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our students

The Experimentory welcomes students from around the world who are currently in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades when they apply. Unfortunately, we cannot make exceptions to our grade policy.

Each summer, the Experimentory builds a tight-knit community of curious learners who are excited to experience fascinating classes, creative projects, and exciting adventures. To provide an enriching experience, we limit the size of our program to 85-100 students.

Students are housed in Deerfield Academy dormitories in rooms of 2-3 students. Supervision is provided by two Experimentory staff members who live in each hall. Prior to arriving at the Experimentory, students complete a roommate questionnaire about themselves and how they envision their roommate experience. We use this information to help inform our rooming assignments. Having a roommate provides a great opportunity for students to get to know someone both similar and different from themselves and allows students to develop valuable skills that come with living in close quarters with another individual. Please note, the dorms at Deerfield Academy are not air-conditioned and we do not have the ability to offer that as an accommodation. To learn more about life in the dorms click here. 

Applications for the Experimentory are completed through our application portal: CampDoc. In addition to the application, which includes a few short open-response questions for students, we also require the following materials to consider an application complete. Instructions for submitting these materials are located within the application. 

• • Teacher recommendation 
  • School leader report and transcript 
  • Brief introductory video (this helps us get to know the student and see their passion!)

For details about tuition and available financial aid, please visit the ‘Explore the Details’ page of our website.

One of the best parts of the Experimentory is that students join the program from all over the world! While many Experimentory students speak multiple languages, English reading, writing, and speaking proficiency is a requirement to attend. Our program is not designed to accommodate beginning learners of English. If a student can’t answer yes to any of the following questions, we may request additional information to assess a student’s English proficiency.

• • Is English the student’s first and primary language?
  • Has the student attended an English-speaking school for at least the last three years?
  • Is English the primary language spoken at home?

Each student will take 2 courses during the program. We announce our courses in the spring and students will rank them by preference. Most students are placed into their top choices. While our courses often change from year to year, we always offer exciting options in a wide range of subject areas. See the classes section of the Experience Page to learn more.   

At the Experimentory, students interact with a team of dedicated adults who bring a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the program:

• Teachers: All classes are thoughtfully designed and led by Deerfield Academy faculty and educators from within our campus community, giving students a taste of the dynamic academic environment at Deerfield.
• Leadership Team: The program’s leadership team is also comprised of Deerfield Academy faculty who oversee the program, ensuring a supportive and enriching experience for all participants.
• Residential Activities Assistants: Providing mentorship and an inside perspective on life at Deerfield, Activities Assistants are young Deerfield alumni who lead activities, live in the dorms, and support students throughout their time at the Experimentory.

In order to ensure students are fully immersed in the program and gain as much from it as possible, we limit screen time to a short period (approx. 30 min) twice a week. This time is designed to provide students a chance to call home and check-in. Daily life at the Experimentory is quite busy and packed with fun so we find that students adjust quickly to this policy. At the end of the program, the vast majority of students are grateful for the break from screens and the opportunity to genuinely connect with peers and be fully present in the moment. Any technology needed for a student’s courses will be provided. 

We recognize how important it is for families to feel connected to their students while they are away. During the program, we post tons of photos daily and send thorough updates twice a week so you can keep up with everything that is going on around campus! Experimentory staff can also be reached 24/7 during the program.