At 8:40 p.m. Tuesday, West Campus is a vision of serenity as the Chapel glows in the sunset.
"I got it! I got it!" The call punctures the silence, and a swarm of pre-teens pours onto the Main Quadrangle to play soccer. It's another summer at Duke, and the armies of ambitious 14-year-olds have arrived.
This summer, more than 10,000 visitors from all over the nation--and even the world--are on campus attending residential and day programs. From rising seventh through 12th grade students taking college-level courses through the Talent Identification Program, to athletes honing their skills at soccer camp, to Expressions!, a fine arts program for fifth through eighth graders, summers here are anything but serene.
Megan Brandon is one of only three girls playing soccer on the quad with the boys. A rising ninth student from Ft. Myers, Fla., Brandon is among 448 TIP participants for Session I, which began Sunday. Duke is expecting another 453 TIP students for Session II, beginning in mid-July, plus 100 PreCollege students taking regular courses for credit during Duke's second summer term.
"I really enjoyed my experience at TIP last year. The classes are really hard and really intense--we have classes for seven hours a day," Brandon said. "It's like cramming a whole semester's worth of college work into three weeks. I also love the social aspect. That's why everyone comes here. It's an amazing experience."
Allyson Gutstein, another one of the girls playing soccer on the quad, raved about her social psychology class. "It is really, really interesting," she said. "You start to question all of your behaviors. In high school you don't really get to apply what you learn, but here, you start applying your knowledge right away. It's definitely a new experience."
Down the quad at the bus stop, a group of rising ninth graders are waiting to explore Durham for the first time with their Resident Counselor, Adam Welner, a sophomore from the University of Notre Dame. "I went to TIP for four years and loved it. I wanted to give back," Welner said. "These are cool kids--getting to know them has been the best part of TIP."
TIP students' drive is evident in the way they talk about their classes and their future goals. "For many of these students, for the first time, they are in a classroom of equals and they are being challenged to stretch themselves," said Scott Greenwood, interim executive director of operations for TIP. "It is a great benefit for Duke to have this wonderful group of students be on campus and think of Duke as a possible college option."
From a quick pick-up soccer game to intense tennis drills, Duke's summer programs offer something for everyone. For Mary Santos, a rising 10th grade student at the tennis camp, coming to Duke is something she looks forward to every year. "I came here last year, and it was really fun. It helped me get better and make it onto varsity," she said.
The week-long camp runs for six hours a day, but it's hardly all work and no play. "My favorite part of camp was when the counselors played 'Butts Up' after a doubles match. The losing pair would have to stand on the court with their butts up while the winning pair served at them," Santos giggled.
This carefree attitude epitomizes the philosophy of the sports camps, noted Gerry Brown, administrative assistant for the basketball camp. "These camps are for athletes of all levels," she said. "The ratio between kids and coaches is great. We take great pride in the program."
Campers worry about feeling lost on Duke's expansive campus, but seeing the school overrun by so many bright, pre-college kids can be just as intimidating for Duke students. "They're literally everywhere," said Aaron Marco, a rising senior. "They're loud, and I just feel like I can't get away from them."
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