Thread: National young scholars program

Interesting. This same question has been raised at 3 or 4 different teacher websites.

It took a bit of searching, but I learned that this is a 4th and 5th grade program for "high achievers" and "rising young leaders." Each year, a 6 or 13 day session is held. In 2006, the NYSP met just outside Washington D.C. at the National 4H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, MD.

Tuition for a 13-Day Session was $2,480.
Tuition for a 6-Day Sessions: $1,840.

Discovery strands covered by the conference in 2006 included:

1. The Circle of Life: Ecological Kingdoms in Balance
2. Newton's Laws: Keys to Understanding the Physics of Flight
3. CSI - Crime Solvers, Inc. Forensics: The Amazing Science of Detection
4. Fantasy, Fables and Folktales: A Literary Journey
5. The Olympian World: Legendary Figures of Greek Mythology
6. Nature's Tightrope: Quest for a Balanced Environment
7. Leadership Strand: Stepping Forward as a Leader

The website for the National Young Scholars Program may be found at:

[url]http://www.nationalyoungscholars.org/[/url]

Hello, I am an art teacher for a public charter school in Washington, DC and I worked for the National Young Scholars Program this past summer.

I have to say that the program is a wonderful experience for young people - it's very hands-on, and regardless of what "discovery strand" is picked, the lessons are interdisciplinary. This past summer, there was one 13 day strand and multiple 6 day ones, so for your students that seem to be very close to home, or those that do not seem very outgoing - I would suggest they choose the 6 day program. Either way, the kids get a real feeling of being a little more on their own, it's a great experience as a first trip away from home.

The days that the kids spend there are a lot like school days (but fun) - where they get up and eat breakfast together, and then the scholars go into their classes. They pick a "discovery" strand - which can be literature, CSI (which I did, and was awesome! - crime scenes were set up for students to discover and solve), ecology, mythology, among others. All students have a"lea dership" strand to attend each day - where they learn teambuilding and get to do some pretty cool things (such as talent shows, team presentations, etc). There is also a free time in the day, where students can chose to use the computers on campus, play board games or outdoor games such as kickball, volleyball or basketball, or they can have quiet reading time. There are times set aside for field trips and a tour of Washington, D.C.

The people that run and work for NYSP are all amazing - and all really care about the scholars. Almost all of the people that work for NYSP have an undergraduate degree in education or a field related, and almost all either have their masters degree or are working towards one. I don't know if that really makes a difference to you guys, but I found that with the group of people that I worked with, because we were all so goal-oriented, we wanted to make it the best possible time for the kids that were there and we seemed to be people that just wanted the program to be all about the kids.

In all, there is a nurse on staff, faculty advisors which teach the lessons as well as stay on floors with the students, counselors, people that are in charge of materials, etc.

In Washington, DC - we stay at the National 4H Center, which is a lot like a college campus- and the people that work there (the cleaning staff, cafeteria staff and concierge) are all really friendly and helpful. The food could be better, however, there are a lot of choices and the children seem to like it. There is always a salad bar and fruit and also many healthy choices available. The 4H Center as well as NYSP work together with students who have special dietary needs and allergies to make it as safe and healthy as possible.

The price of the sessions may seem a little expensive - but there are fundraisers that your students can do to go. If they can - it is just a very rewarding learning experience. Most people don't get to experience this kind of thing until they are in college (like myself!) - in all, it is very educational and truly an amazing thing for hard-working students. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to ask away!

Our girl was nominated by her third grade teacher, Ms Terri Roscoe, and was the first student from WDES to attend the program. After I got over the initial trepidation about leaving our girl with strangers for two weeks...here is what I discovered. 1) the staff is WONDERFUL. They are absolutely dedicated to their work with the kids. The counselors were stellar and dealt well with the "first night away" and the "last night with my new friends" tears. The kept my childs safety and well being foremost in their thoughts and patiently demonstrated that to me on opening day. They accounted for any/all possiblities that could arise and I left my precious girl in their care completely confident. 2) Her instructor was...in one word...AMAZING!! Even after the program was over, she stayed in touch...dropping a note here and there encouraging our "scholar" and telling her how much she looked forward to seeing her again next session. When it comes to forensics..every sentence begins with .."Ms. Marchand says...". I hope she knows how profoundly she has touched this little girls heart. 3)The accomadations were great...and the food was...OUTSTANDING. Our girl is extremely picky but I heard how she ate three semi square meals. (her fault..not theirs. I should have such good food every day, yanno?) When I visitied the cafeteria all I could say was.."OMG..look at all this FOOD...and one whole wall of nothing but fruit!!" Anything you could think of, they had there. 4) The girls that our girl shared a dorm room with had like interests and she formed lasting friendships with at least one of them. She was never alone, never lonely. We had a whole twenty minutes of tears when we left, but when I called her to check on her that night she was far too busy with new friends to chat with me <heavy sigh>.

In closing, I'd like to say that any child given the opportunity to attend NYSP should feel honored. And I hope they choose to attend. This has been the experience of a lifetime for our girl. She gained self confidence and permanent leadership qualities that have enabled her to step up in school and join the "Problem Solvers" program, she tutors another child in reading in the mornings and she has learned the art of dealing with others in a way I could never have taught her.

Kudos to NYSP!!

Hi. I posted the original question while my 9 yr old daughter was attending the NYSP in Chevy Chase MD. I was rather anxious to find other parent or teacher opinions about this program. Our decision to send her was based entirely on the information we received from the program literature and on several parent references given to me by the program staff. Otherwise, I was not able to find any objective information or feedback from any other sources. Unfortunately, we did not have a good experience at NYSP as the above two posters. I will agree that there were some real jewels amoung the faculty working with my daughter. Some not so great, IMHO. Thanks for your replies.

I'm so sorry your girl didnt have a great time. I hope you reported whatever problems you had to Donna Snyder. If you havent, you should. I know MY girl isnt a singular incident, and I'm sure yours wasnt either. If they program has bugs to work out they need ALL the input they can get. You wanna make sure no one else's little girl has to deal with what yours did, yanno?

Thanks for responding...

Hi Jewel, I began contacting NYSP while my daughter was STILL enrolled in the program as the problems started on the first night. I talked with many people in this organization via email, snail mail and phone. Very hard to get a response. I sent a very long detailed letter to Ms. Snyder after my daughter came back with no response. I have begun receiveing invitations for her to return next year with emails to the coorporate office included in the letters. I emailed the corp. office saying you must not have received my original letter since no one responded to my very significant concerns and proceeded to email my original letter ( 2nd submission ) to them. Finally, just 2 days ago, I received an email from one of the program directors addressing my concerns and apologizing for the incidents that occured. This was exacly TWO and 1/2 plus months and several emails and letters after my daughter finished the program. I do not let my young children go away from me without great thought and great confidence that she would be safe and cared for as if I were caring for her myself. This was not our experience and to have to wait 2 months for someone to respond to my letter was disappointing to say the least.

I am a teacher in an urban elementary school in a predominantly blue-collar neighborhood. I would like to ensure that the parent's and student's trust in the credibilty of their teachers is not being used to "promote or market" what appears to be a very, very expensive summer camp program.

The premise appears to be that proud parents everywhere, whether they can afford to or not, will always try to do the best for their children. The package put out by the National Young Scholars Program is very glitzy and impressive, and "implies" that a nomination to attend is some sort of official recognition of academic achievement which would give the "scholar" an advantage or credentials, i.e., build their academic resume, to be used as the student progresses to secondary and higher education.

My concern arises from the fact I can find very little of substance about the company or the program. What criteria is used to select the teachers who make the nominations?, and/or what criteria are these teachers given to make their student nominations?

I do not want to see the parents in my community who can least afford to, send their children to a very expensive program thinking it will help their children's chances for admission to a particular secondary or higher educational institution, when in fact it would not.

Are there any Admissions people out there who can say that attendance at one of these programs improves a students chances for acceptance?

If this is indeed just a summer camp program, then call it what it is. Also, selecting and using real teachers to "nominate" scholars has got to be one of the slickest marketing strategies conceived.

P.S. I also posted this response on another thread in this Forum

I am a parent of a fourth grader who has just received the marketing package from this so-called "National Center for Early Academic Excellence." All I know about this organization is from my examination of this material and a cursory glance at what Google throws up when "National Young Scholars Program" is searched.

I do not like what I see.

In my opinion the entire marketing program of this private profit-making organization is unethical.

They are slick marketers who anticipate even that parents will refer to the internet and have a video there all ready for us, one that like their printed material offers up almost no real information.

1. There is more salesmanship than information given in the package that advertises a five day program for almost $2000.

2. In my opinion it is designed to appeal to the insecure, who are ready to be sold on the idea that the selection of their child as a marketing target is somehow an "honor". Only parents not keeping in touch with their children's real progress in school will be impressed.

3. In my opinion the oversize outer envelope with the oversize fancy typeface addressed to "The Parents of ---" is designed so that it is noticed by the children in a circumstance where it is best to have the parent consider the matter first, and alone.

4. There is even a marketing letter individually addressed to the child, who is urged on by the repeated mention of the referring teacher's name.

5. There is even an attempt to sell the program to children who clearly cannot afford it and who are urged therefore to start a fund raising program for the tuition.

6. It may be in your case, and certainly is in ours, that for a teacher to send the name and information about the child to an outside company is a violation of school district regulations and the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

7. While I have been told that the teacher gets no kick back for these referrals, I remain suspicious.

8. The use of the title, "National Young Scholars Program" seems designed to emulate other, more established, programs including one with a similar name run by the National Science Foundation.

I would not consider sending my child to an organization that presents itself in such a manner.

I receive these packets every year with a request to nominate my students. I researched it myself and even contacted the company to find out more. What a sales pitch I got as a teacher! Promising the moon and stars for my students and oh! The fundraising (I teach in a lower class neighborhood)....believe me--there is no teacher "kickback". I throw it in the trash with all the other junk mail teachers get.