DECATS Summer Camp!
The best summer camp for gifted and talented rising 4th through 7th graders is here!
DECATS at Baylor is a 3-week program beginning Monday, June 9th and ending Friday, June 27th, 2025. Our program hours are 8:30am to 3:30pm Monday through Friday. Students must be able to provide proof of gifted identification upon registration. Students who have not been formally identified should add the testing option to their registration form and contact tiptest@baylor.edu to schedule a time for testing. Enrollment will be contingent on identification via testing; students who do not qualify after testing will have their tuition for the camp refunded, and their spot will be released to another student.
Interested in learning more about our testing options? Click the buttons below to visit assessment pages for more information.
Baylor TIP Assessments Alternative Assessments
Partial funding for DECATS at Baylor is provided through a generous grant from the DeBusk Foundation, making the total tuition for the 3-week camp $750.00. A nonrefundable deposit of 25% of tuition is due upon enrollment, and payment plans are available. Families who register more than one student are eligible for a 10% discount. Please note that the enrollments must occur as part of the same transaction in order for the registration system to apply the discount. A limited amount of need-based financial aid is available. Families can contact us baylortip@baylor.edu to request a financial aid application.
Registration Closes June 2nd
DECATS at Baylor consists of five 55-minute classes per day, two snack breaks, and a 75-minute lunch and recreation break. Each day begins with a morning assembly used for announcements, celebrations, and the focus for the day. Each day ends with an afternoon assembly where scholars reflect on their learning and mentors (the term for teachers) recognize scholars and share reminders for the following day.
Scholars, mentors, and teaching assistants bring their lunches Monday through Friday. After lunch, scholars engage in recreation time, which includes sports-related games as well as relaxed socializing. This lunch and recreation time allows scholars additional time to make new friends who might not be in their classes.
Two courses are required for all students. The first required course is Perspectives, which provides pertinent information on giftedness to scholars. Manners to Morals is the second required course. The remaining three courses are student choice electives.
In April students who are registered will receive an email with elective courses they can choose from.
Elective Courses:
Students will have 3 elective periods and can choose their elective from the options available for each period.
Elective Period 1 Options:
Dream House
Let your creativity take the lead as you design your very own dream house. Whether you find yourself dreaming of a tree house deep in the woods or a mansion themed after your favorite television show, you’ll price out, design, and build a domain of your dreams. There’s no place like home in DECATS Dream House!
Angry Birds
Ready . . . Aim . . . FIRE! We don’t need devices to play with THESE Angry Birds. In this course, we will build different kinds of catapults, assemble different kinds of “birds” for ammunition, and construct various levels to knock down. Don’t let an evil piggy steal your spot. Slingshot your way into fun in Angry Birds: The Next Level!
CSI DECATS
Calling all would-be sleuths and Sherlock Holmes wannabes! A crime has been committed at DECATS, and it is up to you and your forensics team to identify the culprit. Learn how to investigate a crime scene, from securing the scene and collecting evidence to fingerprint analysis. Grab your magnifying glass and critical thinking cap and let’s solve the mystery!
Lego Robotics
Robots, assemble! Get ready to program your very own robot using LEGO kits! Can you program your robot to kick a ball? Can your robot win a race or move in response to sound energy? Use your creative and critical thinking skills as you enter the world of robotics engineering!
Positively Medieval
Step into the thousand years from the fall of Rome to the Viking invasions to the invention of the printing press. In this immersive class, you will not only hear riveting legends, but will also build your own castle, assume the role of knight, lord, or serf, and craft medieval-style weapons. This project-based and story-centered class is designed to spark the imagination, enhance your love of story, and give you a better hands-on understanding of the Medieval Period.
Elective Period 2 Options:
Amazing Marbles
Marble mazes may appear simplistic, but look again! Slope, angles, and other mathematical concepts are what keep things rolling. Collaborate with a team to design, test, and tweak your very own marble runs. With a little patience and a lot of planning, you’ll be amazed at what you can create.
World Cup
The World Cup is headed for DECATS this summer! This global event has played an important role in the history of sports. What unique features have made each World Cup different from the last? Take a look at this competition from both a sports and historical perspective. Once we hit the field, it will be time to practice basic soccer skills, such as passing, dribbling, and shooting, and get to know the rules of the game. We’ll use goal-setting and progress-tracking to assist us as we grow our soccer skills. In the end, we will incorporate our talents and skills to compete in the 2025 DECATS World Cup.
Give My Regards to Broadway
Lights, camera, action! Join in the excitement and magic of being part of a Broadway show. Share your love of theater as you act, sing, and dance to make a musical come to life. Everyone performs and everyone is cast in a part. Scholars learn the fundamentals of acting, create a costume, develop their character, memorize lines and sing and dance in a fast paced, hands-on production. Get ready to shine as the curtain goes up and the show goes on.
Creating in Minecraft
Make Minecraft your canvas as you bring your imagination to life! In this interactive course, students will explore the limitless possibilities of Minecraft as a platform for creative problem-solving, design, and teamwork. Students will take on challenges that require critical thinking, innovative design, and effective collaboration. We look forward to seeing what you’ll do in your Minecraft journey!
Hogwarts
Hop on the Hogwarts Express and join us for a fun week at Camp Harry Potter! You'll get your Hogwarts house, your wand, and your patronus. You'll learn what your house, wand, and patronus say about your personality and you'll attend classes (Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Potions, Ancient Runes, Divination).
Elective Period 3 Options:
Once Upon a STEM
Can you build a parachute for Jack to escape the Giant? Or design a zip line for Little Red Riding Hood to bypass the wolf on the way to Grandma’s house? Use everyday objects to challenge yourself to complete the Science Technology Engineering Math tasks and rescue your favorite fairy tale characters!
Olympics
The Olympics have arrived in Waco. After we divide into countries, create flags and logos, and participate in Opening Ceremonies, it’s time for the games to begin. We’ll participate in a variety of sports and challenges modeled after those seen in the Olympics, such as scooter-kayaking and build-your-own badminton. Go for the gold in DECATS Olympics!
Challenge Accepted
When faced with a dilemma that has no obvious solution, there’s only one thing to do — use science to solve it! Can you work with your team to create a waterslide that can safely transport objects of varying weights? Can you adjust the specifications of your rollercoaster to keep things moving? Together with your team, compete in a variety of STEM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Math) tasks designed to stretch your thinking as you devise creative solutions to accomplish the task at hand. The challenge awaits: are you up for it?
Codezilla
Come crack the code of computer programming! We’ll start with the basics as we develop problem-solving skills and work through fun challenges. Before long, we’ll be making games and creative projects using block-based programming. You’ll be able to share the games you create with friends and family!
Unearthing the Past
In this engaging and hands-on class, students will step into the shoes of archaeologists to explore the fascinating world of archaeology. Through interactive activities and discussions, they will discover how archaeologists uncover clues about the past, piece together ancient puzzles, and gain a deeper understanding of human history.