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Kean University

Pre-College and Summer Youth Programs

Looking for a fun, educational pre-college program in New Jersey for your child or teen? Kean summer programs are the answer. Summer at Kean is a great way to keep kids engaged and learning through the summer months.

Camp Premiere improv session

Changemakers Entrepreneurship Pre-College Program

Calling all future CEOs, innovators, investors and entrepreneurs! Do you dream about starting a business that makes a difference? Join us for an exciting, informative and hands-on summer pre-college program.

Social entrepreneurship (i.e., being a “changemaker”) is about creating goods and services that sell while also making a valuable social impact. Participants will learn how to start up an enterprise and will work in teams to simulate all the stages of business development and launch.

Department Entrepreneurial Education Initiatives (EEI)
Dates and times

July 8 - 25, 2024, Monday - Thursday
8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Overnight/Day Day 
Age/Target Grades 9-12
Location

Kean University
Union, NJ 

Cost

$1200
Snacks and Lunch will be provided

Contact

Email eei@kean.edu, for more information.
 

 

HRI camp students collaborate on a project

Human Rights in Action

Historically, young people have been the agents of change. Do you want to create a more just and inclusive world? Join Kean University’s Human Rights Institute and the Diversity Council on Global Education and Citizenship this summer for Human Rights in Action, a summer program designed specifically for high school students looking to elevate their voices and build the tools needed to become a more effective advocate and ally. This program will be run at three different Kean locations, our main campus in Union, Kean Ocean in Toms River and Kean Skylands in Jefferson Township.

Department 

Human Rights Institute and Holocaust Resource Center

Dates and times

9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., July 8-11, 2024

Overnight/Day Day
Age/Target Grades 10-12
Location

Human Rights Institute
Kean University
1000 Morris Ave.
Union, NJ

Kean Ocean
Gateway Building (GATE)
Lot 4
Ocean County College
Toms River, NJ 08753

Kean Skylands
243 Mount Paul Road, Oak Ridge, NJ 07438

Cost

$300.00 per week

Contact

Dr. Adara Goldberg 
agoldber@kean.edu 
(908) 737-4660

 
 

CREATE logo

C.R.E.A.T.E.

Creatively Reaching Everyone Artistically Through Equity (CREATE) is a Fine Arts Intensive, pre-college learning experience. It offers young artists a chance to engage in the pursuit of visual arts knowledge with purpose. Students will have the guidance of professional working artists and educators who will assist in the development of their artistic talent, personal discipline, and the tools needed to advance their technique and art career. All students are welcome. Previous art courses are not a prerequisite however art experience is required.

Follow your heART with CREATE!

Participating Districts
  • Plainfield School District
  • Elizabeth School District
  • Summit School District
  • Newark School District

Department

Liberty Hall Academic Center

Dates and times

Session I
July 8, 2024 - July 18, 2024
 

Session II
July 22, 2024- August 1, 2024

Overnight/Day

Day camp

Age/Target

Session I: Grades 6 - 8 
Session II: Grades 9-12 

Cost

$750 for two weeks

Total Payment due by:  June 28, 2024

Breakfast and lunch included.

Early Bird special $375: Must be paid by May 3, 2024.
Early bird special for 2 weeks is $700
Regular Deposit: $100.00
$50 discount for 2 weeks. 
$100 Staff Discount 

Contact

Cisely Martin 
breedenc@kean.edu 

Art IntensiveNo prior art experience is needed.

All Art Supplies: Provided by The Galleries at Kean

Camp Premiere

Camp Premiere

Register now for Camp Premiere 2024! Visit Premiere Stages at Kean University for more information.

Session 1: Theatremakers
Students translate their creative ideas into brand new, original material for the stage. Through structured improvisation, storytelling exercises, and acting games, campers craft and star in their own, totally original theatrical presentation for friends and family.
Session 2: Actors Studio
Students focus on the craft of acting through physical and vocal warm-ups, improvisation, acting technique, and scene study. Working closely with industry professionals, campers perform scenes from contemporary plays, selected specifically for unique talents and areas for growth.

Department  Premiere Stages
Dates and times

Theatremakers:  July 8-19, 2024, M-F 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Actors Studio:  July 22-August 2, 2024, M-F 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Overnight/Day Day camp
Age/Target Grades 6 - 8 (Session I) & Grades 9 - 12 (Session II)
Cost: The full cost for each two-week session is $350. The early bird special of $300 expires on March 15.
Location

Enlow Hall (East Campus)
215 North Ave
Hillside, NJ

Contact

Nick Gandiello
ngandiel@kean.edu 
908-737-4081 

Register for Theatre Makers

Register for Actors Studio

An overhead shot of Kean Skylands in the fall, with autumn leaves, a building and a lake.

SKYARTS

The Kean Skylands campus in Jefferson Township, NJ serves as the inspiration and backdrop for the SKYARTS pre-college program. Each week finds a way to incorporate the environment into the work in a different context. Week one invites participants to engage with the campus by visiting different sites and selecting natural materials that they will use to create their week-long project. This mixed media project will rely upon the use of multiple skills which will be honed with the assistance of world-class faculty. Week two of the program allows our faculty to instruct students on the skills associated with landscape drawing and painting. Participants will explore the grounds and each find a spot on which to focus their week-long landscape drawing and/or painting. In both weeks, students will have an opportunity to present their work, sharpening their ability to articulate what their art means to them.

 

Department 

Kean Skylands
Dates and times

July 8 - July 19, 2024

Monday - Friday

9 a.m. - 3 p.m

Rain or shine

Overnight/Day Day Camp
Age/Target Grades 9-12
Location Kean Skylands
243 Mount Paul Road
Oak Ridge, New Jersey 07438
Cost Early Bird rate: $750 before February 29, 2024
Regular rate: $800 starting March 1, 2024
Contact

Erica Colace
Phone: (908) 737-1612
Email: keanskylands@kean.edu 
Social: https://www.facebook.com/KUSkylands and https://www.instagram.com/keanskylands/

 

GSSRP students standing on the main staircase of the STEM building

IST Group Summer Scholars Research Program

The GSSRP is a 4-week, hands-on research experience aimed at attracting and developing talented students who are interested in pursuing an education in a STEM field. Participants will work alongside faculty and staff on cutting-edge research projects in Scientific Visualization, Cancer Biology, Machine Learning, Bioinformatics, Computational and Molecular techniques. Participants will gain valuable technical skills and research experience and learn to work as part of a research team.

Department  School of Integrated Science and Technology
Dates and times

4 Week Session: July 8—August 1, 2024
2 Week Session: July 22—August 1, 2024
Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m

  • Applications available: February 5, 2024
  • Application Deadline:  March 8, 2024
  • Acceptances Released: April 12, 2024
  • Registration Deadline: May 3, 2024 ($250 deposit due)
  • Final Payment Due: May 31, 2024
Overnight/Day Day
Age/Target Grades 10-12
Location STEM Building
1075 Morris Ave.
Union, NJ
Cost $1,950 (4 week session) $975 (2 week session)
Contact

Judy April
Email: japril@kean.edu
Phone: (908) 737-7202

Website www.kean.edu/summer-scholar 
The Cabin at Kean Skylands

SKYLAB: Environmental Summer Program

With topics ranging from climate change to animal conservation and environmental technology, the SKYLAB program held at Kean's Skylands campus in Jefferson Township, NJ has something for every budding science enthusiast. Using our 44-acre natural living laboratory and state of the art facilities, students will learn how to collect, analyze, and synthesize data into a research project that can be used simply to hone their skills or to earn them college credit (depending on the option chosen at the time of registration). Students will learn from several world-class Kean faculty in order to ensure a diverse and enriching experience. There will only be one session of the program. It will run Monday-Thursday, July 8-18 with drop-off at 9am and pick-up at 3 p.m.

Dates and times

July 8 - July 18, 2024
Monday - Thursday
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Rain or Shine

Overnight/Day Day Camp
Age/Target Grades 9 - 12
Cost

Non-credit rate: $899 ($800, before February 29, 2024)
For-credit rate (2-credits granted): $1,350

Location Kean Skylands
243 Mount Paul Road
Oak Ridge, New Jersey 07438
Contact

Erica Colace
Phone: (908) 737-1612
Email: keanskylands@kean.edu

Social: https://www.facebook.com/KUSkylands and https://www.instagram.com/keanskylands/

 

Project Adelante student works on a computer project

Project Adelante

Project Adelante was designed in 1988 to address the high dropout rate of Hispanic students. The program started with 83 8th grade students from the Perth Amboy School District. Since then, Passaic (1991 - present), Elizabeth, (1991 - exited in 2012) and Plainfield in 1998 (1998 - present) have participated in Project Adelante. The program currently serves 150 from these districts. English for English Language Learners and the teaching of mathematics, science, technology and counseling are the core courses taught. This program is open to school districts only, if you would like your school district to be part of this program please contact us for more information.

Department Division of Entrepreneurial Education Initiatives (EEI)
Dates and times

July 8 - August 2, 2024, Monday -Thursday
8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Age/Target 6-12
Contact

Sonia Irrizary
sirizarr@kean.edu 
(732) 221-2857 
adelante@kean.edu 

Steps to Your Future

Description

A program to provide an immersive college experience for teens/young adults with Autism and/or other individualized needs who are considering going to college in the future.

Department Kean University Occupational Therapy Community Cares Clinic
Dates and times

Monday, July 29 - Thursday, August 1

Monday 9 a.m.-overnight

Tuesday 9 a.m.-overnight

Wednesday-overnight; Thursday-12:00 p.m.

Overnight/Day Day/Overnight
Age/Target Students with autism between the ages of 16 and 22
Contact

Tarah Romano
jedzinit@kean.edu

Cost Costs: $425
Website otclinic.kean.edu 
Social, other www.facebook.com/keanOTclinic

Register Now

Upward Bound students

Upward Bound

Upward Bound is a FREE federally funded program that helps eligible high school students successfully complete high school and prepare for college. The program helps youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds hone their academic skills.

The primary services provided are academic instruction, tutoring, career counseling and training, cultural enrichment and skill-building in the areas of leadership and college preparation.

Department  Upward Bound
Dates 

 June 24 - Aug 1 2024, Monday to Thursday 

Overnight/Day Day/Overnight
Age/Target Grades 9 - 12
Location Kean University 
Union, NJ
Contact

Maria Isabel Rijos
marijos@kean.edu
(908) 737-4033
kean.edu/upwardbound