Academic Summer Camps

Sunday (May 31st)

5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Southern Shuttles from Chattanooga Airport to Southern

7 p.m. Overnight Campers Check-in to Residence Halls

8 p.m. Campers Selecting Admissions Transportation from Madison SDA Church (Nashville) & Atlanta Berean SDA Church (Atlanta) will check in to the Residence Halls

10 p.m. Room Check by RAs

Monday (June 1st)

7:30 a.m. Breakfast in Dining Hall

8 a.m. Local Campers Arrive at Wright Hall for Check-in

8:30 a.m. Welcome Session at Lynnwood Hall

9 a.m. Campus Tour

10 a.m. Camp Sessions Begin

12 – 1 p.m. Lunch in Dining Hall

1 – 5 p.m. Camp Sessions

5 p.m. Dinner in Dining Hall

6 p.m. Worship at the Grid & Local Camper Pick-up in Front of Wright Hall

7 – 9 p.m. Rec Time in Bietz Center, Hulsey, Iles & Residence Halls

9 p.m. Return to Residence Halls & Local Camper Pick-up in Front of Wright Hall

10 p.m. Room Check by RAs

Tuesday (June 2nd)

7:30 a.m. Breakfast in Dining Hall

8 a.m. Local Campers Arrive at Wright Hall for Check-in

8:30 a.m. Camp Sessions

12 – 1 p.m. Lunch in Dining Hall

1 – 5 p.m. Camp Sessions

5 p.m. Dinner in Dining Hall

6 p.m. Worship at the Grid & Local Camper Pick-up in Front of Wright Hall

7 – 9 p.m. Rec Time in Bietz Center, Hulsey, Iles & Residence Halls

9 p.m. Return to Residence Halls & Local Camper Pick-up in Front of Wright Hall

10 p.m. Room Check by RAs

Wednesday (June 3rd)

7:30 a.m. Breakfast in Dining Hall

8 a.m. Local Campers Arrive at Wright Hall for Check-in

8:30 a.m. Camp Sessions

12 – 1 p.m. Lunch in Dining Hall

1 – 5 p.m. Camp Sessions

5 p.m. Dinner in Dining Hall

6 p.m. Worship at the Grid & Local Camper Pick-up in Front of Wright Hall

7 – 9 p.m. Rec Time in Bietz Center, Hulsey, Iles & Residence Halls

9 p.m. Return to Residence Halls & Local Camper Pick-up in Front of Wright Hall

10 p.m. Room Check by RAs

Thursday (June 4th)

7:30 a.m. Breakfast in Dining Hall

8 a.m. Local Campers Arrive at Wright Hall for Check-in

8:30 a.m. Camp Sessions

12 – 1 p.m. Lunch in Dining Hall

1 p.m. Wrap-up Session in Lynnwood

2 p.m. Pack up & Clean up in Residence Halls (Local campers picked up by Parents)

2:30 p.m. Admissions Transportation Depart for Chattanooga Airport

3 p.m. Admissions Transportation Depart for Madison SDA Church (Nashville) & Atlanta Berean SDA Church (Atlanta)

Automotive Summer Camp

This automotive summer camp combines classroom instruction with hands-on lab experiences. Students will perform general maintenance and repairs while working on their own vehicle or shop-provided vehicles. Participants will disassemble engines to learn the inner workings of modern automotive systems and gain a deeper understanding of how vehicles operate.

The camp introduces students to the day-to-day responsibilities of an automotive professional, highlighting real-world applications and career opportunities within the industry. Students will also explore pathways after graduation, including considerations for those interested in owning and operating their own automotive business. Throughout the camp, we will examine what a Christ-centered approach looks like for individuals pursuing a rewarding, hands-on career in the automotive field.

Instructors:  Steven Oskins and Danny Coon

Capacity: 12

Additional requirements: Closed toe shoes, and clothes that can get dirty

Pre-Med Summer Camp

Do you want to be a physician? This camp is just the thing for rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors who want a behind the scenes view of this profession while exploring Biblical principles for finding meaning in your career. Uncover hidden diseases in x-rays, practice suturing, construct skeletons, and learn how a real scientific laboratory works. Interact directly with actual physicians and pre-medical students.  Camp concludes with a simulated hospital experience incorporating the skills you have learned.

Prerequisites: Open to rising high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors

Instructors: Professor Paulo Dias, MD

Capacity: 20

Bear Strong Student Success Camp

BEAR STRONG: Teach Yourself How to Learn Camp is a 5‑day summer experience designed for high school students who want to strengthen their study skills, build academic confidence, and learn how to take ownership of their learning. Grounded in Dr. Saundra McGuire’s Teach Yourself How to Learn framework, the camp guides students through mindset development, effective study strategies, productive struggle, and self‑regulated learning—all in an engaging, faith‑integrated environment. Through daily mini‑lessons, hands‑on activities, group collaboration, and reflection, students discover how their brains learn, how to study with purpose, how to bounce back from setbacks, and how to apply proven techniques such as active recall, spaced practice, and metacognitive planning. The week culminates with a Vision Board capstone project that empowers each student to define who they want to become as a learner and how they will respond when challenges arise. BEAR STRONG equips students to return to school more confident, more strategic, and ready to learn boldly.

Instructors:

Cheri Durst, Student Success and Retention Services Coordinator
Renita Moore, First Year Experience Coordinator
Nova Munselle, Career Services Coordinator

Capacity: 15

Teaching Computers to See: A Hands-On Computer Vision Adventure

Have you ever wondered how computers see the world around them? Every time your phone's camera recognizes your face, a self-driving car identifies a pedestrian, or a medical imaging system detects signs of disease, computer vision is at work. This field of artificial intelligence teaches computers to interpret and understand visual information, much like how humans use their eyes and brain to make sense of what they see.

In this hands-on camp, you'll learn to train computers to recognize and classify objects. You will teach a computer to recognize handwritten numbers, build a rock-paper-scissors game controlled by your hand gestures, and develop a program that distinguishes between images of cats and dogs, among other activities. By the end of the camp, you'll understand the fundamentals behind computer vision.

What You'll Need:

• We'll provide computers for the experiments, but bringing your own laptop is highly encouraged
• A Google account for accessing Google Classroom
• No prior programming experience required—you'll learn Python as we go!

Instructor: Harvey Alférez, PhD — https://computing.southern.edu/harveya/

Capacity: 20 people.

The Living Page

Write. Explore. Reflect. Create.

This hands-on creative writing summer camp is designed for high school students who love stories, ideas, and the outdoors. Campers will write where inspiration lives—on the trail, by the water, and in moments of quiet reflection—while building skills that matter far beyond the page.

What you'll love: 

🌿 Active & experiential: Write after short hikes, canoe trips, and outdoor explorations that spark imagination and fresh perspective

✍️ Creative workshops: Create, share, and revise your writing in a fun, collaborative space

🔍 Learning by doing: Observe, question, draft, revise, and share—just like professional writers

🙏 Spiritual growth: Guided reflection that connects creativity, faith, and purpose

🚀 Future-focused skills: Strengthen communication, critical thinking, leadership, and creativity—skills essential for careers in writing, law, education, ministry, marketing, publishing, media, and beyond

This camp is perfect for students who want to grow as writers, deepen their sense of calling, and discover how creativity and experience can shape both their work and their future.

Instructors: (Awaiting)

Capacity: 20

The Christian Influencer: Your Summer Experience at Southern Adventist University

Discover the power of influence through faith and creativity at The Christian Influencer! In this four-day summer session, high school students will explore how to use social media ethically to share meaningful content and positively impact others as believers. Engage in hands-on activities, including creating high-quality photos, vertical videos, and a podcast episode in a TV studio. Experience the vibrant atmosphere of Southern Adventist University and make new friends while building skills that inspire, connect, and make a difference. This immersive program not only equips you with practical tools for social media but also provides a glimpse into the exciting opportunities in the School of Journalism and Communication. Join us to build your faith, amplify your voice, and grow as a Christian influencer in a digital world!

Instructor: Pablo Fernandez

Capacity: 20

 

Outdoor Leadership Academic Summer Camp

Are you passionate about the great outdoors and interested in a career that combines adventure with helping others? The Outdoor Leadership Academic Summer Camp is designed for young people who want to explore the exciting world of outdoor recreation, while learning how to use their skills to impact lives and serve others.

Throughout the camp, you'll have the opportunity to challenge yourself with exciting activities like our high ropes challenge course, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and caving—all while learning how these adventures can be used to promote health, wellness, and ministry.

Our goal is to equip you with the leadership skills, outdoor knowledge, and spiritual insights to pursue a career in the outdoor industry with a heart for service. Whether you're interested in Adventure Therapy, Outdoor Ministry, Experiential Education, or Outdoor Recreation, you'll get a taste of the many programs offered at Southern Adventist University that can prepare you for a fulfilling career in outdoor leadership or emergency services.

Join us this summer to discover how you can combine your love for the outdoors with a purpose-driven career, and learn how outdoor adventure can advance the ministry of our Lord. We look forward to seeing you there! 

Key Highlights

• Adventure Activities: High ropes course, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and caving
• Spiritual Growth: Learn how outdoor experiences can deepen your faith and ministry
• Leadership Training: Build skills in leadership, teamwork, and safety
• Career Pathways: Discover undergraduate programs like Adventure Therapy, Outdoor Ministry, Experiential Education, and Outdoor Recreation
• Hands-On Experience: Apply your skills in real-world outdoor settings while exploring career options

If you have a heart for adventure and service, this camp is the perfect step toward your future in outdoor leadership.

Instructor: Professor Mike Harris

Capacity: 15

Make a Movie

Those attending will learn the process of how to create a short movie. They will learn how to turn a story into a script, how to use a camera and lights to bring the script to life, and the editing process to finish a movie.

Instructor: Nathan DeWild

Capacity: 20

Additional Requirements: Equipment will be provided for use by the School of Visual Art & Design.