learning, students may extend their day through an immersive Fine Arts Studios experience. Designed for learners who want dedicated time to explore their creativity, these studio blocks offer a calm, inspiring environment where participants can deepen their artistic practice and develop new skills.

Students select two studio periods between 12:05 and 4:00 p.m. They may choose two different mediums or two sessions within the same medium for a more sustained, in-depth experience. Studio offerings include:

• Plein Air Painting

• Cartooning

• Drawing

• Mixed Media

• Jewelry Design

• Sculpture

Each studio is led by skilled art instructors and practicing artists who bring expertise in their medium and experience working with young creators. With access to high-quality materials and supportive guidance, students are encouraged to experiment, take creative risks, and express their ideas in meaningful ways.

Students participating in Fine Arts Studios enjoy the same thoughtful care provided across all Summer at Brooks programs, including daily snacks, safe supervision, welcoming community spaces, and access to our light-filled studios and arts facilities.

Adding Fine Arts Studios to a student’s schedule creates a balanced full-day program—pairing academic challenge in the morning with hands-on creative exploration in the afternoon.

Tired of being told what you HAVE to write about? Sick of teachers assigning your topic? Take control of your written words and CHOOSE what YOU want to express to the world! From persuasive pieces trying to convince your parents why you deserve to get a cat to informative articles about T Swift’s musical career to expressive writing about traveling comfortably, you pick what most interests you! Learn grammatical skills that help your sentences pop off the page, and practice writing for audiences beyond the classroom!

Calling young mythologists! Prepare to embark on an odyssey through the captivating fusion of mythology and young adult literature. Unearth the wonders of ancient mythology from various cultures worldwide. We’ll explore the timeless tales of gods, goddesses, heroes, and creatures that have shaped cultures for generations. We’ll delve into the magical worlds where ancient myths and legends collide with contemporary storytelling. From modern retellings to fresh twists to subtle touches, we’ll explore where ancient myths find new life in young readers. Our mythological excavation will focus on popular fiction, including but not limited to Percy Jackson and other Rick Riordan stories, Circe and The Song of Achilles, Harry Potter, various graphic novels, and short stories.

In this course, students will examine topics to prepare them for high school mathematics. With small class sizes, this course enables teachers to meet students where they are in terms of their math progress. Topics may include algebra, geometry, statistics, and precalculus. This is different from your everyday math class. Students will use a hands-on approach to mathematics to make sense of real-world problems and learn various strategies for solving them. Students can expect to use models and tools to persevere through multi-step problems. To foster problem-solving strategies, students are provided opportunities to work both independently and in groups. Students will also learn 21st-century approaches to problem analysis and problem solving.

Ever wonder how Velcro was invented? Or how a prosthetic limb might be designed for speed or stability? Bioengineering brings together aspects of biology with engineering to solve problems in the natural world. This course will allow students to understand the range and depth of bioengineering, as well as more recent advancements in subfields, such as biomimicry, biorobotics, and environmental engineering. In a final project, students will use the engineering and design process to test out their own ideas for making their world a little better. Get ready to build, test, fail fast, and invent something truly groundbreaking!

Welcome to your adventures in writing! Make the most of your creative writing journey with five distinct and self-contained topics. Sign up for one or all five! Whether you’re an aspiring bard, an imaginative wordsmith, or a storyteller with tales to share, our Creative Writing experiences will guide you through a journey of self-expression, wonder, and literary magic. See the below individual adventure options to decide what journey(s) you are ready to embark on! Unearth your unique voice as you delve into the realm of personal narratives. Share your own experiences, memories, and emotions with authenticity and grace.

In this course, students will look at topics to prepare them for Middle School Math. Topics include ratios, rates, statistics, geometry, and more! This is different from your everyday math class. We will use a hands-on approach to math so students can make sense of real-world problems and learn different strategies to solve them. Students can expect to use models and tools to persevere through multi-step problems. This course aims to take the pressure out of math, allowing learners to take chances in a fun and engaging environment. Students will leave this course with the math essentials to help them succeed.

Calling all aspiring media moguls! If you’re looking to build your skills in creating fun, interactive, and inspirational media, this experience is for you. Together, we will explore different kinds of media, how a message is built, and what makes a source credible and try our hands at podcasting, video-making, and journalistic reporting.

Delve into ecology and landscape-level environmental management by using the Brooks School wooded trails, wetlands, and Lake Cochichewick as a living laboratory. Scholars will focus on the science and policy of environmental management, with a sharp focus on the local ecology of North Andover. Expect fieldwork, data analysis in the Science Center, and an active exploration of the campus’s natural environment.

After an engaging morning of academic learning, students may extend their day by joining our traditional afternoon Day Camp. Summer Term participants arrive at lunchtime and ease into the rhythms of camp, beginning with a refreshing free swim in our outdoor pools. The afternoon is filled with a variety of age-appropriate activities—archery, gymnastics, arts and crafts, sports, tennis, outdoor exploration, and more—offering students the chance to unwind, build friendships, and enjoy the fun and energy of camp life.

As part of this experience, participants receive lunch, daily snacks, access to special events, and all required materials and supplies. Afternoon Day Camp provides a balanced complement to the morning’s focused academic work, creating a full day that is active, joyful, and connected to the broader Summer at Brooks community.

After a morning of focused academic learning, students may extend their day through an immersive Fine Arts Studios experience. Designed for learners who want dedicated time to explore their creativity, these studio blocks offer a calm, inspiring environment where participants can deepen their artistic practice and develop new skills.

Students select two studio periods between 12:05 and 4:00 p.m. They may choose two different mediums or two sessions within the same medium for a more sustained, in-depth experience. Studio offerings include:

• Plein Air Painting

• Cartooning

• Drawing

• Mixed Media

• Jewelry Design

• Sculpture

Each studio is led by skilled art instructors and practicing artists who bring expertise in their medium and experience working with young creators. With access to high-quality materials and supportive guidance, students are encouraged to experiment, take creative risks, and express their ideas in meaningful ways.

Students participating in Fine Arts Studios enjoy the same thoughtful care provided across all Summer at Brooks programs, including daily snacks, safe supervision, welcoming community spaces, and access to our light-filled studios and arts facilities.

Adding Fine Arts Studios to a student’s schedule creates a balanced full-day program—pairing academic challenge in the morning with hands-on creative exploration in the afternoon.

In AI Pioneers, our emerging engineers will learn how to create projects for social good with Python programming language. Through hands-on coding, students will learn how computers can use data to solve complex problems like natural language processing and computer vision. Led by Stanford, MIT, and Ivy League alumni and graduate students, students will explore the ways they can meaningfully use AI to predict heart disease, create social robots, assist with disaster relief, and navigate autonomous vehicles.

In our curriculum, we emphasize ethical responsibility, career paths in artificial intelligence, and interdisciplinary applications! From beginner to advanced coders, we envision a future where students of all backgrounds can contribute to a bright future of inclusivity and technological advancement.

Please read more here! No prerequisites. Taught by instructors from Inspirit AI, this is an ungraded course earning no credit.