URBANA, Ill.—A few years ago, the New York Times asked U.S. teenagers a simple question: “Do you see the point in learning math?”

The answer was a resounding “yes,” even from students who proclaimed to detest the subject. Students wrote to the newspaper, expressing the value that learning mathematics had brought to their lives, from teaching them critical thinking skills to helping them view the world in a different way. Some also expressed a desire for mathematics to be taught in schools differently, so that more students could gain a similar appreciation for the subject.

The Summer Illinois Math (SIM) Camp, hosted by the Department of Mathematics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, aims to do just that. SIM Camp is a week-long math camp allows middle- and high-school students to see the creative, discovery-driven side of mathematics.

This year’s SIM Camp courses provide sneak peeks into the wonderful world of pure mathematics, at a level that even beginners can appreciate. Campers will learn how mathematical concepts can be used to study moving objects, explore the deep relationships between numbers and space, see recurring examples of math in nature and art, and get a primer to chaos theory.

SIM Camp invites students entering grades 8–11 next fall to apply to camp. Students at all levels of mathematics proficiency are welcome—the only prerequisite is an interest in math.

SIM Camp 2024 will take place June 3–7, 2024. The cost to attend is $200 per student, and scholarships are available.

Applications for SIM Camp 2024 are open now. Students may apply to the camp online.

To receive priority consideration, campers should apply by April 26, 2024. Camp organizers will begin considering applications after the deadline. Students who are accepted into camp will be sent information about how to register for the camp.

“We will continue accepting applications until all spots are filled,” says SIM Camp organizer Madie Farris.

Students who will require an accommodation to participate should email math-simcamp@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet access needs.

Source: Madie Farris, 2024 SIM Camp Director

Writer: Shelby Koehne, Communication Coordinator, Department of Mathematics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Media Contact
Department of Mathematics Communication Office
math-comm@illinois.edu