Summer Enrichment Opportunities
Want to keep your students engaged and learning throughout the summer break? Living in DFW, our students are fortunate to have a variety of experiences at their fingertips. Northwest ISD offers some opportunities, but beyond our boundaries there are countless amazing experiences awaiting your student.
TAGT offers student scholarships for gifted learners and summer enrichment programs. Learn more here. Scholarship applications for Summer 2026 activities AND graduating Seniors are here: https://www.txgifted.org/scholarships. Applications are due February 27, 2026.
NISD Offerings
Camp Pursuit
For currently identified NISD GATES students only (Rising 1st - 8th)
Camp Pursuit was created in 2013 by two public school teachers who believe students genuinely love to learn when the content is real and inspired. Using their own curriculum model, they blended the inductive scientific method (S), purposeful technology (T), problem-based engineering (E), and the art of expressive narrative (A) with exploratory mathematics (M). Your child chooses from a catalog of one-of-a-kind, STEAM courses that blend storytelling with project-based, interdisciplinary learning and hands-on activities.
Options for choice and accelerated learning are built-in along with an activity hour for mind-body balance.
June 22 - 25 @ Sendera Ranch Elementary (Camp Director: Jennifer Casey)
Register your student here. Upon completing this form, a camp fee of $351 will be added to your student's School Cash account. Registration must be paid by Monday, June 1, in order for registration to be complete.
High school students looking for volunteer hours should contact the camp director for details.
Creative Problem Solving (DI) Camp
Rising 3rd - 8th
This camp welcomes both DI alum and newbies. The camp will offer sessions on the various components like prop building, repurposing materials for something new, instant challenges, and improv.
Access registration through NISD's online payment portal.
June 15 - 18 at Hughes Elementary (Camp Director: Heather Martin)
High school students looking for volunteer hours should contact the camp director for details.
Camp Invention
Rising 1st - 6th Grade
Camp Invention is one week in the summer where your child’s creativity, innovation, and problem-solving skills are challenged and developed in fun and exciting ways. Our top priority is to inspire future innovators and build their confidence in the natural ability to dream and create.
Camp Invention is open to students in grades K-5. Middle school students are encouraged to enroll as Counselors-in-Training and high school students can apply to be Leadership Interns.
For details and registration information, please click here.Spark!
June 1 - 4 @ Haslet (Camp Director: Mandy Smiley)
June 1 - 4 @Lakeview (Camp Director: Caitlin Andrews)
June 8 - 11 @Lance (Camp Director: Lindsey Hart)
June 8 - 11 @Schluter (Camp Director: Jessica Batson)
July 13 - 16 @Carter (Camp Director: Jessica Batson)
High school students looking for volunteer hours should contact the camp director for details.
PSAT/SAT Boot Camp
Reserved for high school students, this online 4 hour boot camp will empower students with strategies for the PSAT and ultimately the SAT. In NISD, all 10th and 11th graders will take the PSAT/NMSQT in October 2026. Juniors take the SAT in March 2027. For additional information, please visit https://www.nisdtx.org/departments/academics/college-career-military-readiness.
TechnoCamp
Learn more about TechnoCamp here.
Beyond NISD
Not all institutions have published details for Summer 2026. Continue to check their websites for updates.
Lone Star Leadership Academies are Sunday-Friday overnight camps offered throughout the summer for outstanding 4th-8th graders. Campers have the opportunity to explore significant sites in Texas’ three largest metropolitan areas with other outstanding students… all before 9th grade!
During the camps, young leaders travel to Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin/San Antonio, or Houston/Galveston for a week of fun, learning, leadership development, and visits to significant Texas sites. In addition to improving their leadership abilities, participants gain self-confidence and independence, and develop new friendships with other high-achieving students from across the state.
DECATS embraces the integration of education and engagement. Through enriching coursework and intentional community-building, Scholars are encouraged to grow as thoughtful leaders who understand that being “better at” does not mean being “better than.”
The program emphasizes:
- Leadership and followership
- Responsibility and service to others
- Reflection and personal growth
- Collaboration and creativity
June 15 - July 2 at the University of Dallas
Davidson Institute - A Guide to Gifted Summer Programs
Summer Institute for the Gifted
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth Summer Programs
Northwestern Center for Talent Development
Purdue Gifted Education Research & Resource Institute (GER²I)
Tapia Center - Rice University (STEM for rising 8th - 12th graders)
Don't forget to check out your local library for activities throughout the summer.
College Camps
College for Kids is a 3-week summer enrichment program for children in the 1st through 8th grades. Children can enroll in academic, arts and crafts, science and technology, and health and fitness classes. Courses are taught by experienced and motivated faculty who encourage and challenge students in an atmosphere that supports inquiry and exploration.
ETIP Summer Experience (Paul Quinn College)
The Early Talent Identification Program provides rigorous enrichment for academically talented students of color so that they are best prepared to thrive in competitive learning environments.
University of North Texas
UNT has a variety of camps available from music to the outdoors.
A wide variety of summer enrichment options for all ages.
Summer at TCU is full of fun, learning and more fun! Camps are offered from early June 4 through early August. The programs are for youth entering 1st – 12th grade. Combine half-day camps to make a full day of it at TCU! Click below to see what’s offered and to register online! You can also register by calling 817-257-7132.
UTA offers a variety of camps mostly in the engineering field, but also in music and athletics.
Texas Woman’s University is hosting several camps on the university’s Denton campus. Camps range from fashion and nutrition, to science and sports, and cater to ages preschool through college.
Summer chess camps engage children in intellectual pursuit while building social skills. Many campers return year after year to build their skills and see friends. Some campers even bring their parents or grandparents for friendly familial competition!
Summer Educational Enrichment in Math
Museum Camps
Fun, challenging, and exciting! Five afternoons of creative activities for children (ages 6–12) explore connections with Kimbell masterpieces and special exhibitions. A light snack will be provided.
Calling all junior fashionistas, sculptors, painters, designers, and inventors! Summer Art Camps at the Dallas Museum of Art have something for every creative kid. Spark your imagination with mixed media, fashion, drawing, painting, design, and more in camps for children ages 4-12. Campers can spend a week in the Museum exploring galleries, making new friends, working in the studio, and creating amazing art. Each week culminates in an art exhibition or performance for friends and family.
Dallas Zoo and Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park
The Dallas Zoo and The Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park offers exciting interactive programs for children. Programs are designed to engage both mind and body in hands-on, original activities that can be experienced nowhere else. Sign up to start on an unforgettable adventure! This year's camp season begins June 10 and ends on August 9.
The Fort Worth Zoo’s popular summer camp includes 10 weeks of exciting themed adventures for children ages 3 to fifth grade, featuring wild activities, animal visitors and Zoo excursions. There are also camps for Middle and high school students.
Audra Rowell, Advanced Academics Coordinator
Northwest ISD
Email: arowell@nisdtx.org
Website: https://www.nisdtx.org/departments/advanced_academics
Phone: 817-215-0139