About
JMU’s philosophy summer camp invites curious middle schoolers to explore fundamental ideas and questions through reading, writing, games, discussions, and creative projects on campus with guidance from professors and undergraduate students.
Daily Schedule
8:30-9 am Drop-Off at Cleveland Hall
9:30-10 am Check-in and Question of the Day
10am-12pm Activity
12-1pm Lunch at D-Hall
1:00-3:00pm Activity
3:00-3:30pm Circling back to the Question of the Day
3:30-4:00pm Choice of group game and/or independent reading time
4:00pm Pick-up at Cleveland Hall
Fun and Engaging Activities
Daily activities are designed in a way that is meant to be engaging and age-appropriate for middle school students, using reading, writing, and other media (including art and photography) to generate ideas, questions, debates, and rich discussions.
Curiosity and Critical Thinking Skills
Students will have a chance to discuss fundamental philosophical ideas and to ask deep questions, developing crucial critical thinking skills and encouraging students to use their capacity to reason in ways that are boundless.
“Talking to children is nothing new. As parents, grandparents, teachers, neighbors, and casual acquaintances, we talk to children all the time…What we adults don’t do, when we talk to children, is discuss matters we ourselves find difficult or problematic.…What has not been taken seriously [in other words], or even widely conceived, is the possibility of tackling with children, in a relationship of mutual respect, the naively profound questions of philosophy.”
More Information
PLATO
Dr. Anne van Leeuwen discusses her work with elementary school school children, supported by PLATO their blog.
ahttps://plato-philosophy.org/practicing-philosophy-with-kids-in-the-shenandoah-valley/
WMRA With Good Reason
An after-school philosophy club has elementary school children discussing deep ideas with undergrads. Dr. Anne van Leeuwen says readings of Frog and Toad and Shel Silverstein are giving rise to conversations about bravery and infinity.
https://soundcloud.com/withgoodreason/love-in-the-time-of-hubots
Apply
Middle School Day Camp
$12 Registration fee for day camp, June 22–26, 2026
✓ Fun and engaging daily activities
✓ JMU campus and classrooms
✓ Camp t-shirt
✓ Lunch at D-Hall
JMU Philosophy Summer Camp, June 22-26, 2026 