Summer Career Explorations
Experience your future
NOTE: This program will not be offered in 2024.
Join our list to stay up-to-date on future pre-college opportunities with Calvin University. We would love to have you join us on campus!
The Summer Career Explorations Program is a one-week career development and exploration program for students who have completed their freshmen, sophomore, junior, or senior year of high school.
Choose a field of study that interests you, and spend a week on Calvin’s campus investigating your career options. You’ll spend mornings participating in creative, hands-on sessions led by Calvin faculty, and engage directly with people in your field of study through job site visits. In the afternoons, you’ll participate in career development workshops led by Career Coaches from Calvin’s Career Center and will enjoy campus fun, such as Calvin’s climbing wall and swimming pool.
Discover how to tell compelling stories through video. Visit a variety of worksites in Grand Rapids to see professionals in action and learn about their careers. Get hands-on training to improve your own media production skills!
Discover careers related to history and contribute to a collaborative class blog through personal interviews and research. Visit organizations such as local museums, and meet professionals who have put their historical training to work in diverse fields.
Find out how varied and flexible a nursing career can be, from clinical to community work settings. Explore unique opportunities and tour facilities on campus (Spoelhof Fieldhouse Complex, nursing simulation lab) and in town.
Explore fast-growing careers in public relations, advertising, and social media. Meet local professionals who work with the news media, create social media content, and build team cultures. Visit organizations like West Michigan Whitecaps baseball and the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
Discover how skills you’ll develop in an education program could serve you well teaching in a physical or a virtual classroom with children and young adults. Discover other roles in education and ways to apply your education degree to business or non-profit work. Join us as we investigate the possibilities through field trips, interviews, and so much more.
Day camp
Day campers drive to campus (each day) and return home after camp each day. Cost includes lunch, outings, and program materials.
- Deposit $300
- Full amount $550 (includes deposit)
Additional Forms
Overnight camp
Overnight campers stay on campus for the whole week and experience college life in the residence halls. Cost includes room and board, outings, and program materials.
- Deposit $300
- Full amount $1600 (includes deposit)
Additional Forms
- Contract and Residence Hall Expectations
- Travel Itinerary
- Medical Release
- Program Release and Waiver
- Climbing Waiver
- Residence Hall Roommate Finder
- Most Recent Participants Headshot (emailed to collegeaccess@calvin.edu)
Please Note: Due to a limited number of spots, deposit is non-refundable. A payment plan is available for the full amount payment option. Each field of study has a minimum of 10 participants and a maximum of 15 participants, accepted on a first come, first served basis.
Daily schedule
| 9 a.m. | Field of study of your choice (hands-on sessions and job site visits) |
| 12 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:30 p.m. | Career Center workshops |
| 3:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m. | Team building and college activities |
In Their Own Words
I had a chance to gain more insight into career options, information regarding making resumes, and making some great friends.” Summer Career Explorations Participant, Student
Thank you for putting this together. It’s probably going to be a highlight of my summer.” Summer Career Explorations Participant, Student
I saw something in my field of study I would and would not do. I made more friends than I thought I would and generally loved every minute I was there. I learned what is important to succeed in my field.” Summer Career Explorations Participant, Student
I had a chance to gain more insight into career options, information regarding making resumes, and making some great friends.” Summer Career Explorations Participant, Student
Thank you for putting this together. It’s probably going to be a highlight of my summer.” Summer Career Explorations Participant, Student
I saw something in my field of study I would and would not do. I made more friends than I thought I would and generally loved every minute I was there. I learned what is important to succeed in my field.” Summer Career Explorations Participant, Student
I had a chance to gain more insight into career options, information regarding making resumes, and making some great friends.” Summer Career Explorations Participant, Student