Wingspread
Ohio Wesleyan's OWL Camp Expanding in 2025 to Help Ohio's Talented and Gifted Youth Thrive
DELAWARE, Ohio – Ohio Wesleyan University's commitment to Ohio's talented and gifted youth continues to grow.
Last year, Ohio Wesleyan University's OWL (formerly OWjL) program added one week of summer day camp to its three, one-week sessions of residential camp. This summer, OWL (Ohio Wesleyan Learning) camp will add a second week of the popular day camp to serve fifth- and sixth-graders who prefer to learn and make new friends without staying on campus overnight.
"We're excited to expand OWL camp to serve even more of Ohio's talented and gifted middle school students," said Josie Bair, executive director of the Ohio Wesleyan Learning (OWL) program. "Typically, only about 15% of Ohio's identified gifted students receive special services each year, and Ohio Wesleyan is committed to improving that number. We want these students to embrace their academic potential and make friends who understand what they are experiencing."
Bair said this year's day camps will serve fifth- and sixth-graders but not fourth-graders, whom counselors and instructors last year deemed a little too young for the experience. The residential camps will continue to serve sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-graders as they have since 1993.
The OWL program was launched in 1982 with support from the Junior League of Columbus, resulting in its original name of "OWjL," also pronounced "owl."
Even as OWL evolves, its mission remains the same, Bair said: "nurturing the development of exceptional abilities of gifted students through opportunities to expand their minds, create a lifelong passion for learning, and develop meaningful friendships."
During their experience, OWL campers take classes to expand their knowledge of humanities, creative arts, mathematics, science, logic, and computers. The classes are designed to be fun and engaging, with recent examples including "Murder in the Chemlab," "Intro to Creative Writing," "You're on Trial," and "Ultimate STEM Challenge!"
The campers are taught by Ohio Wesleyan faculty, staff, and alumni, as well as national board-certified secondary school teachers, teachers of gifted and talented students, and other experts in their fields. They also are mentored by camp counselors including students from Ohio Wesleyan and other colleges and universities.
The 2025 OWL schedule includes three, one-week residential camp sessions that run from June 8-12, June 15-19, and June 22-26, and two weeklong day camp sessions that run from June 29-July 3 and July 7-10.
Applications for the 2025 sessions open Dec. 1, 2024. To apply, students either must score in the 95th percentile on one area of an ability/achievement test or have above-average proficiency test scores. They also must use the online form at owu.edu/owl to submit an essay and provide contact information to enable OWL staff to obtain their academic records and two teacher recommendations.
Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation's premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and competes in 24 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through its signature experience, the OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan teaches students to understand issues from multiple academic perspectives, volunteer in service to others, build a diverse and global perspective, and translate classroom knowledge into real-world experience through internships, research, and other hands-on learning. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book "Colleges That Change Lives" and included on the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review "Best Colleges" lists. Connect with OWU expert interview sources at owu.edu/experts or learn more at owu.edu.