Olympiad Study Camp

Twenty of the top scoring students from the US National Chemistry Olympiad competition are invited to a two-week intensive study camp held in June at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. Under the tutelage of three mentors, students receive college-level training, with an emphasis on organic chemistry, through a series of lectures, problem-solving exercises, lab work and testing.

At the conclusion, a four-member US team is named to participate in the International Chemistry Olympiad with teams from more than 60 other countries. Each country sends four contestants and two coaches to the host country for seven to 10 days of exams, lectures, recreation and tours.

During the camp, mentors and students become a family unit. All participants live in the same dorm facility, eat all meals together, and share bathrooms and telephones.

Study Camp Mentors

Mentors play a vital role in preparing the nation’s brightest high school students to compete in the International Chemistry Olympiad. They guide the top 20 students through a series of practice problems, testing student skills, and ultimately selecting the US team for the International competition.

2010 Mentors

• Kimberly Gardner
  US Air Force Academy, Head mentor
• Kristin A. Fletcher
  US Air Force Academy, CO, College mentor
• Ara Kahyaoglu
  Bergenfield High School, NJ, High School mentor
• Brian Lee
  Massachusetts Institute of Technology, CT, Peer mentor

Schedule

The 2010 Study Camp will be held June 1-16 at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO.