Frequently Asked Questions

The only difference between our middle school and high school courses is the age of the students. Please sign up your student using their current grade level they are in or the last one they completed, not what they will be attending the following fall. (Example: A student who just finished 8th grade would apply for a middle school program for students in grades 6-8) See our course catalog for more information.

No, you do not have to leave campus! If you elect to come for two or more consecutive weeks of Summer Youth Programs (we call these students “stay-overs”), we offer exciting weekend activities in the area. Read our cost of attendance for more information.

While we share Wadsworth Hall with Michigan Tech students during the summer, Summer Youth Programs participants will have exclusive use of two of the floors. Swipe access points limit the access only to Summer Youth Programs participants and staff.

Our live-in participants enjoy a taste of campus living in Michigan Tech's largest residence hall, Wadsworth Hall. Tap-access is required to enter both the building and the individual halls. Participants have access to residence hall laundry facilities (supplies available for purchase at the SYP Front Desk) and lounges. We have a full-time, live-in counseling staff who provide supervision, interact with participants, and help ensure safety.

Students can request a roommate, or they will be assigned one before arriving. We try to assign roommates in similar age groups. Male and female students will room on separate, secure floors.

See the live-in vs. commuter page for more information.

While a few classrooms may be air-conditioned, the majority of spaces and all residence hall rooms are not. We recommend that all students bring a personal fan; it can get quite warm!

Residential students are required to stay in Wadsworth Hall. Programs are available at a reduced fee for students who wish to stay in the area with friends or family and provide their own daily transportation (we call these students “commuters”). See the live-in vs. commuter page for more details about commuting.

Upon successfully completing the program, you will receive a certificate, which we recommend including in your high school portfolio. It may be helpful when applying for jobs, colleges, or honors programs.

Additionally, you may be eligible to apply for the Summer Youth Scholars Award, a scholarship offered exclusively to Summer Youth Programs alumni who enroll as undergraduates at Michigan Tech.

The mission of Summer Youth Programs is to provide students in grades 6-11 with hands-on explorations focused on the needs of tomorrow; current 12th-graders, early middle college students, and those who have completed their secondary education are not eligible to participate.

We remain one of the most affordable programs in the nation, and we intentionally keep our costs low so that our programs are accessible to as many people as possible. Note: fees may vary; please see exploration descriptions as well as the cost of attendance page for specific costs.

We recommend you check out either our Pathway Programs or scholarships page for information.

Yes, though fees and non-refundable deposits vary based on when you cancel. See our cancellation policy for information.

See dates and deadlines for more information about deadlines and payment schedules.

We are always happy to help you find another exploration to fit your interests. Or, if you prefer, we can place your name on a waiting list and notify you if space becomes available. If you haven't been transferred from a waiting list to an exploration by the start of the program, your entire payment (including the deposit) will be refunded.

Michigan Tech is located in Houghton, Michigan, near the shore of Lake Superior in the beautiful Upper Peninsula. Check out a campus map for more information.

Arranging transportation early will ensure smooth travels. Early arrangements will also allow our staff to prepare for your arrival and be ready to give you a great welcome. See the transportation page for more information about transportation options, including car, air, and bus.

Wadsworth Hall is located on the south side of US Highway 41, near the east side of campus. Check out a campus map for more information.

Many people use the trip to Michigan Tech as a vacation for the entire family. The area is well known for its scenic beaches and waterfalls, unique shopping, historic downtown, and tourist attractions. Cottages, hotels, bed and breakfasts, and camping are available in the area.

For more information, visit www.keweenaw.info. There are also options to reserve guest rooms in the Memorial Union Building (MUB) on campus.

Yes! Summer Youth Programs staff members will pick up and drop off any participant as long as we have prior notice. There is a $10 fee each way for the airport shuttle service. Please be sure to register for the Airport Shuttle under the Application/Registration tab in CampDoc.

Yes, but it can depend on the day/dates. See cost of attendance for more information.

Yes, as long as you buy a parking pass. See the live-in vs. commuter page for details about parking.

Our programs start in mid-June and run through mid-July. To find the dates of a specific program visit the course catalog for more information.

We tend to start sending regular communications in April or May, but timing may be variable each year. As we get closer to the start of programs, you will receive more information from us regarding preparations for your time at SYP. 

If you ever have any questions about the info you receive, please contact us by email at syp@mtu.edu or by phone at 906-487-2219.

After you are enrolled in your course, you will be asked to complete a Student Profile on CampDoc, which contains items like your transportation information, health history, and roommate requests. The Student Profile is due no later than three weeks prior to the start of your program. At the due date, you will be locked out of your profile and you will need to contact our office with any updates.

Please fill out all portions of your Student Profile, including your health history, at least three weeks prior to the start of your program.

We recommend bringing $50-$60 of spending money per week, but it is not required. The exploration fee covers all instructional materials, meals and lodging, so you only need spending money to buy snacks, merchandise, or for some optional evening activities.

All students taking prescription medications are required to bring and turn in their medications pre-dosed for the correct day and time they should be taken. To help ensure accuracy and timely administration, we strongly encourage families to use a daily medication organizer (such as an a.m./p.m. or multi-slot dispenser) with each dose clearly separated and labeled.

The participant is responsible for coming to the SYP Front Desk to have their medications administered. If self-administration/self-possession is necessary, please submit your request in writing to syp@mtu.edu.

Any participant who distributes a medication of any kind to another participant or is found to possess a medication other than those authorized violates the program's Code of Conduct.

SYP provides many common over-the-counter (OTC) medications as needed, including ibuprofen, acetaminophen, Benadryl, Dramamine, and Pepto-Bismol. Please do not bring your own OTC medications. In your Student Profile, you will have the opportunity to authorize SYP staff to provide specific over-the-counter medications as necessary or not. 

Come to the parking lot in front of Wadsworth Hall and someone will help direct you from there. See our check-in and check-out guide for more information.

We encourage parents/guardians to attend registration if they are available, but it is not necessary if all forms have been submitted and your bill has been paid in full.

Live-in participants: Lunch and dinner are served during Sunday check-in, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner are available before Friday's check-out.

Commuter participants: Dinner on Sunday, and lunch and dinner on Friday are provided. 

Camp days are filled with a combination of classes, enriching group activities, and leisure opportunities. See our breakdown of a typical day for information.

Michigan Tech faculty, staff, and graduate students, along with approved guest specialists teach our explorations.

ATTN: (Student's Name)
Summer Youth Program
Wadsworth Hall
Michigan Technological University
1703 Townsend Drive
Houghton, MI 49931-1193

Yes. Outside of your classes, all recreation areas, activities, and events are open to all participants.

You are not allowed to leave campus without an authorized adult.

Personal friends or relatives not associated with Summer Youth Programs are only allowed to visit during evening recreation time (around 4:30–10 p.m.), must be listed in the "authorized adults" section of your Student Profile, and will be required to provide photo ID in order for you to go off-campus with them. Please make sure that you are signed out and back in with the Front Desk at the time of the visit. No guests may go upstairs in participant rooms.

Staff, residence hall coordinators, and lead staff supervise participants whenever they are not in their explorations. We hire undergraduate and graduate student mentors after a comprehensive screening process, which includes intensive training in safety and age-appropriate activities.

Yes. Participants are not allowed to leave the designated campus area without accompaniment by an SYP staff member. During recreation times, students are welcome to walk around campus, but they must sign out and sign back in at the Front Desk when they're done.

While we rarely have problems, we recognize the value of keeping valuable possessions safe. Summer Youth Programs provides a free "safe deposit" service where participants can store money and valuables such as extra cash and other small, valuable items. Valuable possessions are individually stored where the participant can access them at any time. The balance of stored cash is tracked, and participants must initial each withdrawal.

Additional security notes:

• The residence halls are locked from 10 p.m.–6:30 a.m. If you are locked out of the hall for whatever reason during this time, please call the SYP Emergency Line on the back of your Student ID.
• Individual rooms lock, and participants are responsible for their own room keys. A lost key fee of $75 applies to any lost, broken, or damaged keys. Summer Youth Programs is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
• No one is allowed on the SYP floors of the residence hall without a Summer Youth Programs ID.
• Michigan Tech is ranked as the safest college campus in the nation.
• Campus is patrolled by full-time police officers.

Laundry facilities are available for you to use on site. The washers and dryers are free and are very large and can hold multiple loads.

Participants are asked not to bring detergent with them. Detergent is available for purchase at the front desk. If you have allergy concerns, please contact us by email at syp@mtu.edu.

Participants should apply for the B-2 tourist visa, which allows for brief stays—usually less than six months—that may include participation in a short, recreational course of study that does not qualify as credit toward a degree. Citizens of some countries may not need visa stamps but will need pre-approval through the ESTA system.

Do not apply for an F-1 student visa, as this is a non-degree program.

We can provide an invitation letter from Michigan Tech SYP to include in your application to the embassy. Please contact us at syp@mtu.edu and we will be happy to provide an official letter.

More visa information.

Houghton County Memorial Airport (CMX) is located nine miles from campus, with flights into CMX provided by United Airlines. All flights to CMX will route through Chicago O'Hare.

If a student will be 15 years old or younger at time of travel, please refer to United Airline’s unaccompanied minor policy. These students must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, school chaperone, or someone who is 18 years of age or older.

Michigan Tech provides airport pickup to and from CMX for participants for an additional fee of $10 each way.

Please pack for variable weather, including sun and rain, possible high humidity, and temperatures that range from chilly to hot. The weather in Upper Michigan can change quickly and may be very new for some students.

During the night in June programs, temperatures may get as low as 5°C. In the hottest parts of the day in mid-July, temperatures could reach 27°C.

A detailed packing list explaining what to pack and not pack will be sent to students in their CampDoc profile. For more information, visit our what to pack page.

We do our best to create our rooming list based off student requests, and to pair roommates of similar age groups.

You can request a roommate in your CampDoc profile and we will do our best to honor roommate requests whenever possible. In order to room with a friend, you must both request each other. If you request to room with a friend, but your friend does not request you, you will not be placed together. It will not be possible to switch rooms when you arrive.

Yes, international students may apply to a selection of our Pathway Programs. These programs can help lessen the financial burden of attending internationally, as students receive a scholarship valued at over $1,000 to attend.

Your program may have variable registration fees after selection. Please see the specifics of your acceptance letter for details.

The only Pathway Programs that do not accept international participants are the Tracks to the Future: Railroad Transportation and Engineering program and National Summer Transportation Institute.

It may help to give your body time to adjust to the new time zone by arriving a night early.

If arriving early isn't an option, students may be able to sleep on their flight to lessen the effects of jet lag. We plan engaging days to keep students awake as they adjust and require students to be in their rooms from 10:45 p.m. until 7 a.m., to encourage healthy sleeping habits.

Attending our program is going to be new and exciting, but some students may miss home and the foods, language, and culture they know best.

One way to deal with homesickness is to get involved! By participating in class and during evening activities, you will keep your mind off missing home while you meet and befriend other students.

It helps to bring a bit of home along with you. Try packing a few of your favorite snacks to enjoy or share with your new friends or making a playlist of your favorite songs from home.

If you're concerned that you may struggle with homesickness, we recommend only planning one exploration for your first trip. That way, you know that you'll return home at the end of a week with plenty of exciting stories to share!

You are welcome to come visit campus with your child, or let them explore MTU on their own. Most parents do not fly with their child, but you can make that decision together.

Students who are flying into CMX will be met by easily identifiable staff (wearing our SYP shirts). Our staff will drive students to campus in a university vehicle.

If the student flying is 15 years old or younger, please visit United Airline’s unaccompanied minor policy. The airlines will not release unaccompanied minors until the proper staff member with identification picks up your child.

Yes, please make sure your child is covered for medical treatment while visiting the US! If your current policy does not cover international travel, you may obtain a low-price policy for your child while they are at camp. Here is one plan to consider.