Summer Discovery Blog

What's happening at Summer Discovery and Discovery Internships

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 00:00:00 EDT

Summer Discovery Cambridge:

Summer Discovery Cambridge had an incredible first week here in our new home away from home where students have chosen to study abroad for the next month and take enrichment classes. Arriving beginning bright and early Sunday morning, students milled about meeting new friends from so many different countries and geared up to jump right into classes first thing Monday morning. It was a whirlwind week of amazing all group evening activities to get to one another as well as soak in the local culture of Cambridge. From punting on the River Cam, to a trip to the Ten Pin bowling alley, and dancing the night away at Club Bellare, fun was definitely the word of the week! Smaller afternoon trips headed to The Orchard to enjoy tea and scones, out to Spymasters to try their hand at racing the clock like James Bond, while others toured the majestic chapels and historic buildings that make up the 31 colleges of Cambridge University. And all this activity from such serious students- from the first day students have hit the ground running in our classes and field experiences with everything from Psychology, Writing, Shakespeare and International Law to Photography, Debate and even SAT prep.

The weekend was equally packed with activities. First up was The Big weekend, the annual celebration in Cambridge, this year with the added excitement of seeing the Olympic Torch arrive in style. Sunday found us off on split excursions to both Stratford-Upon-Avon, birthplace of William Shakespeare and the historic Windsor to tour one of the Queen’s stately residences. All in all, an incredible week with Summer Discovery here in Cambridge. Stay tuned to hear more of our adventures as July progresses!

Discovery Internships New York City:

It's been a big first week, even by Discovery Internship standards. On Sunday, we welcomed students from all over the world, and we welcomed them to the big city over a night of milk and cookies.

On Monday, we helped acquaint the students with each other and the city, taking them on a test run to their internships. We finished the day with a trip to Ellen's Stardust Diner in the Theater District. The diner's filled with fifties nostalgia, complete with diner decor and singing wait staff belting over-the-top bubblegum pop songs, as well as a few of today's hits thrown in the mix.

Tuesday, was the start of internships for many students, though some had the day off because of the Fourth. These students spent their morning at High Line Park, an old railroad line in the meatpacking district with an excellent view of the Hudson River. Afterwards, they attended a workshop on writing admissions essay. The students all gathered at night and the option of making a trip to the flagship Apple store, board game night, or just hang out.

Wednesday was of course spent celebrating America's birthday. We took a trip down to the bottom of Manhattan at the South Street Seaport, which had a whole range of shopping boutiques, and great views of the bay and the Freedom Tower. From there we took a ferry to Staten Island to catch a baseball game between the Staten Island Yankees and the Jamestown Jammers. With an all-you-can-eat pass the students were able to get their fill of All-American cuisine, and followed the game up with two fireworks display, one at the game, and one from the stadium's excellent view of Manhattan.

Thursday proved to be a busy day for everyone, even the students who had time off because of the Fourth, as they made the trip out to New Jersey to tour Princeton University. It also marked the first day of the students career accelerator course at NYU, giving them a head start on their college pursuits. Students unwinded from the long day with an ice cream night and hanging out with friends.

Friday marked the start of the weekend and the last day students would have off because of the Fourth. Those students toured either FIT or NYU and and had some free time to shop at the famed Macy's and surrounding stores. By night everyone was back on campus, and we set off to get a taste of New York comedy from Chicago City Limits improv group.

Saturday was a big day for touring the Big Apple, and students started the day touring either the UN headquarters or NBC studios, getting to see the inner workings of the two heavyweights. Unfortunately, the end of the day didn't run so smoothly, and due to bad weather we had to cancel our Circle Line Cruise, a sightseeing boat ride around Manhattan. And we instead had a movie night in the famed Times Square.

Sunday was also a big exploration day, and students had the choice of visiting Fifth Avenue or Central Park. Both are big cultural hubs of the city with a much too offer, and students were able to tour them at their own pace. Later that night we ended the weekend casually with a movie night. Here's to another great week at Discovery Internships.

Summer Discovery China:

It has been a great first week here in China! In Beijing, we were super busy, visiting the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and many cool neighborhoods and art districts. We also ate a ton of delicious Chinese meals, and students worked on perfecting their chopstick skills. We arrived in Shanghai on Wednesday and have been settling into classes, internships and our daily activities here. Students have been learning a lot from the Chinese business class and have been improving their Mandarin every day. In addition to classes, we have also had Chinese massages, played laser tag, eaten a traditional meal in one of our leader’s homes, explored a number of markets and visited several important Shanghai Museums. Our group is having a great time in China and is excited for everything to come in the next 3 weeks!

The First Week on our Campuses

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:00:00 EDT

Summer Discovery Michigan:

Our summer started on June 24 with the arrival of students. They were able to get acquainted with the residence hall and their RC groups and had orientation. Monday was the first day of classes. After classes, students were able to hang out around the residence hall, go to the Natural History Museum, and enjoy a trip to Stucchi’s ice cream. In the evening, students were able to enjoy playing Whirlyball or get some essential items at Meijer. On Tuesday, many students participated in their Sports Plus program while others enjoyed tie dying t-shirts and working on their fitness at the CCRB. A trip to Zap Zone was a popular activity for the evening; students had a blast playing lazer tag and enjoyed some arcade games. Students continued working hard on their academics as the week went on. The Eurocup game was a highly talked about event on Wednesday. Some students played billiards in the Michigan Union. We had our first SD Live of the summer with Craig Covey. Students continued to get familiar with one another and the surrounding areas of Ann Arbor.

The week has proved to be a hot one, but students were able to keep cool in the air conditioned building while playing board games, watching television, and getting to know their peers. Thursday evening was spent hanging out with RC groups. Each group was able to get to know one another a little better by playing games, enjoying snacks, and watching movies. After a long week of classes, students enjoyed a day off in Ohio. Some students went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, while others spent the day enjoying the rides at Cedar Point. Everyone continued to have a great weekend with a variety of activities on Saturday. Some went to an orchard to pick berries and others went to the driving range to work on their golf swings. Many were able to cool off inside the Ann Arbor Ice Cube while ice skating. Saturday night was a trip to the movies to see Magic Mike or Ted. Sunday was another relaxing day with students watching the Eurocup Finals, canoeing, checking out animals at the Toledo Zoo and shopping at an outlet mall. The evening consisted of a Wii tournament, a movie on the big screen, baking (and eating) banana bread, and playing lazer tag. After a great first week, students were able to get rest to start the second week of classes.

Summer Discovery UCLA and Discovery Internships Los Angeles:

We have had an exciting week here at Summer Discovery UCLA. Students arrived on Sunday and swung right into action with classes and orientation starting on Monday. Our first beach bus left on Wednesday, spending some time on Santa Monica Beach. Students were shown around their home base in Westwood, and then were given time to explore the stores and restaurants. The shopping trips have begun with stops on Melrose Ave and Rodeo Drive. On Thursday in Westwood, students got the opportunity to experience a real Hollywood event- The Amazing Spider-Man movie premier! Many students got the chance to meet some of the stars of the movie. 3.1 and Discovery Internship students got to check out Universal Studios while our 6 weeks students spent Friday night at the Family Fun Center, Speed Zone, or Ice Skating. Saturday was our first big group outing. We spent the day on Manhattan Beach and then took in a movie. On Sunday, students had the option of relaxing around campus or Westwood, hitting up Hollywood, hanging out at Hurricane Harbor Water Park, or Ice Skating. It’s been a fun week for everyone and we are ready for week 2!

Summer Discovery Santa Barbara: WOW! What an amazing and busy first week packed full of meeting new friends, adjusting to the time changes, relaxing on the beach, participating in different activities, attending our classes! Waking up right next to the beach every morning can simply be summarized into one word...PRICELESS! Starting the week off with activities such as bowling, roller skating, shopping, and Magic Mountain was a great way to start the summer program. We've had a blast getting to know one another and realizing that everyone is from different parts of the country has been really fun! We can't wait to learn from each other a little bit more as the summer goes on...not to mention how awesome the staff has been with helping us with questions!

We can already tell that this summer is going to be a memorable one with lots of different experiences, which in turn will hopefully be eye-opening. For right now, all we can do is sit back, buckle up, and go on this adventurous ride that this summer has in store for us!

Discovery Internships Chicago: We just completed our first full week, and what a great week it was. After the students’ arrival and getting to know each other we got right into their internships. Monday, with the students, we did dry runs to everyone’s site. Tuesday everyone was on their way. All the students are enjoying their internships. Some of the internships are at law firms, University of Chicago Medical Center, a catering company, music production studios, the Democratic Re-election committee, a TV production studio, two different theater companies, a small business advocacy council, and many more.

The interns also had their first Career Accelerator Class where they had to work on their resume and make an entry to their journal. At the completion of the Career Accelerator Series the students will get a college credit from New York University (NYU).

In our free time we have been to the Museum of Science and Industry, Navy Pier, Architecture Boat ride up the Chicago River, Double-Decker bus tour around town, movies, decorated cup cakes and last night played some competitive Whirly Ball. We also went to the Oak Street Beach – right in the heart of Chicago on Lake Michigan. We swam, played football and Frisbee. A fun and safe time was had by all.

The Baumhart Resident Hall is beautiful and in a fabulous location. It is an air-conditioned, all suites resident hall with a full kitchen and private bathrooms. It is located a block away from the Magnificent Mile – the best shopping and restaurants in downtown Chicago. We are also right on the red train line; the main north-south artery within the city.

We are looking forward to the rest of the summer including July 4^th fireworks on Lake Michigan, 6 Flags Great American Amusement Park, a Chicago White Sox baseball game, and much, much more.

How to network successfully and how Discovery Internships can help!

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT

You hear it all the time, “it’s all about who you know.” Although this statement seems unfair, it has been proven time and time again that there is truth in this statement. So, you might wonder, how can I build my network base from nothing? Here are the top 10 ways to network within an internship.

Be Professional! The top way to impress in the workplace is by portraying yourself in a professional manner.

Dress the part: Make sure your work attire is clean and appropriate for the work environment you are in.

Treat your coworkers with respect: Your coworkers are not friends, they are coworkers! Treat the people you work with respectfully and communicate with them as a professional. This means talking clearly, without slang/profanity, and with confidence.

Carry yourself with pride: Nothing stands out more than someone with confidence. Walk with your head high while still remaining grounded; this is one of the best ways to get noticed!

Realize you have something to offer: Just because you’re the office intern does not make you a just a paper pusher. What you do with your internship is up to you. Every intern is going to have some sort of administrative work but it does not have to be the definition of what you do. Make sure to take all your work seriously but don’t be afraid to ask for more responsibility. This type of action will prove your supervisor that you have initiation and motivation.

Don’t underestimate anyone within the workplace: Some who may seem somewhat inferior to the organization could have a big impact. Treat everyone in the workplace as superior. You want everyone in the workplace to have a good impression of you.

Remember names: The last thing you want to do is forget an important name of someone in the organization you’ve already met. Make sure when meeting someone for the first time you look them in the eye, shake their hand, and repeat their name. By doing this you will show professionalism as well as respect.

Don’t be afraid to ask for introductions: If there is someone in the workplace that you think could help you in your future career don’t be afraid to ask for an introduction. By taking initiative to meet this person you will show that you are serious and proactive about your career goals.

Be prepared: If you do have an introduction or meeting set up, make sure to be prepared. Have some questions ready to ask this person. Also, do a bit of background checking. Everyone likes to be complimented so do your research and compliment them on a big achievement to show interest in their profession.

Be thankful: Always, always, always thank someone who is helping you network. You can never say thank you too much, sometimes sending a thank you note makes all the difference even if the networking didn’t help immediately.

Internship Focus on Boston and Chicago!

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT

Boston: Marketing Internship Opportunities at The Boston Phoenix
Have you ever wanted to learn what it is like to be a professional in the Marketing industry? After an internship
with The Boston Phoenix you will be able to impress all your future employers and walk
away with an experience different than anybody else! Here’s your chance to stand out!

Here is what two of our 2011 Interns have to say: Eugenia- Intern at The Boston Phoenix

Q: What were some of your daily tasks?
A: I had to transcribe interviews my boss was writing, update social media
pages, create a calendar of events for the whole summer, contact residences in
Boston to get new advertisers and maintain contacts, and translate a series of
articles into Spanish.
Q: What was one of the highlights working for The Boston Phoenix?
A: The Boston Phoenix gave me a big project creating a calendar of events that
was to be published.
Q: What have you taken away from working at The Boston Phoenix?
A: My internship helped me determine that I really enjoy marketing and I can see
myself doing this in the future. My supervisor provided some good advice and I
learned a lot from him.

Sydney L- Intern at The Boston Phoenix

Q: What were some of your daily tasks?
A: “I had to take all the photos and edit them for Spanish newspapers, attend
events, festivals, and restaurants to take photographs.
Q: What was one of the highlights working for The Boston Phoenix?
A: One of the biggest highlights working for The Boston Phoenix was being able
to attend events and being solely responsible for taking and editing photos.
Q: What have you taken away from working at The Boston Phoenix?
A: Interning at The Boston Phoenix helped clarify my career goals, I highly
recommend this industry.

Chicago: Work on the Obama Campaign with a politics and government internship!
How many people can say they helped get a President elected? Well here’s your
chance! Work alongside political advocates while working on the Obama Campaign!
You’ll experience what it’s like to work in a political office while learning the skills
necessary to expand your resume.

Here's what our 2011 Interns have to say: Jacob Freund- Illinois Senate Democratic Victory Fun

Q: Describe the responsibilities of your internship. What specific tasks did you complete
on a daily basis?
A: We were given news articles to write summaries on and create excel spread sheets
to organize them in. I also called town halls for information that was needed.
Q: What was the highlight of your internship experience?
A: I was invited to have lunch at Chase Tower with my supervisor and colleagues. Also,
I was able to meet John Cullerton, Senate President.
Q: Did this internship help you clarify your career goals? How and why?
A: Yes, it gave me an inside view of how a campaign works and confirmed that I wish to
work in a political office.

Top 10 Reasons to be a Discovery Intern this summer!

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

1. You will make friends from all over the world!

“My internship was fantastic, full of so many priceless opportunities and I had a chance to experience New York City first hand. I loved my supervisor and I know I have made lifelong friends” Zachary B.

2. You will live in a great location...NYC, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, and London!

3. You will learn about a career field you are interested in!

“My internship reaffirmed my belief that this is the field I want to work in” Melissa G.

4. You will start networking!

“I can’t express how thankful I am for being able to be here, meet who I met, saw what I saw, and experience this city in an independent and safe way. Thank you so much Discovery Internships, I will never forget this summer.” Kate H.

5. You will take part in great excursions and activities!

“I had an amazing experience and everyone was so nice. Each day there was something new and exciting to do.” Chelsea M.

6. You will live in great accommodations!

“The residence hall and accommodations could not be better. The food was the best dining hall food I’ve ever had." Melissa H.

7. You will gain independence!

“I felt that my internship experience was necessary before entering the real world. It helped to build character and independence”. Akash Z.

8. You will be surprised at the things you can accomplish!

“My internship was a real taste of what the fashion industry is like. They give you real tasks to execute, not just get coffee” Brenda B.

9.You will stand out on college applications!

“This internship has provided me with the knowledge and connections that I couldn’t get anywhere else. I lived in a New York City for a month got a sneak peek into what college life is really like. I feel like this experience has matured me significantly” Celeste P.

10. You will have the BEST summer of your life!

Mighty Michigan!

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

Name: Laura Corrigan

Hometown: Northport, NY

Education History: B.S. in Psychology from New York Institute of Technology; Certificate in Pastry Arts from New York Restaurant School

How long have you worked at the University Michigan program? This will be my 9^th summer with Summer Discovery - mostly at Michigan and one summer at UCLA.

Favorite things at Michigan: The sun doesn’t set until about 9:30 pm! Ann Arbor is a great college town with tons of ice cream shops, clothing boutiques, sandwich shops and restaurants, two independent movie theaters all within a quarter mile!

Part of the amazing Michigan Staff

What are you looking fwd to most this summer? Living in a brand-new, air-conditioned residence hall (North Quad) which is closer to the heart of Ann Arbor.

Best weekend activity: Motown Museum, Cedar Point, Lazer Tag, Whirly Ball, Chicago trip!

Laura and Nicole (UM Associate Director) at a Mudhens game!

What are your hobbies? As a new home owner, I’m always looking at design magazines to see how I can spruce up my new house! I’m also in the process of planning my wedding!

Laura and her adorable fiance Andrew!

What were you like in High School? I was an average student, really good at math and science and very into art: photography (darkroom) and sculpture. I soon found out I wasn’t that artistic but I loved doing it anyway.

Dream travel location: I’ve always wanted to visit Egypt to see the pyramids and the Sphinx. I would also love to visit distant family in Ireland and Italy.

What is your guilty pleasure TV show? I love me some Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill. And anything Kardashian!

Some cool courses at Michigan: Rock & Roll Boot Camp, Golf, Architecture, Sport Management, Advertising, CSI!

What else should we know about you? Music: I’m really into punk/pop punk/alternative music. I love going to concerts so if we can make it happen during the summer – I’m in!

With Art Alexakis of Everclear

New Program at U Penn!!!

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Social Justice Research Academy at University of Pennsylvania!

July 1 – July 28, 2012

The Social Justice Research Academy brings students together with Penn faculty to examine the historical importance and the contemporary relevance of struggles to overcome inequality and injustice.

Morning Lectures and Discussions Attend classes with Penn faculty from several disciplines, including urban/global studies, philosophy, race and gender, economics and community development, politics, law and policy, history, sociology, environment, and public health.

Afternoon Workshops and Site Visits Participate in activities with special guests from community groups, cooperatives, socially responsible businesses, labor unions, political advocacy organizations, environmental projects, urban farms, research institutes, and philanthropies.

The promise of – and the struggle for – freedom is one of the enduring narratives of human society. The faculty will call upon knowledge and experience from many sources:

past struggles – peasant revolts, slave rebellions, anti-colonial and anti-apartheid independence movements
present struggles – Arab Spring, Occupy, and ongoing human rights campaigns across the globe

This academy has been designed for students who are interested in:

society, economy, politics, and environment
doing research supplemented by photography, video, music, art, or digital design
developing skills for leadership and organizational development
doing projects related to freedom, justice, equality, sustainability, peace, and fairness

Check out more information here!

Speaking of awesome Academies at U Penn...check out this video of our Summer 2011 Culinary students at work! They look like professionals!

Campus Manager Chat!

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Meet Lexi, our amazing Campus Manager for Summer Discovery @ Shanghai, China and Summer Discovery @ Florence, Italy! Lexi gets to live on campus with our students during the summer in China and has a lot of great adventures in the country! She is definitely the person to go to with food recommendations when traveling in China, check out what she has to say!

Hometown: Sharon, MA

College: Macalester College International Studies/Chinese

What is your favorite part of the Shanghai program? I really enjoyed watching student’s Mandarin language skills improve; from the first day when they couldn’t speak it at all to the last day when they were having full conversations! It was so cool to see them so excited!

How did you first get interested in learning Mandarin? I have always loved languages and I think Mandarin is becoming very useful in the modern world. Chinese to me was really fun to learn and I think it is super rewarding to master a new skill.

How long did you live in China before coming back to the States? Overall I lived in China for almost 2 years. I was able to live in a bunch of different cities and travel around during college and after. I loved living in Kunming, which is in the south of China on the border of Laos and Vietnam. The weather is perfect and the food is great!

Favorite Food to eat in China? I have been dreaming of Jian Bings which are a cross between a crepe and a burrito. They have really great sauces and crunchy noodles inside, so good! It’s actually a breakfast food that you buy on the street and they cost about .50 cents! Our students would get up early to get them before class this past summer!

What do you like to do in your free time? I like to swim, spend time with friends, explore all of the amazing food and activities in New York City. I also like to get out of the city to go hiking, camping, and kayaking. Reading is also on my list!

What is the last book you read? “State of Wonder" by Ann Patchett, a cool story about traveling to the Amazon and various adventures. Hard to describe but I highly recommend it!

What were you like in high school? Smart and quiet, but not quiet with my friends; kind of an athlete but I also sang in choir. :)

Where is the coolest place you’ve ever traveled? Xin Jiang, it is the northwestern part of China that borders countries including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Russia. It is a really cool place because it is where Chinese and central European cultures mix. I don’t think people realize how big China is!

What is your favorite word to say in Chinese? Qing Kuang, it means “situation” You use it a lot and it’s the type of word that just rolls when you say it.

Unleash the Dragon!

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Chinese New Year (also called the Lunar New Year) occurs in the early months of our calendar year, typically January or February and this year falls on January 23rd. This is the first of 15 days of celebration and the start of the Year of the Dragon. The holiday is celebrated with big family gatherings, gift giving, the eating of symbolic foods and display of festive decorations - all focused on bringing good luck for the new year and celebrating the coming of Spring.

According to www.chineasenewyear2012.net “In Chinese tradition, each year is dedicated to a specific animal. The Dragon, Horse, Monkey, Rat, Boar, Rabbit, Dog, Rooster, Ox, Tiger, Snake, and Ram are the twelve animals that are part of this tradition. In 2012, the Dragon is welcomed back after the 2011 year of the Rabbit. Each of these animals are thought to bestow their characteristics to the people born in their year. The Dragon is the mightiest of the signs. Dragons symbolize such character traits as dominance and ambition. Dragons prefer to live by their own rules and if left on their own, are usually successful. They’re driven, unafraid of challenges, and willing to take risks. They’re passionate in all they do and they do things in grand fashion.

This year will be the year of the Water Dragon, which is a very good thing! Water helps to calm the Dragon’s fire and enables dragon’s to look at situations from other’s points of view.

Want to know your Chinese Zodiac sign? Check it out here! Wishing you all an amazing start to 2012!

I spy, you spy...

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

Have you ever watched the James Bond movies and thought "that is by far the coolest job ever!", is Sherlock Holmes your idol? Are you counting down the days until the next Mission Impossible movie is released? Is your middle name Intrigue, Mystery, or Detective? If any of these apply to you, then you need to know more about two great activities offered on our campuses this summer!

Summer Discovery @ Cambridge gives you the opportunity to actually take part in the action with Si5 Spy missions! Spy Missions is an interactive experience where you play the role of an Mi5 agent who gathers clues with teammate to help solve a mystery, with a little action thrown in! Think of it like James Bond meets lazer tag!

At Summer Discovery @ Georgetown and Jr. Discovery @ Georgetown you visit one of the coolest museums ever-International Spy Museum! At the Spy Museum you have the opportunity to participate in hands-on exhibits like "Covers and Legends, "School for Spies" and "Spies Among Us." You can even take part in Operation Spy; "Think of it as a live-action spy adventure. Only you’re the spy. This one-hour-adrenaline-fueled fest is no exhibit. It’s simple, really. You have to locate a missing nuclear trigger before it ends up in the wrong hands. No pressure. Just crack a few safes, decode some messages, and interrogate a suspect double agent."

Until you are able to visit, check out the museum's cool video on disguise...

Welcome to the new website!

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

So many neat things happening over here at Summer Discovery and Discovery Internships! We'd like to welcome you to our new websites!! You can find all of our new sites by clicking on the links: Summer Discovery, Discovery Internships, and Jr. Discovery! We are also excited to let you know that in the next couple of weeks you can expect to see some great new videos on our website taken on our campuses this summer and our 2012 Catalog is on its way to your doorstep!

Whew, with all that, what else could we have going on...

We are still offering an Early Enrollment discount of $200 if you apply and enroll by December 20th!
Expanded Internship opportunities in all Discovery Internship citiies
Our Boston program has moved to the amazing Emerson College!
New AIR CONDITIONED dorm at Summer Discovery @ University of Michigan
6 and 3 week Culinary program at U Penn
More time in Barcelona (3 weeks!) during Summer Discovery @ Spain
New Business/Marketing Courses in Florence, Italy
New optional week to Hong Kong as part of Summer Discovery @ Shaghai, China
Expanded Research Mentorship offerings at Summer Discovery @ UC Santa Barbara
New courses in Leadership through Athletics, Marketing, Law, and Entertainment
2 week Boston Marketing and Business Institue at Summer Discovery @ Emerson College, Boston

Have fun exploring the website and our new additions, we know you are going to love them as much as well do!

Meet Allison!

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST

Allison is a Summer Discovery Alumni who attended Summer Discovery Cambridge herself as a high school student. She has now returned to the Summer Discovery family as a full time Associate and Campus Manager for our Cambridge. London and Spain Programs. We are super excited that she is back and so we took a minute to sit down with her for a quick Q & A:

Name: Allison Pendleton
Hometown: Ridgewood, NJ
College: Colgate University, Political Science
Graduate School: Fordham University, Masters of Education

With friends on her own high school adventure in France

You went on Summer Discovery Cambridge as a student, right?
Yes! I was looking for an enriching summer experience abroad and it turned out to be the best summer of my high school life! I was able to become more independent, meet new people, and immerse myself in the culture of England. Cambridge really opened the door for me I knew in the future I wanted to go to other countries but for my first time abroad I wanted to be able to speak the language. After that summer I ended up going to France to learn more about the French language.

Did it give you more confidence to then study abroad in college?
Yes, I ended up studying abroad at the University of Sydney in Australia. I traveled the South Pacific for 8 months; Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, while studying abroad. I wouldn’t change the experience for the world!

Abroad in Queenstown, New Zealand

What is your favorite SD memory from your time as a student?
My favorite part of my Summer Discovery Cambridge experience was making friends from all over the world and becoming a more independent person.

What is your favorite Cambridge food?
Cambridge crepes! They are so delicious. My favorite is ham, cheese, tomato and onion.

What were you like in high school?
I was an all around kind of student. I like hanging out with friends, I worked, and Shakespeare was my favorite subject.

Favorite part of this past summer:
Taking the group to Paris because that is my favorite place in the whole world! We were able to go up the Eifel Tower at night, take a boat cruise on the Seine to see all of Paris, it was amazing!

Allison with her RC Group this past summer in England

What do you like to do when on your free time?
I’ve been skiing since before I could walk, so I love that! I really enjoy watching sports; Sundays are pretty much just spent watching football. Go Giants!

What is your favorite color?
Green

What is your favorite movie?
Fried Green Tomatoes

Congratulations on your engagement! You are getting married this summer, right? Yes, I am actually getting married right after the program! We are very excited!

With future husband, Dave

Favorite Food?
Artichokes! When I was a kid for a birthday I had a dinner party and I served artichokes and ham because those were my favorite foods, very fancy!

Last book you read?
“A Dog’s Purpose” and like the movie "Marley and Me" it had me crying! The book is from the dog’s point of view and tells his life story through his eyes.

Where would your dream Summer Discovery program take place?
I would love to do Summer Discovery @ Australia…or Bora Bora!

What are you most looking forward to about working for Summer Discovery?
I am looking forward to helping the next generation of SD Cambridge and SD Spain students to have amazing experiences abroad just like I did!

Hello November!

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT

It’s November and you know what that means…gone are the crunching leaves and longer days, here comes the sledding and snow forts! With the arrival of winter we know that summer and Summer Discovery/Discovery Internships is right around the corner! It’s a little too early to start the countdown clock but it isn’t too early to start thinking about your summer plans.

Do you want to experience life on a college campus? Learn something new? Work in a career field you are interested in? You can do all of that with us this summer on one of our many campuses and locations!

Until December 20^th we are offering early enrollment savings for everyone! Check it out here or give us a call 516-621-3939. It’s never to early to start planning the best summer of your life!

Student Photo Contest Winners!

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Big thanks to all of our 2011 Summer Discovery students who submitted pictures for our photo contest! We are happy to revele the winners of the photo contest on the blog, check our Facebook page for all of the entries!

People

Miranda Mazariegos
Summer Discovery @ Florence, Italy

"This was when we visited Pisa and decided that we
needed "a typical jumping in front of the tower picture"

Places

Ryan Jacobs
Summer Discovery 3+3 @ University of Michigan and UCLA

"We were at the navy pier and that was my first time in Chicago
and I just thought it was the nicest city."

Super Snaps Photo Contest 2011!

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EDT

We have had a great response to our 2011 Super Snaps Summer Photo contest! The pictures submittedby our Summer Discovery and Discovery Internships students have been wonderful and we are so excited with the amount and talent of the entries! The judging panel will meet soon to pick a winner, until then "Like us" on Facebook and check out the photo album on our page to see all of the pictures submitted!

Big thank you to this year's student photographers: Amnol Mahtani, Carrie Van Den Henden, Emma Zorfass, John Yoo, Kenneth Wong, Lucie Munier, Mikaela Lonigro, Miranda Mazariegos, Po-Chin Wu, Po-Hsun Wu, Ryan Jacobs, Ryozuikei Kato, Sandy Poe, Serra Tevruz, Taylor Gianangelo, Tina Chao, Valeria Hawit, and Shanna Liu

We are also in the process of posting pictures from all summer programs and summer slide shows. Keep checking Facebook for updates and new information for Summer 2012!

Thank you!!

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EDT

The summer sun has set on our last SD and DI programs wrapping up what was an amazing summer on all of our campuses! Students and interns from all over the world were able to come together to make new friends, learn, and explore. We had a great time with all of you, having adventures from the East to West Coasts in America to England, Europe, and China!!

Coming soon to our Summer Discovery Facebook page and Discovery Internships Facebook page are this summer's slideshows and picture albums. Please check your email for the Summer Photo Contest; we want to see your best pictures from the summer!

We want to say a big Thank You to all of the students and interns who have made summer 2011 one of the best yet for Summer Discovery programs and Discovery Internships! Hope to see you next summer!

SD and DI Spring Leadership Meeting!

Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 EDT

This past weekend our Summer Discovery/Discovery Internship leadership team came in from near and far (very, very far, 20 hours from China!) to talk about the upcoming summer! In only 30 days our first programs of 2011 will begin and our summer will officially start. The Spring Leadership Weekend is a great way for our team to reconnect with friends from other campuses, plan activities, and have fun getting ready for the summer!

The theme of the weekend was EXCITEMENT! All of Directors, Associate Directors, and Internship Coordinators can't wait to meet their 2011 SD students and DI interns and get the summer started!

Take a peek into our weekend!

Thinking of Japan

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Our thoughts to go out to all of our families and friends who were affected by the earthquake and tsumani in Japan. Summer Discovery has made a donation to AmeriCares in honor of the Japanese students who participated in Summer Discovery last summer.

Great things!

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST

Check out a great spotlight on Sonille and Terryn, two of our amazing alumni students! Sonille (SD @ Northeastern) and Terryn (SD @ Michigan) were featured in Derek Jeter's Turn 2 magazine for their high school accomplishments!

Sonille has decided to attend Northeastern University after spending a summer there with us and Terryn will be heading back to the great state of Michigan for college!

Congrats to both of you, we can't wait to see what you do next! Click below to read the article.

10 Fun facts about Chicago!

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST

1. Chicago is the third largest city in the United States, with a population of nearly three million people. Its scenic lakeside location, world-class cultural offerings and unique architecture are just some of the reasons why Chicago is a great place to live and visit.

2. Chicago’s nicknames include: The Windy City, the City of Big Shoulders, the Second City, and The City That Works.

3. The Art Institute of Chicago has one of the largest and most extensive collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings in the world. (One of great activities during the summer!)

4. The Field museum collections contain over 21 million specimens, of which only a small portion are ever on display. (We'll go here too!)

5. Chicago has two Major League Baseball teams: the White Sox and the Cubs.

6. Chicago is the home of the Sears Tower, which was built in 1973 and soars 1,451 feet high

7. Oprah Winfrey’s Chicago based media company is the most well-known company in Chicago. She is listed in Forbes as #41 Most Powerful Women in the world.

8. The first Ferris Wheel made its debut in Chicago in 1893 at the World's Fair Colombian Exposition

9.The world's largest gum manufacturer, William Wrigley, Jr. Company, produces more than 20 million packages a day.

10. You can visit Chicago on our 5 week or 3+3 Summer Discovery @ Michigan program or
live in Chicago for a month as a Discovery Intern !!