About YAP - Youth Adventure Program 2008

YAP I: July 13-18 (Sunday-Friday)
Students entering grades 6-9 in the fall of 2008

YAP II: July 20-26 (Sunday-Saturday)
Students entering grades 9-12 in the fall of 2008

YAP III: July 27-August 2 (Sunday-Saturday)
Students entering grades 9-12 in the fall of 2008

The YOUTH ADVENTURE PROGRAM (YAP) is a series of one week courses designed to encourage career exploration in fields of interest to gifted and talented students. YAP is held on the College Station campus of Texas A&M University. Although no admission criteria are utilized, applicants should be highly motivated to learn, think, and solve problems and should have a strong interest in future college, university, and/or professional school attendance. Only one course is selected per week of attendance, and applicants are admitted on a first come basis.

University professors and other professionals will teach YAP classes. While they may do some lecturing to introduce concepts and principles, major emphasis is given to "discussing (yapping) and doing" as a strategy for engaging students in the investigative process. Classes usually meet from 9:00-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. YAP also includes social and recreational activities in the late afternoons and evenings to provide for student interaction in other settings.

YAP attendees will be housed in The Tradition at Northgate, a private dormitory located just off the Texas A&M campus that features suite-style accommodations with private bedrooms for each student. Camp orientation will be held on Sunday night following the check-in period. At this time, campers will be provided with opportunities to meet the camp staff and fellow "Yappers" through special "getting-to-know-you" activities. Other evening events will include game shows, swim parties, and our heralded "Wacky Olympics" and "Amazing Race" competitions.

To register, students may complete and mail the application form included in the YAP brochure, or register online at http://yap.tamu.edu. A $399.00 registration fee, which is refundable until April 28, is necessary to hold a student's position and must accompany the application. The remaining $500.00 must be received by May 19 for YAP I, May 23 for YAP II, and May 27 for YAP III. Without final payments, the student's reservation is subject to cancellation. Payment in full is also accepted at the time of initial registration.

The $899 fee covers private dorm accommodations, full meal services, instructional materials, transportation around campus, professor fees, camp t-shirt, and all recreational events. Students may need spending money for personal expenses. For the 2008 Youth Adventure Program, the Performance Theater course will cost $999.00 and will run from Friday, July 18 – Saturday, July 26.

A registration packet will be mailed to each student directly following their acceptance into the program. This packet will include detailed information including arrival and departure times/directions, an itemized checklist of things to bring, and a link to download the medical, insurance, and release forms necessary for attendance. All paperwork is due in relation to the payment deadline for each session. Non submission of any required form may result in student being dropped from the program and/or their space released (without refund).

For more information, contact:
Dr. Jay Woodward
Director, YAP
Department of Educational Psychology
4225 - TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-4225

Phone: (979) 845-1802
Fax: (979) 845-3578
Email: gifted@coe.tamu.edu
Website: http://yap.tamu.edu