BEAM provides up to 10 years of support through its Pathway Program, which begins the summer after 7th grade at BEAM Summer Away, a three-week camp where students learn real proof-based math while living on a college campus.
BEAM Summer Away runs at three sites in New York and southern California, serving about 120 students total each summer. At Summer Away, students dive deep into real proof-based mathematics, build a rich community of peers genuinely interested in math, develop independence, and have fun.
At Summer Away, students do seven hours of math per day — an experience they find exhilarating. Highlights of the program include:
Real proof-based mathematics. The style of instruction and type of math taught are designed to mirror other programs for advanced study.
Student choice. Students choose classes on subjects such as number theory, combinatorics, circuit design, graph theory, and problem solving.
Guest speakers. Mathematicians and other STEM professionals provide a window into the STEM world.
Activities. These include everything from soccer and dance to popular mathy pastimes like origami and Ultimate Frisbee.
Field trips. These are activities students might not otherwise have access to, including hiking, visiting a water park or amusement park.
One of the keys to the success of BEAM summer programs is our faculty and counselors. Faculty are top educators from across the country, including university professors and K-12 teachers. The students are on a first-name basis with their instructors, and it is not uncommon to spend meals talking together about math, college, or even video games.
Read about what it’s like to teach at BEAM.
8th Grade Support
Once the summer is done, students reunite with their families at closing ceremonies where they and their parents learn about what comes next: an 8th grade filled with high school applications, algebra, and new opportunities to explore advanced math. Learn more about our 8th Grade programming.