faculty hiring || junior program overview (1)

find out
more about the
junior program

junior program site
The Junior Program website has detailed information about the Program, including academic and extracurricular opportunities.

junior program
summer site
Here, you will find pictures, stories, and interviews of students and faculty from last summer. We particularly recommend reading the student interviews and flipping through the daily photos to get a sense of our student body and daily offerings.

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junior program overview 1 | 2

Students at the Junior Program are 9 to 12-years-old. Because of the varying maturity levels of these ages, we have divided the Junior Program into two groups; "Pioneers" are entering grades 4 and 5, and "Voyagers" are entering grades 6 and 7. Children at the Junior Program are bright, motivated, and curious. Most have chosen to attend Exploration and take academically oriented courses rather than attend a traditional camp. Junior Program students are excited about learning and are eager to please the adults they respect. In addition to their passion for learning, the children at these age levels are very physically active, playful, and, we have found, enthusiastic about all aspects of Explo life.

Learning for this age group is best when it is very "hands-on." Our Curriculum Advisors work closely with Instructors to design courses that will be full of educational exercises, debates, discussions, games, models, experiments, and role-plays. Lecture-style courses are inappropriate for students at the Exploration Junior Program.

In addition to courses, most faculty members at the Junior Program (including Program Assistants) plan and teach a mini-course, which each meet for two hours each Wednesday for a total of 6 hours of instruction per session.

The willingness to be somewhat silly at the Junior Program is very helpful. This could mean dressing up on Star Wars Day, Super Funk Day, or Super Hero Day. It may mean play-acting during assembly or letting your students paint on your face. A sense of fun is extremely important at the Junior Program.

The RA role is particularly demanding at the Junior Program. Residential students of this age need to be reminded to shower (with soap!), brush their teeth (with toothpaste!), hang up their wet towels (not on their pillows!), etc. Many are away from home for the first time and they all need considerable guidance, support, structure, and close supervision.

special note:
The Junior Program is also looking for many Instructors and Program Assistants (PAs) who are certified lifeguards or who are willing to become certified (at our expense). Lifeguard certification can literally make the difference when choosing between two excellent candidates.

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