Champlain Pre-College Summer Programs: Game Academy

The Champlain Game Academy offers an intensive residential pre-college program for motivated high school students entering grades 10-12 and recent high school graduates. Our program is designed to explore what it's like to study game development in college while learning how to make games. Students in this program will work in a creative cohort that stresses the importance of teamwork and creative collaboration.

Our curriculum is modeled on the collaborative approach of The Game Studio cohort at Champlain College. Students will have the opportunity to focus on their areas of special interest and, with the instruction of industry professionals, will finish the Academy by co-creating a finished portion of a game.

Champlain Game Academy introduces high school students to all aspects of game development including game design, game art and animation, programming, sound, testing and production. Students will gain real-world experience by working as a development team that works together across all game development disciplines to build original game projects. At the end of the Academy, students will have a full understanding of the behind-the-scenes operations of the world's professional game studios.

The program offers some time each day for students to relax with new friends. Students  will get outside and enjoy green space on campus, enjoy a movie night or a game tournament and enjoy a day trip to Mt. Philo State Park. 

In the Champlain Game Academy students will:

• Gain experience in all aspects of game development, from game design and game art to game programming and game sound production
• Get a head start on building their portfolio
• Experience what it is like to study game development in college
• Develop a working game prototype
• Learn new skills and work collaboratively with other students who are also passionate about game development
• Get a head start on building their portfolio 

Located on the shores of Lake Champlain in beautiful Burlington, Vermont, Champlain College's Pre-College Summer Programs provide students with a robust learning environment and the opportunity to make new connections with peers and faculty who have shared STEM interests. (Space is limited.)

PROGRAM DATES: 

Champlain Game Academy:  July 8 - 19, 2024 OR July 22 - August 2, 2024

PROGRAM FEE:  $4,500. This all-inclusive package includes:

• Instruction
• Class and lab materials
• On-campus housing 
• All meals
• Use of professional equipment and facilities
• Social and recreational activities 
• Transportation to and from field trips and outings
• Program t-shirt