Registration Opens for 2017 Experience Christendom Summer Program

Billed as the most popular, well attended, and highly ranked pre-college summer program of its kind, the Experience Christendom Summer Program is hoping to continue its streak of attracting some of the best minds and talent in the nation, and beyond, during the six one-week sessions to be held during June and July 2017. On December 1, registration opened for this unique life-changing program, which most of the participants refer to as “the best week ever.”

“Each summer, hundreds of high school students come to our campus to take part in this amazing program. Upon returning home a week later, these students leave our beautiful campus with a new appreciation for the liberal arts, Catholic culture, true friendship, and the beautify of the historic Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. For most of them, it’s not just another week spent away from home, but according to their exit surveys, it’s the best week ever,” says director of admissions Sam Phillips.

Christendom has offered its acclaimed high school summer program for close to twenty years, drawing students from the United States, Canada, Argentina, Lebanon, Ireland, England, Mexico, and other far-off places to its campus.

“I came to the week with rather high expectations, as it was advertised as ‘the best week ever.’ The program not only met my expectations, but surpassed them by a landslide,” said Garen B., who traveled from San Jose, Ca. to take part in the program.

During each one-week session, students who are preparing to enter their senior year of high school take part in a variety of activities. In the classroom, they learn from Christendom’s own faculty about philosophy, theology, history, and literature, delving into some of the greatest minds and events in human history. The vibrant culture that permeates the classroom experience extends to outside of it as well, as students canoe on the Shenandoah River that runs through the campus’ backyard, learn swing and contra dancing at an Irish barn dance, go bowling, participate in a talent show, and even enjoy a hike and cookout on the historic Skyline Drive.

The huge attraction to the program led the admissions office to expand its offerings, from four weeklong sessions to six one-week sessions two years ago. Even with the expansion, the program still set new records in attendance last summer, bringing in 276 participants — along with a long waiting list behind them.

Those who attended last summer responded to the program in the same way that thousands had before them, consistently rating it highly on a scale of 1-5. In the final session of the summer, the participants gave it an overall rating of 4.89 out of five, cementing its reputation as the “best week ever.”

“We are overwhelmed each year at the amount of acclaim we get for this program. I encourage all interested students to register soon and claim their spots in the program before it’s too late. We’re excited to welcome everyone to our campus this summer,” says Phillips.

This summer’s first session will begin on June 11, with the last session ending on July 29. To find out more information or to register for the program, please visit christendom.edu/experience.