Northwood hosted its AP/Honors Headstart Camp on Aug. 11 and 13, teaching students soft skills to succeed in higher-level courses. 

Nearly 90 students rotated around three stations focused on note-taking, active reading and time management, where they participated in mock lessons, scenario questions and practice texts. Northwood teachers gave test-taking tips and lectures on finding effective study groups and a peaceful study space. 

“As an AP [Environmental Science] teacher, I know a lot of kids come in feeling unprepared because they don’t have the right support system,” science teacher Megan Stuart said. “The workshop will teach a lot of skills you’ll need outside of high school, but my main hope for this is that it will be able to create a community of students that can now support each other both in and out of class, so it feels less intimidating.”

The camp first started several years ago to assist students who were struggling to succeed in more rigorous courses, and was invite-only. According to camp leader Marina Alburger, as Northwood’s math, reading and science Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium scores have decreased over the past three years, teachers have noticed more students having difficulty keeping up with the fast pace of AP and honors courses, possibly due to the effect of COVID-19. This prompted them to make the camp accessible to all juniors and seniors.

“We really wanted to help as many students as we could, even the ones who don’t seem to be struggling on paper but may actually need that same help,” Alburger said. “We want you to feel OK taking a bit of a risk and know that we are here to help you. A lot of kids do have the potential to take higher-level courses but may not stick with it because they don’t have these soft skills.”

Students have also expressed appreciation for the skills taught at the camp. 

“I think this camp is a strong transition into AP and honors courses not just because they teach valuable skills but because they also answer practical questions about what the classes are like,” junior Maggie Luy said. “The camp is a great way to discover which study methods work best for you, rather than simply copying an entire slideshow or reading a text without fully understanding. If you’re looking for smarter, more effective learning approaches, I would say this camp is the place to start.” 

Although this camp is only held in the summer, students are encouraged to continuously seek help from the Tutor Center or their teachers, especially during tutorial. Students interested in taking AP exams will be able to register starting in mid-to-late October on Northwood’s web store. For more information on AP exams, reach out to AP coordinator Summer Boyer at [email protected].