Unleashing curiosity, creativity, and the spirit of exploration through captivating mathematical adventures.
Camp Conway is a 2-week residential camp for students aged 11 – 14. It’s named in honor of the mathematician John Horton Conway, who passed away in 2020. Conway had a profound love for summer math programs, and his approach to mathematics was brimming with curiosity, wonder, and playfulness—qualities we strive to nurture in our campers. He was a fearless explorer, driven by what fascinated him in mathematics (and beyond), making deep, original, and often unexpected contributions to multiple fields.
At Camp Conway, students will embark on their own journeys as math explorers—asking questions, forming conjectures, and uncovering mathematical treasures. Along the way, they’ll develop persistence, sharpen their problem-solving skills, deepen their mathematical understanding, and be inspired by a wealth of challenging and captivating mathematics.
Located at Harvey Mudd College, Camp Conway places students in a iconic setting for mathematical learning. And as part of the larger Claremont Colleges campus community, students will have access to private dormitory housing and community spaces at adjacent Scripps College, voted #1 best campus living in the U.S. by Princeton Review. The location and southern California weather offer plenty of outdoor learning and recreation opportunities for active campers in a secure and serene setting.
We’re excited to build an incredible team of passionate mathematicians, educators, and staff to make this summer unforgettable. As we continue to add members to our team, we encourage you to check back later for updates. Stay tuned for more details on the amazing individuals who will help bring this camp experience to life!
Dr. Sarah Trebat-Leder is a mathematician and educator with a deep love for both math and summer camp. Her passion for mathematics ignited in high school at HCSSiM, inspiring her to earn an AB in mathematics from Princeton University and a PhD from Emory University, where her research focused on number theory, modular forms, and moonshine.
Throughout her academic journey, Sarah has been involved with a variety of math outreach initiatives. She helped run PUMaC as an undergraduate, founded and directed the Emory Math Circle during graduate school, and worked at renowned math programs like MathPath, PROMYS, and BEAM.
After completing her PhD, Sarah spent six years at Art of Problem Solving in leadership roles focused on Talent Strategy. Now, as the Program Director of National Math Camps and Academic Director of Camp Conway, Sarah has returned to her math education roots, building joyful communities where young mathematicians can thrive.
She lives in San Diego with her husband, James, and in her free time enjoys contra dancing, doing improv, and building with Legos.
Campers will attend classes five days each week, and will spend about six hours each day doing mathematics, with plenty of breaks throughout. Our daily schedule will include:
Students will take a different Topics Class each week, which will meet twice per day. These classes are designed to allow students to dive deeply into an area of math. Topics classes are active, exploratory, and student-driven, with lots of room for unexpected detours. The topics that are offered vary session-to-session and year-to-year, as they depend on the interests and expertise of our faculty. However, potential topics could include graph theory, group theory, combinatorics, infinity, number theory, cryptography, knot theory, coding theory, voting theory, partitions, combinatorial games, projective geometry, and more!
All students will participate in our signature Math Explorations class, designed to teach them what it truly means to be a mathematician. Being a mathematician goes beyond solving problems posed by a teacher—it’s about learning to ask your own questions and exploring them deeply. In this class, students will engage with the full mathematical process: from formulating their own questions to exploring solutions, writing up their findings, and presenting their results. Along the way, they’ll sharpen their problem-solving and communication skills, while also building persistence and a deeper appreciation for the beauty of mathematics.
After some quick announcements, our morning assemblies will generally feature an interactive math lecture or other activity. These are designed to widen students’ mathematical horizons, exposing them to many new types of math. Most of these will be delivered by our faculty, but we also expect to have a guest or two each session!
During this self-directed time, students can chat with our faculty or spend some extra time thinking about whatever math most sparked their curiosity that day. We’ll also have some additional problems and puzzles available if they need some extra inspiration.
Twice each day, we’ll have activity periods with multiple options for campers to choose from, such as board games, origami, karaoke, ultimate frisbee, soccer, etc. Activity options will vary day-to-day and be based on the interests of our campers and staff.
On days when we don’t have class, campers will participate in a mix of mathematical and recreational activities, such as team competitions and challenges, a talent show, and maybe even a field trip! These activities are meant to build community, foster friendships, and make lasting memories.
Camp Conway is for students who will be age 11 – 14 as of June 1, 2025, regardness of the student’s grade level. Our classes will assume knowledge of basic algebra. We use a joint application that also allows students to be considered for two other camps.
Early Application deadline: January 14, 2025
A parent or guardian should create an account on our application website and complete the joint application form. Please note that the joint application includes a few short-answer questions, which should reflect the opinions and perspectives of the student applicant.
Two recommendations are required: one academic and one non-academic. The academic recommender should be a math teacher, math coach, or someone else who knows the student well mathematically. The non-academic recommender should be a different adult who knows the student well and regularly interacts with them in a group setting, such as a teacher, athletic or co-curricular coach, scout leader, etc. The recommenders cannot be a parent or other close relative. You will list your recommenders in the application form, and they will receive emails to fill out on online form.
After submitting the main application form, you will have access to the Exploration Problems. The Exploration Problems must be completed and submitted within five hours of clicking start on that section of the application. We suggest that students spend 2 – 3 hours in total working on the problems.
You can find a sample problem by clicking the button below.
Applications will be considered in multiple rounds.
The cost of attending Camp Conway is $3,500 for each two-week session. This covers all camp-related expenses, including room and board, educational materials, recreational activities, and full access to our expert faculty.
Note: There will a one time fee of $70 per camper for linen and janitorial expenses
We offer flexible payment options to make it easier for families. You can pay in full at the time of registration or choose a payment plan with installments. Detailed payment instructions will be provided upon registration.
NMC is committed to making our summer camp experiences available to all qualified students. Financial aid is available based on need and our application process is need-blind. Upon receipt of an offer of admission, families can apply by completing a financial aid application and submitting supporting documentation. The table shown here provides a breakdown of tuition assistance available based on eligibility. Families with extenuating circumstances are invited to include more detail for consideration with their financial aid application.
Connecting passionate learners with exceptional mathematicians in incredible settings. Stay in touch and explore how NMC can provide your camper with transformational experiences in mathematics!
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