Explore & Experience Your Future College & Career Path.
For the past 10 years, we have welcomed students from around the world to our exciting academic preparation, college readiness, and career exploration summer programs for elementary, middle, high school, and college students. Now, you can join them.
We invite you to devote a portion of your summer to explore and experience your future college and career path.
Career Exploration Seminars & Simulations
- You will participate in career exploration seminars and receive hands-on experience with a variety of careers through 25 different simulation studios – such as Engineering Studio, Science Lab, Nursing & Health Care Studio, and Website Design & Development Studio) to help you learn about various career paths and discover your future career interests.
- Our summer program operates for 8 or 9 weeks at most site locations. You will choose one career simulation studio that you are interested in exploring every two weeks during the program. Therefore, you will only be able to enroll in up to 4 different career simulation studios out of the 25 simulation studios offered every summer at NAPCA. Enrollment in each simulation studio is on a first-come, first-serve basis.
College Readiness
- You will gain the knowledge, hands-on experience, and resources to successfully navigate through the competitive and complex college admissions, financial aid, and matriculation process with greater confidence, and reduced stress and anxiety.
Academic Enrichment Courses
- Supplemental academic instruction courses in writing and grammar, mathematics, and public speaking will be provided to help you meet and/or exceed common core state standards in mathematics and English language arts for your current grade level.
- You will strengthen your confidence and foundational math skills to improve your overall performance in school for the next grade level.
- You will improve your vocabulary, reading comprehension skills, and receive targeted instruction in sentence writing, paragraph writing, grammar and mechanics, and introductory essay writing.
- You will learn how to become an effective public speaker! You will discover how to talk confidently and persuasively to both large audiences and small groups.
- You will learn how to plan and deliver presentations skillfully and how to manage one of the most common public speaking barriers—fear of failure.
Academic Tutoring
- You will be provided with academic tutoring in math and English language arts to help you improve your confidence and academic performance.
- Tutoring focuses on two key areas to help you master grade level common core state standards in mathematics and English language arts. First, we will administer a needs assessment aligned with your current grade level common core state standards in mathematics and English language arts to identify your learning gap. Then, we will work with you to close the gap based on the assessment.
Academic Skills Development Seminar
- You will engage in academic skills development seminars to nurture within you, effective learning habits to succeed in school. Seminar topics include effective study skills, note taking, time management, and organization skills.
Social-Emotional Skills Development Seminar
- You will participate in interactive social-emotional development workshops to help you manage your emotions, build healthy relationships, validate your assumptions, and control your impulses, negative thoughts, and feelings.
College Tours
- You will discover college life through interactive college tours designed specifically for elementary, middle, and high school students.
Live & Learn on a College Campus
- You will live and learn within a safe and secure college environment to experience what it will be like as a college student.
- You will live in the freshman dorms to learn about residential life and meet with University admissions officers to learn about admission requirements and the college application process.
- You will also meet with current college students who will share age-appropriate college life experiences and provide recommendations on how to start preparing for college as a college-bound student.
- Additionally, you will attend NAPCA classes on campus, tour the University campus, and experience eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the University dining hall with your NAPCA family.
Fun Activities & Excursions
- Looking for fun things to do this summer? We’ve got you covered. You will participate in a variety of fun indoor and outdoor activities that will provide you with an unforgettable summer experience.
Explore our College & Career Readiness Curriculum
Click on one of the tabs below!
College Admission: Navigating the College Admissions Process
NAPCA 300:
The System of Higher Education in the United States
NAPCA 301:
High School Graduation vs Four Year College Admission Requirements
NAPCA 302:
Understanding the College Application Process
NAPCA 303:
Writing the Personal Statement and Admissions Essay
NAPCA 304:
Becoming A Competitive Applicant for Highly Selective Colleges
NAPCA 305:
Personal Statement & Admissions Essay Practicum
NAPCA 306:
Selecting Your College Major
NAPCA 307:
Selecting Your "Best-Fit" College
NAPCA 308:
SAT Test Prep
NAPCA 309:
ACT Test Prep
NAPCA 310:
Student Athletes & College Admissions Process
NAPCA 311:
Creating Your Safety, Match, & Reach College List
NAPCA 312:
Majoring in STEM and Social Science Major Fields
Financial Aid & Scholarships: Paying for College
NAPCA 400:
Completing the FAFSA: Applying for Financial Aid
NAPCA 401:
Understanding Financial Aid Award Letters & Packages
NAPCA 402:
Applying for Financial Aid Practicum
NAPCA 403:
Demystifying Student Loans
NAPCA 404:
Understanding Work Study
NAPCA 405:
Repaying your Student Loan
NAPCA 406:
Effective Strategies to Find and Win Scholarships
NAPCA 407:
Scholarship Application & Essay Writing Practicum
NAPCA 408:
Mock Scholarship Interview
NAPCA 409:
Reapplying for Financial Aid
Academic Skills Development & Writing for College Success
NAPCA 500:
Time Management & Goal-Setting Skills
NAPCA 501:
Balancing Academics with Extracurricular Activities
NAPCA 502:
Effective Listening & Note Taking Skills
NAPCA 503:
Memorization Skills: Learn to Remember!
NAPCA 504:
Organizational Skills for Student Success
NAPCA 505:
Basic Research Skills for Student Success
NAPCA 506:
Effective Study Techniques
NAPCA 507:
Academic Presentations & Using PowerPoint
NAPCA 508:
Intro to College Writing
NAPCA 509:
Exam Taking Strategies & Relieving Test Taking Anxiety
NAPCA 510:
Power Reading Strategies: Comprehension & Speed
NAPCA 511:
Academic Writing for College Success
NAPCA 512:
Effective Reading Skills for Student Success
NAPCA 513:
Taking Advantage of Academic Support & Campus Resources
Breaking Through Barriers to College Completion
NAPCA 600:
Breaking Through Barriers to College Completion
NAPCA 601:
Taking Ownership of Your Future Aspirations
NAPCA 602:
Breaking Through Stress & Anxiety
NAPCA 603:
Building & Sustaining Healthy Relationships
NAPCA 604A:
Breaking Through Depression
NAPCA 604B:
Breaking Through Depression on A Day to Day Basis
NAPCA 605:
Breaking Through Emotional & Psychological Barriers
NAPCA 606:
Breaking Through Barriers to College Enrollment
NAPCA 607:
Making Effective Decisions for Student Success
NAPCA 608:
Transitioning from High School to College
NAPCA 609:
Tips for College Survival
NAPCA 610:
Eating Healthy and Staying Fit
NAPCA 611:
Breaking Through Peer Pressure
NAPCA 612:
Interpersonal & Communication Skills
Career Development, Planning, & Exploration
NAPCA 700:
Exploring Your Future Career Path
NAPCA 701:
Presonal Strategic Planning: Education & Career Action Plan
NAPCA 702:
Resume Writing
NAPCA 703:
Writing an Effective LinkedIn Profile
NAPCA 704:
Applying for a Job or Internship Aligned with Your Career Path
NAPCA 705:
Effective Interviewing Skills
NAPCA 706:
Writing a Cover & Thank You Letter
NAPCA 707:
Intro to Public Speaking
NAPCA 708:
Financial Literacy: Creating & Managing Your Personal Budget
Experience College Life
NAPCA 800:
Living and Dining on Campus
NAPCA 801:
Intro to Greek Life: Fraternities & Sororties
NAPCA 802:
Visit University Course Lecture
NAPCA 803:
Visit Your Intended Academic Major Department
NAPCA 804:
College Student Panel
NAPCA 805:
College Tours: Visit Two & Four Year Colleges
NAPCA Difference: “The NAPCA Family Commitment”
- After students complete one of our college and career exploration summer programs, students will be invited to remain in the NAPCA family through participating in our year-round college and career readiness counseling program.
- Students will be assigned to a NAPCA college and career readiness counselor, who will provide academic support and college and career advising services during elementary, middle, high school, and college at no cost.
- After our students graduate from college, students will continue to receive academic and career advising services at no cost until they have reached their future career goal.
Explore. Strategize. Thrive.
Building A Pathway to Your Future
Explore.
All NAPCA students will devote a portion of their summer to explore and experience different college and career pathways through experiential learning activities, exciting hands on simulations and workshops, and interactive meetings with experienced college and career professionals. Students will learn about various types of college and careers, and discover their future college and career interests.
Strategize.
All NAPCA students will have a comprehensive personal strategic action plan, which is an education and career plan with specific action steps to achieve their academic and career goal(s). The action plan shall serve as a road map to help students enter and complete a post secondary education degree or career training certificate or licensure program, specifically to enter careers that provide a sense of purpose and meaning to their lives.
Thrive.
We prepare our students to vigorously work the personal strategic action plan that they develop during the summer program at NAPCA to help them reach their future college and career aspirations. After students complete one of our college and career exploration summer programs, students will be invited to remain in the NAPCA family through participating in our year-round college and career readiness counseling program. Students will be assigned to a NAPCA college and career readiness counselor, who will provide academic support and college and career advising services during elementary, middle, high school, and college at no cost. After our students graduate from college, students will continue to receive academic and career advising services at no cost until they have reached their future career goal.
NAPCA Goal 2030
By 2030, we will help 1,000,000 students enter and complete a postsecondary education degree or career training certificate or licensure program, specifically to enter careers that provide a sense of purpose and meaning to their lives.
Our Impact
College Readiness: NAPCA students are better prepared for college than non-NAPCA students at specific schools served by NAPCA, surpassing students when it comes to “a-g” coursework and entrance exam completion, four-year college eligibility, college enrollment, college persistence, and college completion.
Coursework: NAPCA students are three times more likely to complete the “a-g” courses required for college admission as their non-NAPCA counterparts: 91% compared to 30%.
College Enrollment: 98% of NAPCA students attend college the first year after high school graduation.
College Success: The college persistence rates of NAPCA alumni are equal to or better than their campus counterparts who did not participate in NAPCA.
Student & Parent Testimonials
Student Testimonial from Camron Jones
Coming into this NAPCA program I didn’t know what to expect, I’ve never had the chance experience a place where the environment is so friendly yet hard working at the same time. It’s like being in a school full of good friends except everyone is focused on the same thing. This program has really changed me and made me a better student and person at the same time.
NAPCA is definitely an experience that I will never forget. The program has changed my life for the better and the friends that I’ve made will stick with me wherever I go. Over the course of program, I cried, laughed, and had one heck of a time with a group of hardworking students that feel like a second family.
Student Testimonial from Kaitlin Ceragioli
Anybody that is definitely serious about college came to this program and I had fun just knowing I had something in common with people here. Being here at the NAPCA Summer Academy was one of the best choices I’ve made. Just being here on campus was so surreal, I was born a Trojan and I know that. I’ve learned so many skills that they don’t teach in high school.
This program made me feel much more confident in myself. I will definitely be more prepared in sending USC my application. I just hope that I’ll get that acceptance letter. I have learned so much being here and it is so useful. I will go in knowing time-management skills, note-taking skills, how the admissions and financial aid process works, and so many other skills and strategies.
Student Testimonial from Danielle Hagan
I am definitely very grateful for this NAPCA experience I can honestly say the NAPCA has changed my life forever. Though I was nervous and a little hesitant while coming to this program I am glad that I opened up and allowed myself to be comfortable here. Broke down barriers that I would’ve never broke down anywhere else and I would like to thank NAPCA for that I now know that I will get farther in life ‘cause I don’t have those barriers blocking my path.
Student Testimonial from Jide Akinpelu
NAPCA is an opportunity that cannot be allowed to slip away; it is not only an honor but a privilege to be given the advantage of experiencing college life before experiencing the real thing. At NAPCA students are guided through a rigorous schedule of classes that teach different aspects to help you survive college life. The seminars I learned the most from while I was here were stress management, strategic planning, and balancing extracurricular activities. NAPCA is truly a one of a kind experience that has empowered its students to break through barriers and take ownership of our futures.
Parent Testimonial from Shawnda Scruggs
The program exceeded my expectations!!!! Overall, your program was worth the financial investment and more. My expectation was for my son to gain knowledge and an understanding of what college life is like. He gained that plus better social skills, learned the critical steps he must complete to be a competitive applicant for college admission, an understanding of the impact that procrastination has on his future and confidence in his own abilities.
The program reinforced many messages I had been sending to my son, however, he internalized them and put them into action after participating in your program. He is not procrastinating, he gets his academic work done at a faster pace, he is more outgoing and sociable. He is looking more diligently into his career options. He better values and appreciates our finances. He is more easy to rise in the morning and he now has a keen interest to share with other adolescent boys what he learned in the program. He does not want to travel this road alone, he wants to bring others with him. He understands that he is part of a larger community and has a responsibility to it. It was a life changing experience for my son.
Parent Testimonial from Gwendolyn James
This summer my granddaughter (Chelsyi Roberts) attended NAPCA Summer Academy at USC, one of the country’s most prestigious institutions of higher learning. The staffing of NAPCA was most impressive. The inclusion and utilization of enthusiastic, committed, bright, articulate and peer college advisors was brilliant. They along with all of the staff were well prepared, knowledgeable and definitely in serviced on how to positively interact with students and parents. The provision of scholarships for participants made it possible for hundreds of students to be a part of NAPCA. I can state unequivocally that my granddaughter would not have been able to participate otherwise. I can honestly say that the money that friends, my family members and I spent on NAPCA was an invaluable “investment” in the life of my granddaughter. Her entire conversation is different now. My granddaughter is looking forward to coming back next year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Program
The heart of the NAPCA Summer Academy is our career focused curriculum, which is designed to help students explore different career paths to help them learn about future academic and career possibilities and make connections with professionals from different career fields to get a taste of what a future career might be like. This will also help students have a better idea of what they want to study in college and start participating in internships or volunteering their time to experience their future career path. Students may find that they actually don’t like a certain career, and it’s better to learn this now, than when they are already in college and have spent a lot of time and money on an academic major or career training program that they no longer want to pursue.
While building lasting relationships with peers, students will participate in a rigorous weekly program schedule filled with lots of indoor and outdoor fun activities and supplemental academic instruction courses in mathematics, writing and grammar, and public speaking. Students will also engage in academic skills development seminars, social-emotional development workshops, and career exploration seminars and simulations. Additionally, students will experience college life through interactive college tours.
Yes! In California, organized camps are under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Health and therefore exempt from Child Care Licensing, which is overseen by the Department of Social Services. All of our California locations adhere to the 300 health and safety standards by the American Camp Association. Each Spring, we reach out to all local health departments to notify them of our summer program operations to ensure that we’re satisfying all of their requirements for Day Camps. Since licensing requirements and exemptions do change from time-to-time, we’ll continue to monitor and respond to updates in our requirements as a Day Camp in California.
We provide continental breakfast, lunch, and healthy snacks for our students. Most of our lunches come from local food vendors and are prepared fresh just moments before lunch. If you decide, for whatever reason, to pack a lunch or additional snacks for your child, please leave out any products containing nuts for the safety of other children who may have severe allergies.
Admissions & Scholarships
Admission Requirements for Elementary School Programs
Grade Requirement:
Current 1st – 5th grade students are invited to apply for admission to the NAPCA Summer Academy at all program locations.
Academic Performance:
We are looking for students who are serious about academics and have a strong commitment to strengthening their academic performance in school.
Personal Commitment:
Your commitment to taking ownership of your future college and career goals is the most important factor in our process of selecting students for admission.
Teacher Recommendation:
We require one recommendation for each child applying for admission. The recommender must be from an academic teacher. Ask the recommender to complete the Online Recommendation form for your child, which can be found and completed at summer.napcaonline.org/teacher-recommendation
Admissions Interview:
Within 2 weeks after you have submitted a complete online application including the required documents for admission, the student and their parent(s) will be contacted by one of our staff members and will be asked to complete an admissions interview via telephone or video chat.
Student Interview (Telephone or Video Chat):
The student interview typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. During the interview session, we will ask your child questions related to their academic performance in school, favorite and least favorite part of the day at school, activities they are involved in at school and outside of school, and the types of activities they expect to engage in at our summer program. The purpose of the interview is to get to know each student to ensure our program will be a good fit for them. Additionally, students along with their parents will have an opportunity to ask specific questions about the NAPCA Summer Academy.
Parent Interview (Telephone or Video Chat):
The parent interview typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. During the interview session, we will ask questions to get a better insight on the areas (academic and non-academic) you think your son or daughter needs improvement and where your child is today as it relates to exploring and experiencing different career pathways to help your child discover their future career path.
Most Recent Academic Report Card
Ask your school or academic counselor to provide you with a copy of your child’s most recent academic report card as you will need to upload to your online admissions application.
Admissions Process:
- Applications for admission are reviewed weekly and admission decisions are made on a rolling basis. We will take applications until all seats have been filled. Students are notified of their acceptance to the program within 2 weeks after they submit their online admissions application.
- There is NO application fee and deadline to apply! We begin accepting applications on November 1 and will continue to accept applications for admission until all spaces are filled. If your program or location is full and you are a qualified applicant, you will be placed on the waitlist.
- You will be notified of your acceptance to the program by email. The notification is sent to the email address provided in your application for admission. Be sure to use an email address that you check frequently.
- After you receive your letter of acceptance to the NAPCA Summer Academy, you must pay your program fee in full or pay at least 10% (nonrefundable deposit) of your total program fee to hold your seat in the program. If you do not submit at least a 10% nonrefundable deposit within 2 weeks after you have been accepted to the program, your seat may be given to another student. Please contact us if you are having difficulty making your nonrefundable deposit.
Admission Requirements for Middle School Programs
Grade Requirement:
Current 6th – 8th grade students are invited to apply for admission to the NAPCA Summer Academy at all program locations.
Academic Performance:
We are looking for students who are serious about academics, with at least a 3.00 GPA or higher (cumulative GPA as indicated on the students unofficial academic transcript) in their academic courses.
Note: Students who have earned less than a 3.0 GPA may be considered for admission. Please contact us to speak with one of our staff to discuss your interest in our summer academy.
Personal Commitment:
Your commitment to taking ownership of your future college and career goals is the most important factor in our process of selecting students for admission.
Teacher Recommendation:
We require one recommendation for each child applying for admission. The recommender must be from an academic teacher. Ask the recommender to complete the Online Recommendation form for your child, which can be found and completed at summer.napcaonline.org/teacher-recommendation
Admissions Interview:
Within 2 weeks after you have submitted a complete online application including the required documents for admission, the student and their parent(s) will be contacted by one of our staff members and will be asked to complete an admissions interview via telephone or video chat.
Student Interview (Telephone or Video Chat):
The student interview typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. During the interview session, we will ask your child questions related to their academic performance in school, favorite and least favorite part of the day at school, activities they are involved in at school and outside of school, and the types of activities they expect to engage in at our summer program. The purpose of the interview is to get to know each student to ensure our program will be a good fit for them. Additionally, students along with their parents will have an opportunity to ask specific questions about the NAPCA Summer Academy.
Parent Interview (Telephone or Video Chat):
The parent interview typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. During the interview session, we will ask questions to get a better insight on the areas (academic and non-academic) you think your son or daughter needs improvement and where your child is today as it relates to exploring and experiencing different career pathways to help your child discover their future career path.
Unofficial Academic Transcript
Ask your school or academic counselor to provide you with a copy of your unofficial school transcript as you will need to upload to your online admissions application.
Admissions Essay
While your admissions essay is only one of many factors we consider when making our admission decision, it helps provide context for the rest of your application.
Directions: All applicants must respond to the essay prompt in no more than 500 words (single spaced or double spaced, 12pt font).
Essay Prompt: Please explain why you decided to apply for admission and what you expect to learn and experience from participating in the NAPCA Summer Academy.
Notes:
- Please put your full name, school name, grade level, and phone number in the header (top right hand corner) of your admissions essay.
- Please compose your admissions essay in Microsoft Word and upload in your online admissions application.
Admissions Process:
- Applications for admission are reviewed weekly and admission decisions are made on a rolling basis. We will take applications until all seats have been filled. Students are notified of their acceptance to the program within 2 weeks after they submit their online application.
- There is NO application fee and deadline to apply! We begin accepting applications on November 1 and will continue to accept applications for admission until all spaces are filled. If your program or location is full and you are a qualified applicant, you will be placed on the waitlist.
- You will be notified of your acceptance to the program by email. The notification is sent to the email address provided in your application for admission. Be sure to use an email address that you check frequently.
- After you receive your letter of acceptance to the NAPCA Summer Academy, you must pay your program fee in full or pay at least 10% (nonrefundable deposit) of your total program fee to hold your seat in the program. If you do not submit at least a 10% nonrefundable deposit within 2 weeks after you have been accepted to the program, your seat may be given to another student. Please contact us if you are having difficulty making your nonrefundable deposit.
Admission Requirements for High School Programs
Grade Requirement:
Current 9th – 11th grade students are invited to apply for admission to the NAPCA Summer Academy at all program locations.
Academic Performance:
We are looking for students who are serious about academics, with at least a 3.00 GPA or higher (cumulative GPA as indicated on the students unofficial academic transcript) in their academic courses.
Note: Students who have earned less than a 3.0 GPA may be considered for admission. Please contact us to speak with one of our staff to discuss your interest in our summer academy.
Personal Commitment:
Your commitment to taking ownership of your future is the most important factor in our process of selecting students for admission.
Online Recommendation from a Teacher or School Counselor:
Ask your school counselor or teacher to complete the Online Recommendation form, which can be found and completed at summer.napcaonline.org/recommendation. We require two recommendations per applicant. One of your recommenders must be from an academic teacher at your school. Both recommenders can be from an academic teacher.
Admissions Interview:
Within 2 weeks after you have submitted a complete online application including the required documents for admission, the student and their parent(s) will be contacted by one of our staff members and will be asked to complete an admissions interview via telephone or video chat.
Student Interview (Telephone or Video Chat):
The student interview typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. During the interview session, we will ask questions about the student’s academic and career goals, why they decided to apply for admission to the NAPCA Summer Academy, and the activities they are involved in at school and outside of school. The purpose of the interview is to get to know each student to ensure our program will be a good fit for them. Additionally, applicants along with their parents will have an opportunity to ask specific questions about the NAPCA Summer Academy.
Parent Interview (Telephone or Video Chat):
The parent interview typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. During the interview session, we will ask questions to get a better insight on the areas (academic and non-academic) you think your son or daughter needs improvement and where your child is today as it relates to exploring and experiencing different career pathways to help your child discover their future career path.
Unofficial Academic Transcript
Ask your school or academic counselor to provide you with a copy of your unofficial school transcript as you will need to upload to your online admissions application.
Admissions Essay
While your admissions essay is only one of many factors we consider when making our admission decision, it helps provide context for the rest of your application.
Directions: All applicants must respond to the essay prompt in no more than 1000 words (single spaced or double spaced, 12pt font).
Essay Prompt: Please explain why you decided to apply for admission and what you expect to learn and experience from participating in the NAPCA Summer Academy.
Notes:
- Please put your full name, school name, grade level, and phone number in the header (top right hand corner) of your admissions essay.
- Please compose your admissions essay in Microsoft Word and upload in your online admissions application.
Admissions Process:
- Applications for admission are reviewed weekly and admission decisions are made on a rolling basis. We will take applications until all seats have been filled. Students are notified of their acceptance to the program within 2 weeks after they submit their online application.
- There is NO application fee and deadline to apply! We begin accepting applications on November 1 and will continue to accept applications for admission until all spaces are filled. If your program or location is full and you are a qualified applicant, you will be placed on the waitlist.
- You will be notified of your acceptance to the program by email. The notification is sent to the email address provided in your application for admission. Be sure to use an email address that you check frequently.
- After you receive your letter of acceptance to the NAPCA Summer Academy, you must pay your program fee in full or pay at least 10% (nonrefundable deposit) of your total program fee to hold your seat in the program. If you do not submit at least a 10% nonrefundable deposit within 2 weeks after you have been accepted to the program, your seat may be given to another student. Please contact us if you are having difficulty making your nonrefundable deposit.
No. Parents will need to complete an online admission application for each child in their family.
Yes. Parents will need to complete the online scholarship application and upload additional financial information to be considered. Parents should submit ONE scholarship application per family.
Online Scholarship Application: https://summer.napcaonline.org/scholarship-application
Applications for admission are reviewed weekly and admission decisions are made on a rolling basis. We will take applications until all seats have been filled. Students are notified of their acceptance to the program within 2 weeks after they submit their online application including required documents and completion of the student and parent admissions interview.
There is NO application fee and deadline to apply! We begin accepting applications on November 1 and will continue to accept applications for admission until all spaces are filled. If your program or location is full and you are a qualified applicant, you will be placed on the waitlist.
You will be notified of your acceptance to the program by email. The notification is sent to the email address provided in your online application for admission. Be sure to use an email address that you check frequently.
After you receive your letter of acceptance to the NAPCA Summer Academy, you must pay your program fee in full or pay at least 10% (nonrefundable deposit) of your total program fee to hold your seat in the program. If you do not submit at least a 10% nonrefundable deposit within 2 weeks after you have been accepted to the program, your seat may be given to another student. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Our Staff
10 STUDENTS PER STAFF
Our student’s safety and providing the best supervision is our priority. Our student to staff ratio is 10 students or fewer per staff.
Yes. Criminal background checks, sexual offender checks, and personal and professional references are mandatory for all staff members. Each program location has a Director and staff members who are CPR & First-Aid certified. We regularly evaluate our program staff and instructors to make sure our high standards are met.
Yes. All program staff are required to attend regional training sessions prior to the start of each summer program.
FRIENDLY AND HIGHLY EXPERIENCED STAFF
Our instructors are passionate about teaching college and career readiness courses — this is a must. We recruit industry professionals, college graduates, current Masters and PhD degree students, and upper-level undergraduates. Many NAPCA alumni return to “pay it forward” once they’re qualified to serve on our staff roster.
Our Students
Absolutely! We can accommodate children with special needs—within the limitations of our resources, natural surroundings, facilities, staff ratios, and program standards—while preserving the nature of the learning experience for all students. We are not able to provide an attendant (one-on-one staff member) to address a student’s personal needs, nor can we accommodate medical conditions or impairments requiring treatment beyond the scope of our staff.
Before enrolling a child with special medical, mental, or psychological needs, please contact us to discuss potential accommodations.
Every state has different regulations on how to store and administer medication in a program setting. We are aware of, and follow, each state’s specific requirements. We have a consulting physician that has set our policies and procedures according to the regulations of the state. Additionally, at each location, there is at least one person who has the state required training around first aid practices. You can reach out to our office to find out the specifics for how we can support your child’s needs.
We have had students who used insulin pumps or needed injections attend our program. We are happy to remind students to come to the program main office, giving them a quiet place to administer their insulin and rest. If a student requires support in order to interpret the results or receive their insulin, we can work with you to provide that.
Each situation will be addressed differently depending on the nature and circumstances of the incident. If there is an incident that is pretty minor (i.e. first time incident, no one seriously hurt), we’ll speak to the children to let them know that sort of behavior is unacceptable. We’ll also connect with their parents to let them know about the incident. If this were to happen repeatedly, we would consider asking a child not to come back. If there is a more serious incident involving any kind of significant injury or if a child poses a risk to himself/herself or others, we would call the parents immediately to have that child picked up and would consider asking them not to come back.
Very rarely does bullying (unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance and is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time) occur at our program. Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose. We take bullying very seriously and involve the parents and children of all parties to have a deeper discussion and take action from there accordingly to keep all students safe.
Safety and Security
Safety and security are always top of mind. There are a number of things we do to ensure the safety of our students. At each location, we closely monitor who is entering and leaving the campus at all times. We set up our locations so there is one main entrance/exit. If there is a gate that cannot be closed to secure that entrance/exit, we’ll have someone stationed at or near it at all times so there is constant supervision of who is coming and going.
Any adult who is on-campus (beyond our check-in/out area) must have a valid background check on file with us or be escorted the entire time by one of our staff members. This is for the safety of all students in our care. Parents, guardians, or other designated pick-up persons who may wish to come onto a location must wait until a staff member is able to escort them.
When students arrive to the program, they sign into our custom-built database, which has all of the information that was provided by the parent when they registered, including who is allowed to pick up their child. When students sign in, they receive a badge, which is a physical indicator that the child has signed in and is registered.
At the end of the day, anyone who comes to pick-up a student must be on the authorized pick-up list. A staff member will check the list (and the person’s ID) before letting the student leave.
When choosing new locations for our program, security is one of the top priorities. We choose locations that are contained and easy to supervise. We also go to great lengths to set up our own physical barriers or to supervise entry and exit points on campus.
Weather
There are several things we do to address the summer heat. We set up shade tents so students can get some relief from the sun. We provide large water activities such as giant water slides and inflatable water play structures which will be offered on hot days. We always have lots of sunscreen on hand. Drinking water is always readily available. There are lots of indoor activities taking place throughout the day, and many of these take place in rooms that are air conditioned or equipped with fans.
Committed to Closing the College and Career Aspirations – Attainment Gap for All Students
NAPCA’s mission is to “close the college and career aspirations – attainment gap” by empowering students with the tools and mindsets to define their life’s purpose/career path, break through their barriers, and complete a postsecondary education degree or career training certificate or licensure program, specifically to enter careers that provide a sense of purpose and meaning to their lives.
Definition. College & Career Aspirations – Attainment Gap: The distance between a student’s stated college and career aspirations and the realization of completing a postsecondary education degree or career training certificate or licensure program, specifically to be prepared to enter high skilled careers or trades.
Working toward the day that all youth and teens in communities across the U.S. and internationally will have the opportunity to be prepared to successfully enter and complete some form of postsecondary education or career/technical training, specifically to be prepared to enter high skilled careers and/or trades.
Empowering students in communities across the globe to:
- Explore their future college and career paths
- Find their life’s purpose/career path
- Recondition their mindset for success
- Break through the barriers to academic and career success (i.e., The fear of failure, success, and the unknown including mental, social, emotional, and cultural barriers)
- Enroll and complete a regionally accredited two- or four-year college degree and/or career and technical training certificate or licensure program
- Walk with hope and purpose while taking ownership of their future education and career goals
College Readiness: NAPCA students are better prepared for college than non-NAPCA students at specific schools served by NAPCA, surpassing students when it comes to “a-g” coursework and entrance exam completion, four-year college eligibility, college enrollment, college persistence, and college completion.
Coursework: NAPCA students are three times more likely to complete the “a-g” courses required for college admission as their non-NAPCA counterparts: 91% compared to 30%.
College Enrollment: 98% of NAPCA students attend college the first year after high school graduation.
College Success: The college persistence rates of NAPCA alumni are equal to or better than their campus counterparts who did not participate in NAPCA.
Our Supporters
We are grateful for the generous support of individuals, corporations, and foundations who support our work. Together, we are helping more high achieving students from all backgrounds become better prepared to enter and complete a postsecondary education degree or career training certificate or licensure program, specifically to enter careers that provide a sense of purpose and meaning to their lives.
