Who can register and when does 2024 registration open?
B-WISER camp is open to rising 8th and 9th graders who identify as a girl; students must have completed 7th grade to attend. Note that previous attendees are not eligible to attend B-WISER again, but are encouraged to return for B-WISEST after their 9th or 10th grade year.
Registration for B-WISER’s 2025 summer session opens January 18, 2025. Registration remains open until the deadline of April 30 or until the camp is full, whichever occurs first. (B-WISEST registration closes sooner, on March 31.) A notice will be posted on the camp homepage if registration closes before the deadline.
Can I room with my friend?
We do not generally allow friends to be roommates. We encourage all campers to get to know more fabulous girls who share an interest in science.
Can I bring my cell phone or any electronic devices? And how do campers communicate with their family while at camp?
No, campers are kept busy with engaging activities, and electronic devices detract from the B-WISER experience. No connected devices, including smart watches, are permitted. With our packed schedule, campers do not have opportunities to call home, but camp staff will have cell phones to call parents if the need arises.
B-WISER camp is not unique in this philosophy. Very few day or overnight camps allow cellphone use or emailing. This break from technology helps campers genuinely connect with each other, make friends, and engage in activities. For many, the independence from social media is liberating. For additional perspective on the issue of cell phones at camps, please explore links for articles from the American Camp Association (A and B) and the University of Michigan Medical School (C).
We understand that families will be eager to know how their camper is doing, and so we will regularly post photos of campers participating in various activities throughout the camp week on the new B-WISER Facebook page, so families can follow their child’s camp experience that way. Please do not comment on the photos.
What is the camp fee?
Campers must pay $660 (minus any scholarship discount), but the true cost of running the program is approximately $1000 per camper. We work to secure gifts and grants in order to reduce the required camp fee so that finances are not a barrier to attendance. Without the generous support of our partners and donors, we would be forced to pass on the full cost of camp to participants. In recent years, we have been dealing with increasing costs and reduced funding, so now more than ever, the generous support of campers’ families is important for maintaining the high-quality of the program and making the experience available to all.
We ask that families with the ability to cover their camper’s full $1000 cost of attendance consider paying the full amount. Families are also welcome to pay a customized amount through the electronic payment portal. And of course, we welcome donations of any amount.
Is there a form for the camp scholarship?
There are two possible types of camp scholarships that reduce the camp fee: (i) some campers may have been awarded scholarship certificates at a science competition, and (ii) some campers qualify for need-based scholarships (i.e. by qualifying for the state reduced lunch program).
To receive the scholarship, you must provide (i) a copy of the $100 award certificate, or (ii) a copy of the letter from your school saying you qualify for reduced lunches — or if you do not have a school letter, then fill out the income form found in the Parent Info & Forms tab of the website. You can either mail or email these to Manon Grugel-Watson. For more information, please see the Camp Scholarship tab.
NOTE: We can only provide a limited number of scholarships per school on a first come first served basis; we will notify applicants if no more scholarships are available, and you would have the option of a refund or paying the difference.
Please note that the maximum possible scholarship award is $500 per camper.
When and where is on-campus check-in?
2025 details are TBD, but it will probably be very similar to 2024, described below:
On campus check-in will begin promptly at 4:30PM on Monday, June 10, 2024 at the residence hall. Specifics about where to park, etc. will be emailed to all registrants. We ask that participants plan to arrive close to 4:30PM to allow time for the check-in process (including picking up your key card, dropping off any medications, and moving your belongings into your dorm room). Camp activities will begin immediately following registration. Note that campers should eat before arrival, as dinner is not provided that first evening (although we will plan to have a hearty snack before bed!).
What if I have questions or concerns about my child during camp?
All questions and concerns should be directed to the B-WISER Project Coordinator, Manon Grugel-Watson. Email BWISERcamp@wooster.edu or call 330-263-2105.
Camp counselors are not to be a point of contact with parents or guardians; this is outside their responsibility. The Project Coordinator can check-in with your camper or counselor or connect you with the camp nurse if you have any concerns. If an emergency occurs and you urgently need to reach your child, call College Security at 330-263-2590.
Are options available for campers with dietary restrictions?
Yes, the campus dining hall has a broad variety of options at every meal. There are always gluten-free, dairy-free, peanut & tree nut-free, vegetarian, and vegan options. And there is a station dedicated to foods without the 9 most common food allergens.
When are medications administered during camp?
Campers are engaged in special activities for much of the day. In order to minimize disruptions and allow all participants to fully engage in all camp activities, the camp nurse will only administer medications during meal and snack times. On the medication forms, please indicate which of these times your camper should receive medication: at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and/or nighttime snack. Please also let the nurse know when you drop off medications during sign-in on campus.
What time do I pick up my camper at the end of camp?
Parents/guardians are invited to attend the B-WISER Closing Ceremony beginning at 1:30PM on the last day of camp. Details will be emailed to families. Campers are to be picked up from the residence hall immediately following the ceremony. Camp closes promptly at 3:00PM, and there is no supervision after that time.
Are B-WISER and ‘Be Wise’ camps the same program or are they connected?
Be Wise camp began in 1989 at Denison University; the camp was also designed for middle school girls interested in science. Some of the teachers involved in that pilot camp founded B-WISER the following summer at The College of Wooster. They targeted older girls and focused on creating an intensive science experience.
Both camps have a daily curriculum, but with a different structure and covering different fields. Every day at B-WISER, students take lab courses in all subjects (i.e. physics, chemistry, biology, geology, robot construction, and advanced topics). And outside of classes, B-WISER continues to engage campers in science-based activities (e.g. learning about careers in science and participating in fun hands-on projects and demonstrations in engineering, chemistry, & physics).