BU: BeReal is an immersive leadership and college experience. Explore life at college as a high school student, discover how to develop and enhance your leadership skills, appreciate others’ gifts, and forge your own path as a leader in a rapidly changing world.
Basic Info:
Address: 4602 Sunset Ave, Indianapolis
Phone: (317) 940-4176
Email: [email protected]
Website: butlerartscenter.org/camps/
Type of Camp: Residential
Dates: June 9-27
Ages: Rising grades 9-12
Special Needs Offered: Accommodation requests may be made at the time of registration. We will then work with our Student Disability Service Office to try and accommodate your request
Q&A with Butler University – BU: BeReal Camp:
What makes BU: BeReal Camp unique?
During this experience, you’ll live in a residence hall, eat in the dining hall, explore campus locations like the recreation center and Esports, visit off-campus locations in Indianapolis (11th-12th grade only), plus meet Blue (the Butler mascot). You’ll also participate in a variety of activities, and college exploration sessions led by the various colleges and departments at Butler University. Led by faculty members, each session will showcase a unique discipline, the career paths possible in that discipline, how the content can apply to daily life, and how leadership manifests within the discipline. Feel what it’s like to be a college student while still in high school!
What activities are offered at BU: BeReal Camp?
Students will participate in leadership training, hear from guest speakers, engage in nightly games and activities in the dorms, and participate in interactive exploration sessions led by the various Butler colleges:
– Lacy School of Business
– Jordan College of the Arts
– Liberal Arts & Sciences
– College of Education
– College of Communications
– College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
What is the camper-to-counselor ratio?
10:1
How much time do the campers spend outside?
It all depends on that Indiana-weather! Most scheduled activities occur indoors.
Does the camp provide lunch/snacks or do parents need to provide them?
All meals and snacks are included.
What is the typical daily schedule for campers?
9:15am – Guest speaker
10:30am – Morning college exploration
1:00pm – Leadership session
2:00pm – Afternoon college exploration
4:00pm – Activity/free time
5:00pm – Dinner
How old are the counselors and how are they trained?
Current Butler students are hired as counselors. They participate in a full day of camp training, complete required Department of Child Services child abuse reporting training, and receive instructional materials/information leading up to the camp. Priority hiring is given to counselors from previous years and other college students with prior camp experience.
What accommodations are made for campers with special needs?
Accommodation requests are collected at the time of registration. These requests are reviewed, and the parent/guardian receives information on services that can be provided. We seek to make this camp accessible to all and are happy to engage with families to ensure a positive camp experience for their child.
Do you have tuition assistance available?
Through a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment, we are able to provide full, need-based tuition assistance to up to 50% of campers who attend.
Students qualify for full tuition assistance if they meet at least one of the criteria below:
- 21st Century Scholar
- Financially qualifies for free/reduced lunch
- First generation student (would be the first person in their family to go to college)
- When you register, you will be asked if you would like to apply for tuition assistance. If you apply, you will only need to pay the $25 registration fee to complete your registration. If you are awarded tuition assistance, you will be paid in full. If you are denied tuition assistance, you will have the option to have the $25 refunded to you.
Tuition assistance will be awarded to those who qualify on a first come, first serve basis. We encourage you to register early if you plan to apply for tuition assistance.
Is this an overnight camp?
Yes
What does the camper’s living situation look like?
Campers will stay overnight in Irvington House Dorm. Each room has two beds and is connected to another room via a shared bathroom, creating a pod of four students. Irvington House dorm was completed in 2018 and includes a modern aesthetic and game-room amenities.
How do parents and campers communicate?
Campers are permitted to have their phones with them during camp. Parents/campers may communicate at any time. Camp staff are always happy to connect a parent with their camper.
How does BU: BeReal Camp handle homesickness?
Campers are assigned to ‘cohorts’ of 10 campers on the first day of camp. Each cohort has a Butler student counselor assigned to them. The cohort rotates through camp programming together and has nightly meetings. This smaller-group size allows for relationships to be built in a camp setting and counselors are trained to attend to the needs of individual students. We also encourage parents/guardians to help their camper prepare to be away from home during the camp week, and appreciate when parents/guardian’s alert camp staff to ways we can best make their student feel safe.
What are the meals like at camp?
Campers eat in the Butler dining hall, just like college students do! There are multiple stations: salad/soup/sandwich bar, hot grill, dessert station, gluten-free, vegan, etc. The self-serve ice cream machine is definitely the most popular amenity at camp!
Can parents visit BU: BeReal Camp?
We encourage parents/guardians to provide their students with a ‘college experience’ by not visiting during the camp week. If a parent/guardian must see their student, they may do so in a public campus space or in the dorm lobby. Parents/guardians are not permitted in the dorm rooms during camp.
Is the schedule highly structured, or do kids have a lot of free choices?
The schedule is structured but free choices are built into fun/down times. Campers also work together to build their end-of-camp presentation in the method/style they choose.
Is transportation available to and from camp?
Please reach out if you have a transportation accommodation request – we’re happy to assist!
.
