Fostering curiosity, connection, and discovery through engaging and challenging mathematics.
Camp Sierpiński is a 2-week residential camp for students aged 11 – 14. It’s named in honor of Waclaw Sierpiński, a polish mathematician. Our camp mascot is the Sierpiński triangle, which is a playful nod to our research triangle location. From fractals to the Axiom of Choice and the Continuum Hypothesis, much of Sierpiński’s work delved into the strange and beautiful properties of infinity. These topics embody the sense of curiosity and wonder we aim to inspire in our students.
At Camp Sierpiński, we’re creating an environment where students don’t just learn math – they discover a sense of belonging, develop resilience, and build a lifelong connection with the mathematical community. Our camp will empower participants to experience math as both fascinating and challenging, demonstrating that it’s not just fun when it’s easy, but even more rewarding when you push through difficulties.
Nestled on a 23-acre campus in North Carolina’s renowned Research Triangle, Camp Sierpiński offers a secure and serene enviroment for intellectual pursuits. Students will live in a private dormitory steps away from dedicated classrooms and community spaces, with plenty of recreational options available as well. This location fosters creativity and collaboration, making it the ideal setting for students to dive deep into advanced mathematical concepts.
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. Katie Johnson is a professor of mathematics at Florida Gulf Coast University with over a decade of experience teaching and mentoring students. She specializes in areas like graph theory and combinatorics, which involve exploring patterns and solving puzzles, and she loves finding creative, hands-on ways to share these ideas. Her passion for math ignited during a dual enrollment class at age 15, when she learned there are multiple sizes of infinity, cementing her lifelong love of the discipline.
Katie has worked at BEAM Summer Away; All Girls, All Math; and various local K-12 STEM enrichment programs. Katie also leads a program that trains college students to mentor and support peers in their learning, fostering a supportive and collaborative environment. As the founding Academic Director of Camp Sierpinski, she’s excited to create a fun and welcoming space where students can explore math and connect with others who share their curiosity.
Outside of work, Katie enjoys traveling, reading, cooking, yoga, and spending time with her two kids.
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 Sierpiński 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.
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 transfromational expereinces in mathematics!
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