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Dates for 2020
Week 1: June 21-26, 2020
for those entering grades 6-9
Week 2: July 5-10, 2020
for those entering grades 5-8
Week 3: July 12-17, 2020
for those entering grades 7-12
Update as of May 18, 2020
I sent the email below to the current applicants.
Thank you for your application for Math Contest Camp, 2020. I am saddened to announce I must cancel all three weeks of camp. There is too much uncertainty in the path forward for me to have any reasonable expectation of providing the socially fun camp while attempting to provide a safe environment per CDC guidance posted recently at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/Camps-Decision-Tree.pdf. I will miss the opportunity to work with your kids this summer. I will be processing refunds of deposits in the next week.
I considered the possibility of offering some type of online substitute to provide an academic portion of the camp experience. There already exist organizations with significant online and curriculum opportunities related to math contest preparation that have much more experience in providing an academic experience. https://artofproblemsolving.com/school, https://classes.areteem.org/, and http://mathleague.org/classes.php are three that I am aware of and there are likely others.
To apply
To apply
Use the form available (link removed) to apply for camp. You should receive an auto response on submitting this form. It may be mid-March before you hear other information about the camp.
What is the purpose of the camp?
It is a mission of providing an opportunity for students to have fun and to solve math problems with students who are like them (so they don't have to worry about what others are thinking about their interest in having fun with mathematics). A former camper said it well when he said "Math Contest Camp was my first math camp experience, and it gave me an opportunity to truly connect with people who were as interested in math as I was, and to get to know them as friends rather than mere teammates or fellow competitors. Befriending people who share your passion is a rare gift, and it’s often one that you don’t comprehend the benefit of until you have it. Math Contest Camp not only gave me this gift, but it also opened my eyes to its worth, motivating me to build closer relationships with other math-enthusiast friends I had made over the years."
What do you do? What activities are there?
What do you do? What activities are there?
Who can come to the camp?
Who can come to the camp?
Lots of math problems from contests such as MATHCOUNTS® , AMC-10/12, and other contests
We also have some outdoor rec time
Spend some time in the Wellness Center (Pool, gym).
Look at other math activities, watch some math videos, hear some math songs.
Have a speaker on occasion share about how math, problem solving, and their Christian faith have worked together in their life. Dr. Hopkins also does this on occasion. For an example of what he typically shares, you can watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PYMC6gzhZ8&t=71s&index=10&list=PLgQhuyBS3_qb65_uFn4dJ-5_tsuQL-vjS . Dr. Hopkins is also working on collecting various illustrations at https://www.geogebra.org/m/Hq7Y7q7C.
Anticipated weekly schedule using week 1 from 2018 as a model (will be adjusted as the week proceeds). Planning schedule for week 1 in summer 2019. Planning schedule for week 2 in summer 2019. The schedule is adjusted during the week as I never know the level of campers that will come to know what will be appropriate material or what types of activities most appeal to the campers in any particular week.
You can see information from the previous years ( 2011, 2012 , 2013 , 2014, 2015 , 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), such as schedules and evaluations. The schedules for 2020, will be added each week near when it occurs and the schedule for the week occurring will undoubtedly change various times during the week.
The grade cutoffs for the weeks are somewhat arbitrary, but overall maturity level of the group does tend to influence how quickly we can move through material during the week (and transition from one activity to another). A skills test is given the first night and the campers are split into two groups to give more personalization in the difficulty and pacing of the material. My plan is to cap each week at 24.
Photos from 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 camps are posted to www.facebook.com/MathContestCamp . Results for 2012 evaluations from campers and parents. For 2013 both camper and parent evaluations are in the same document. 2014 evaluations are posted in the same document. 2015 evaluations are available here. 2016 evaluations are split so you can see camper evaluation results and parent evaluation results. For 2017, camper evaluation results and parent evaluations results are now posted.
Students entering 5th-12th grade who are interested in math and solving problems. Over the 14 year history, 835 campers (many repeating from year to year) have come from 24 different states. Click here to see a complete breakdown. You can print out the camp brochure which you can download here and share it with friends to recruit them to come to camp as well.
Who started the camp?
Who started the camp?
Dr. Kevin Hopkins. Email: khopkins@sbuniv.edu Phone: 417-328-1675. You can find more info about Dr. Hopkins at https://sites.google.com/site/drhopkinsbackground/ .
On average, how many kids come to camp?
On average, how many kids come to camp?
In the 36 weeks of camp (over 14 years), we have averaged 23 per week, The camp is capped at 24 per week. So send in applications and deposits early to reserve your spot.
How many workers are there?
How many workers are there?
Usually between 4-6 depending on the number of campers. They all stay in the dorm (including Dr. Hopkins) and stay with the campers all day. Potential workers can complete an online application here. A signed version of this will be required. Additionally a camp vision document will be shared to be sure counselors and Dr. Hopkins are all on the same page. A phone interview will be conducted and references will be contacted.
Where is the camp located?
Where is the camp located?
On the campus of Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, MO. It is the personal work of Dr. Hopkins, Chair of the Mathematics Department at Southwest Baptist University. Bolivar is 130 miles from Kansas City, 190 miles from St. Louis, and 25 miles north of Springfield. The Lake of the Ozarks and Branson are nearby attractions families could visit before or after dropping their camper off.
Although not officially sponsoring the camp, Southwest Baptist University is the location of the facilities. Offering Christian higher education since 1878, Southwest Baptist University serves an enrollment of 3,400 students with graduate and undergraduate programs. The views or beliefs set forth in this web page do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Southwest Baptist University.
How much does the camp cost?
How much does the camp cost?
$425 for the week-includes room, food, t-shirt, tests, and other things. A $100 deposit is required by May 1 (to be sure there are sufficient numbers to run the camp-if not, deposits will be returned). If the cap is reached before May 1, the website will be updated. If there is still space after May 1 (and enough to run the camp), additional registrations will be accepted until camp begins. All checks should be payable to Dr. Kevin Hopkins.
What to bring to camp?
What to bring to camp?
I have prepared a 2 page document of what to bring to camp and other information that parents and campers need to know. Follow this link to get that document to have for your reference. You will also need to complete a signed Wellness Center release form and a signed insurance form. This can be submitted with the deposit, when paying the remaining balance, or at camper check-in on the first day of camp (Sunday, check in starts at 4 pm in Meyer Dorm).
Disclaimers
Math Contest Camp is not sponsored by, or affiliated with, the MATHCOUNTS® Foundation or with the AMC 8/10/12, or with any of the other contests.
This camp is the personal work of Dr. Hopkins. This page is produced by Dr. Kevin W. Hopkins of Southwest Baptist University. I hope to redo the webpage some more, but will probably not do that until later. More information is available from the 2019 camp website: https://sites.google.com/site/sbumathcon/math-contest-camp-2019
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