High School Summer Program

During the program students are encouraged to develop a greater appreciation of learning through experiential and practical activities. Students learn to apply writing process strategies, understand their academic strengths and personal learning style, integrate stronger academic strategies and practices, and begin to focus on the development of better habits for success.

The program curriculum is separated into three segments of course work: a core course providing a foundation for other coursework and activities; a writing class that covers the basics of proficient writing; and a general elective providing an opportunity for students to apply what they are learning. Each weekday students participate in three courses, activities each afternoon, academic prep four nights a week, and group programs and activities on the weekend.

We know not everyone learns in the same way. Our experience with young people who learn differently suggests a sense of self and good insight into one’s individual learning style can make a significant difference in outcomes at school.

Our experienced summer faculty and staff will help students begin to:

• Understand themselves as learners
• Develop a writing process that uses proven techniques to generate clear writing with fewer struggles
• Integrate strategies and practices into content courses
• Focus on the development of better daily habits

NOTE: Students must be between 16 and 18 years of age, have completed their sophomore year of high school, and be returning to high school in the fall. Participants are not required to have a diagnosed learning disability to participate.

Financial Aid is available and awarded upon acceptance. Financial aid applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage parents to submit an application for financial aid early.

Scholarship Opportunities. Receive up to $1k scholarship for the Summer 2024 term. 

“Landmark College’s High School Summer Program has made a positive and palpable difference in my daughter’s self-esteem. The daughter we picked up from the program had become noticeably more mature in a mere three weeks’ time. It was one of her best learning experiences ever, and has helped both academically and emotionally to prepare her for college.”

“Our son had an amazing experience at Landmark! It was a great boost to his self-esteem and his learning skills.”

“We were very pleasantly surprised at the shift in attitude, self-confidence, and pride.”

“The social interaction available to our son was terrific for him. It gave him a glimpse of what college could be like.”

“The program was a perfect fit for my daughter. We would have liked a longer program to develop her writing skills, as well as her reading comprehension skills. After high school, we may send her back to Landmark College’s Transition to College program before beginning college.”

“The social skills and the pre-college experience were invaluable!”

“I can’t say enough good things about the program! My son is so much more confident now. He loved it so much, he’s applied to attend Landmark College next fall.”

“The greatest benefit from the program was in meeting other kids who are like him—he is maintaining these friendships and feels a lot less ‘different.’”

“We noticed significant growth and maturity in our daughter!”

“I think the program was terrific. It’s just too soon in the school year to see whether our son will show any benefit at this point. Given his particular issues, I’m not surprised. I didn’t expect a dramatic result from a 3-week program. That said, we’re sold on Landmark College—and he is, too. We’re hopeful he’ll be able to attend as a full-time student next fall.”

“My daughter had an absolutely positive experience. She made new friends that she is still in contact with. It helped her to see that many people have learning disabilities like her. Our high school has a very strong support services department, so I don’t think there was a whole lot more for her to learn about her disability—although she was able to complete a very well-written college essay at Landmark College.”

“Mutual respect between students was visible and warm. Teachers are really kind and considerate, they care and get to know each student.”

“I liked making friends and being in a college environment.”

“I got to try fun and exciting activities with my friends and did stuff that helped me become more independent and self-advocative.”

“I enjoyed getting a chance to practice independent living and prepare for college life.”

“I didn’t think that I would make friends so easily!”

“Landmark College is a very nurturing place.”

Like other colleges and universities, Landmark College admits a diverse class of students every year. Landmark College, however, does not simply admit learners on the autism spectrum; we have set, as a strategic priority, development and refinement of services that are integrated, progressive, and student-centered.

As described in the Academic Program section, the College Living and Academic Strategies: Social Pragmatics core course includes two days per week of PEERS® instruction. PEERS® is an evidence-based social skills instruction where students will learn through instructive lessons and role play demonstrations.

Students will also receive 1:1 social coaching to support them apply the skills from their weekly lessons. Parents are encouraged to participate in a weekly, online, evening session to review the lessons and learn tips on how to support their student.

Core Courses:

Learning Strategies Seminar:  (Required for all students in the Traditional Track) 

This course is designed to introduce students to the science and the art of learning. The course will cover  areas such as executive functioning, metacognition, perception, growth mindset, memory, and attention. Through interactive and hands-on activities and projects, students will learn skills and strategies required in all learning environments. The skills of active reading, note-taking, test taking, and summary writing will be introduced and practiced with content about becoming a more self-aware, informed and proactive learner. Students will consider their own strengths, challenges, learning styles, and educational history as they create a model for effective learning to be applied to their next school experience. The culminating project will be a “letter to future teachers” based on the skills, strategies, and self-understanding introduced throughout the class assignments. The course activities and lessons are designed particularly for our high school students with daily lessons about how we all learn differently but can practice the Landmark College study skills method in a way that is engaging and individualized. 

College Living & Learning Strategies Seminar:  (Required for all students in the Social Pragmatics Track) 

This course is designed to introduce the science and the art of learning, and the pragmatic communication skills needed in a learning environment. The course will introduce and teach the direct application of executive functioning and Landmark College study skills method. A focus on self-awareness, self-determination, and self-advocacy are taught in a supportive environment with the goal of effective communication throughout each daily lesson. Students will practice and apply strategies for strengthening academic, social, and cognitive engagement. Through interactive and hands-on activities and projects, students will learn how to navigate the social dynamics of a learning community and explore meaningful forms of communication. Students will also experience components of the PEERS curriculum, taught with the support of a social coach. Each student will also have an opportunity to regularly meet one-on-one with a social coach outside of the class time.

Writing Classes: Students will select one course from the options listed below:

Research and Writing: For students who are comfortable with the basics of writing essays, this course introduces students to the process and practices expected in college-level writing. Students will learn how to structure and develop research papers with in-text citations and lists of sources. Research & Writing will focus on active reading, information literacy, and research to write research essays.

Confident and Creative Writers: For many students, producing writing on a deadline is a challenge. By including creative approaches to writing, students can develop strategies and approaches to increase their success. This course is designed for individuals who find it difficult to generate effective writing in an academic setting despite their efforts to do so. High interest topics and creative assignments will engage students and encourage them to find meaningful connections to their writing. Students should expect to produce writing in most class sessions.

Writing the Effective College Entrance Essay: Writing that is clear, authentic, concise, and persuasive is a general requirement for academic success at the college level, and it is what colleges look for in application essays. Using prompts typically found on college applications, students will formulate, draft, and edit an essay that can be used as a model for their own college application essay.

Academic Prep:

Academic Prep is offered four evenings each week. This provides a structured time for students to review the class work of the day and/or prepare the work required for the next day or for ongoing class projects. Academic Prep is also a time for students to gain expertise in the use of Assistive Technology.

Providing students with opportunities to apply what they are learning in more conventional academic offerings. Course content is intentionally varied. These courses are true electives, and students are encouraged to enroll in a course that may not ordinarily be available in a typical high school curriculum.

General Elective courses may include:

Drawing and Illustration: This course is an introductory course in drawing, but it will also provide continued instruction for seasoned mark makers. Emphasis is on strategies, methods, and techniques for translating three-dimensional form and space onto a two-dimensional surface using the language of line, value, and the illusion of depth and texture. Mark making and its expressive and descriptive qualities will be examined.

High School Math: Algebra II Preparation: This course is intended for higher level math students preparing to take Algebra II this fall. Specific content includes the study of algebraic functions, their graphs, and trigonometric basics. Building on a strong foundation of mathematical knowledge, this class is designed to develop students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills, helping them to prepare for Algebra II.

High School Math: Pre-Calculus Preparation: This course is intended for higher level math students preparing to take pre-calculus this fall. Students will review and be introduced to the concepts necessary for a smooth transition into pre-calculus.

Sports and Culture: Join us as we examine the role sports play in our society. Using materials from a variety of sources, students will examine the relationships sports have to individuals and social organizations. The course will cover current issues in sports, such as the nature of competition, performance enhancement, violence, gender issues, and multi-million-dollar contracts.

Digital Photography: The best camera in the world is the camera in your pocket. Whether you use a phone, DSLR, or point and shoot, come and learn the basics about camera functions, lighting, and composition. After quick mini-lessons, practice using your camera outside or in easy-to-create studio set-ups. Students will explore camera terminology, composition, storytelling, and post processing. We’ll examine student’s work in online critique sessions and “how to” post-processing demonstrations. This class will encourage everyone to “get out” and start taking amazing images

Welcome to Theatre: Students will learn how to harness their artistic voices and turn their ideas into performances. The students will work as an acting company functioning in various roles: actor, writer, and stagehand. Join in as we experience theatre through improvisation, movement, vocals and collaboration. As a group we will define areas of interest to create short scenes and characters. We will add and refine material as needed for a showing of work to be determined by the students at the end of the course.

Vermont Field Ecology: Learn about local wildlife, plants, and ecosystems, along with other basic concepts of ecology. Take field trips to local areas, such as streams, ponds, wetlands, forests, and meadows to study ecosystems and to practice scientific observation and data collection. Students will keep a field notebook, design forestry studies, conduct water chemistry tests, and sample ponds and streams for macroinvertebrates. Organisms will be observed using microscopes back in the lab. Students will be expected to hike over varying terrain and be outside for most classes.

Visual Storytelling: This course is for students who want to explore the techniques and possibilities of visual media as a tool for communication and storytelling. Using a smartphone, DSLR, or other image capture device, students will learn to make still photographs and videos within a multimedia context to create fictional and non-fictional short stories. Applications from the Adobe Creative Suite will be used to edit, organize, and output stories in engaging and interactive ways online. Students will also be introduced to various forms of Visual Communication being used in contemporary society. What stories do you want to tell?

Film Studies: Students will learn the language of film: how and why shots are composed to create a response, the imagery and visual references that drive narrative, the role of sound and music, and much more. We will explore classic and contemporary films, and some texts that have been adapted into film, with opportunities for student input on our film selection process.

Music History: Join us as we explore the music of the 60s and 70s. What was happening? How was music influenced by events of the time? How were people influenced by the music? How did America music evolve through these decades? This discussion and listening based course will look at exactly that. We will listen to and learn about influential groups and historical events and how they came together to make amazing music. We’ll discuss things such as; protest songs, rock n roll, R&B, funk, soul, the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, and more.

Learn about Painting: This course is an introduction to painting with an overview of elements, principles, materials, and brush strokes. Students will experiment with different techniques to design art on paper and canvas with watercolor and acrylic paint. Explore risk-taking in a safe environment, and practice giving and receiving supportive feedback. This is an opportunity to take a visual journey to develop, grow, and become more competent and confident when creating art.

Academic Prep:

Academic Prep is offered three evenings each week. This provides a structured time for students to review the class work of the day and/or prepare the work required for the next day or for ongoing class projects. Students are able to work alone, in groups, or in a supervised setting.

The Residence Halls:

Not only will students be immersed in rich academic work, they will also live among their fellow students within residence halls on campus. Residence hall rooms are double-occupancy, so students will have a roommate. The halls are wing-based, and students will be separated based on gender. Residence halls are appropriately staffed by professional Resident Directors (RDs) and a host of college-aged mentors, known as Resident Assistants (RAs). This team helps students to bridge the gap between their classroom experiences and the rest of their day and evening. These RDs and RAs, many of whom also have identified learning differences, help students engage in the community and ensure a secure living and learning experience. Students experience a safe, supportive, college-like setting during their three-week stay in the residence halls at Landmark College.

The Dining Hall:

Students will enjoy meals together in our dining hall, which offers a wide variety of choices, including an array of hot and cold entrees, soup, pizza, a sandwich and salad bar, and extensive vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.

Weekend Activities:

We work to make sure students have plenty of fun during their experience on campus!

Saturdays and Sundays provide an opportunity for students to participate in supervised, group programs. These are more than fun experiences—they also teach students how to handle themselves in larger groups and provide opportunities for greater independence. Students will enjoy activities including an on-campus carnival day featuring fun games and activities like a giant slip-n-slide, and possibly even a visit from the Kona Ice Truck, as well as an ever-popular Student Talent Show.

Afternoon Activities:

Afternoon activities provide a balance to the day and run every weekday afternoon beginning at 3 p.m. Students will sign up daily for each activity. Some of the activity options offered in the past include: basketball, running, art, soap-making, ukulele lessons, theater, music, soccer, rock wall, Dungeons & Dragons, and yoga.

Daily Weekday Schedule for the High School Summer Program (both tracks)

7:30 – 8:45 a.m.

Day Starts (Wake up, Breakfast, Health Services, ... )

9 – 10:20 a.m.

Class Period 1

10:30 – 11:50 a.m.

Class Period 2

11:50 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Lunch in the Dining Hall/Free time

1:30 – 2:50 p.m.

Class Period 3

3:30 – 5 p.m.

Extracurricular/Small Group Activities (structured time)

5 – 7 p.m.

Dinner in the Dining Hall/Free time

7 – 7:30 p.m.

Wing Meetings

7:30 – 10 p.m.

M, T, TH & Fri: Social Activities, Free Time, Laundry, Check In’s, etc.

Academic Prep: 7:30 – 9 p.m.

7:30 – 8:15 p.m.

Wednesday Workshops: Topics to be announced

10 p.m.

All students in their Residence Hall