Appalachian Institute for Creative Learning

In 2001, the camp formally reorganized itself as a non-profit organization under the name “Appalachian Institute for Creative Learning,” hoping to shift focus from students who are gifted to all campers who love to learn. We celebrate the life of the mind, but we’ve seen too many bright, interesting campers who don’t necessarily fit well in a traditional school model to limit ourselves to those who’ve been classified as “gifted.” Instead, we call our campers “motivated learners,” figuring anyone who shows up to take biology, math, or art in July is motivated. What AICL does is to create an environment in which it’s safe to laugh and learn, to risk and fail, to experiment with something outside of one’s competence.

Through outreach and scholarships, we foster a racially and economically diverse community. At AICL, we see everyone as both a learner and a teacher. We encourage social and intellectual interactions that will enable our students to fulfill their personal, professional, and academic potential. Because we build curricula based on the idea that learning is fun and should be on-going, we prepare our students to engage our complex world with insight, empathy, and confidence. When a camper comes to AICL, they have an opportunity to join a community of educators and students who are passionate about learning and creating.