This year marks the 42nd year of the University of Northern Colorado’s Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) that serves children and youth who are gifted, talented and creative in a supportive academic and social setting. With a variety of programs to choose from, children of all ages will learn valued skills from leadership to critical thinking and more. New this year is the Summer Enrichment Day Program for fifth and sixth graders.

Leadership Enrichment Program

The Leadership Enrichment Program (LEP) accepts 24 high-school students who are entering their junior and senior years. The focus is on understanding one's personal, unique gifts and talents, learning about leadership styles and developing traits and characteristics of leadership. They spend three periods a day on leadership topics and one period assisting an SEP teacher for a class of their choice. The program runs July 7-20 and costs $1,795 for the general public, and $1,495 for for UNC employees (more information).

Summer Enrichment Program

The SEP serves children and youth entering fifth through 10th grade. This residential program, which runs July 7-20, offers high interest, hands-on, brains-on courses developed by specialists in gifted education and/or in specialized content areas. The cost of the program is $1,795 for the general public, and $1,495 for for UNC employees (more information).

Young Child Program

The Young Child Program, from July 8-19, serves children ages four and five as well as those entering grades first through fourth. The program addresses the early educational and social needs of children who are gifted, talented and/or creative children. Parents select high-interest courses that meet during four, 40-minute periods each day. The specialists in gifted and talented education who teach the courses help develop and focus the natural curiosity and creativity of these students. The cost of the program is $350 for the general public, and $300 for children of for UNC employees (more information).

NEW: Summer Enrichment Day Program

The Summer Enrichment (SEP) Day program for fifth- through sixth-grade students is for those who prefer to attend SEP day classes rather than the full-residential program. Students will attend SEP from 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (both weeks) and on Super Saturday (at the end of the first week of the program). Students will participate in morning classes as well as lunch and afternoon classes. Availability is limited, and cost of this program is $850 for the general public and $750 for UNC employees (more information (PDF)).

 The SEP was founded under the direction of Dr. Robert Sloat in 1978 and grew under the leadership of Dr. George Betts from 1979-2012 as well as Dr. Stuart Omdal from 2013-17. Today, the program continues its tradition of acceptance under the leadership of Drs. Jennifer Ritchotte and Amy Graefe, professors of Gifted Education at UNC.

The program received one of two Global Awareness Annemarie Roeper Awards from the National Association for Gifted Children and was recognized during the NAGC's annual convention in North Carolina in November of 2017.