Design expresses ideas in spatial, material, and cultural terms, drawing inspiration from diverse sources—a functional need, the structure of a leaf, a philosophical text. From architecture and urban planning to user-centric technologies, design can also be structured with sustainability in mind, forming interconnected systems that benefit both communities and the planet. In this seminar, explore how we interact with space through hands-on exercises paired with critique sessions, small-scale construction projects, guest designers, and dynamic collaborations with other seminars. Dive deep into topics centered on utility and beauty with digital drafting and historic styles.

Designed for photographers of all skill levels, this seminar teaches the basics of digital photography and composition before diving into more advanced shooting techniques and editing instruction. Whether your passion is portrait, landscape, adventure, or storytelling, build your confidence and nurture your creativity through one-on-one workshops with your instructor and group critiques. In the classroom, learn aesthetic principles and review the work of a variety of photographers, from Dorothea Lange to Krista Rossow.

Develop and refine your artistic vision as you explore studio art through a variety of materials, media, and perspectives. This seminar, taught by a working artist, is for students who are well-practiced in the field, as well as those who are new to creating art. Work in drawing, painting, sculpture, and mixed and new media as you expand existing techniques, establish new skills, and take your work in new directions. In both studio- and plein air-based lessons, create pieces based on subjects ranging from the human figure to still life, from landscape to portraiture, and from realism to abstraction.

The ever-growing sports industry provides it all: entertainment for thousands, economic benefits, the thrill of competition, healing opportunities for citizens and communities in crisis, and marketing opportunities that stimulate economies near and far, to name just a few. In this seminar, explore the varied opportunities that sports management provides—including team and athlete management, sports marketing, or sponsorship management—while developing an understanding of the business that takes place on and off the field. It’s clear from the sports organizations that have been sold or dissolved that some management strategies are more effective than others. Use case studies and lectures to find out what makes a team or sports organization gain traction with a fanbase and how it maximizes revenue.

While the scientific consensus around climate change is clear, polarized media outlets and misinformation have complicated the process of coming to a shared public understanding of the facts. How do mainstream and alternative news outlets narrate stories of climate change differently? Consider and explore the challenges in communicating complex scientific information to the general public as you deepen your own understanding of climate change. Delve into the efficacy of renewable energy production and carbon capture, then expand your discussions to emergent geoengineering methods such as solar radiation management, stratospheric aerosol injection, and ocean fertilization. Assess the tradeoffs and timelines associated with each technological innovation or scientific approach and address the risks and psychological ramifications of holding out for a technological “silver bullet.”

From public health to climate change, communities, countries, and the global community face myriad challenges. In this dynamic seminar, examine how cutting-edge research and technology can play a vital role in ensuring a vibrant and sustainable planet for future generations. Each day, take part in hands-on experiments, discussion-based lessons, and collaborative activities designed to explore how science and technology are pushing the boundaries of our capabilities as a species.

The Spanish language is the key to exploring and understanding some of the world’s most interesting and vibrant cultures, and it also unlocks travel, relationship, and work opportunities in the U.S. and abroad. With nearly half a billion speakers, Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language in the world, and it is the official language in 21 countries. This lively Spanish immersion seminar advances your proficiency so that you are prepared to study abroad in college. Instructors and participants speak entirely in Spanish, and this immersive approach pushes you to build your communication skills so you feel confident in your ability to speak spontaneously about a wide range of topics. q

American politics has always been messy and complex, but our contemporary moment seems to be particularly so. What are the effects of polarization on our democratic process? How do Americans think about politics, and what role does identity play in political and electoral choices? How do our political institutions respond to the demands of increasingly diverse constituencies, with divergent views on issues like health care, climate change, and gun rights? In this seminar, dig into the big issues facing U.S. governance today and develop an understanding of the key players in U.S. elections—candidates, political parties, voters, and the media—as well as their incentives and influences in the process. Use Vermont as a case study for how electoral politics meets policy enactment, such as the state’s successful actions to address the opioid crisis.

At its core, outdoor leadership and recreation is more than learning technical skills. Outdoor recreation encourages you to push yourself outside of your comfort zone, learning more about yourself and developing greater self-confidence in the process. In this experiential seminar, Vermont’s forests and the Green Mountains are your classroom: Learn hard skills like orienteering, camping, and ecology while growing interpersonal skills like team-building and communication. The campus of Castleton boasts a variety of ecological diversity. With your seminar group, learn about the native and endemic flora and fauna of Vermont. Educate yourself on how we can stop the spread of non-native species, and what the future of conservation looks like in the United States.

Human history is an evolving narrative with new chapters added each day. Lend your voice to the story in this skills-based and production-oriented seminar. As a medium, ​podcasting allows stories to be heard that might otherwise be overlooked by traditional media, and enables eager audiences to come together as a community around a topic, no matter how offbeat. Whether your passion is exploring an aspect of pop culture, reporting on current events, or inventing believable characters for your fictional podcast, turn your ideas into audio reality. Dive into a theme of your choice, including music & the arts, business & economics, investigative journalism, science & technology, personal narrative & history, fiction, or politics & current events.

Whether you want to write your first novel or create a poem that captures a specific emotion or experience, this dynamic workshop-style course is a step toward finding your voice and pushing your boundaries as a creative writer. Through personalized exercises led by published authors, develop skills in the genre of your choosing while exploring important craft challenges such as dialogue, imagery, narrative structure, word choice, theme, and storytelling technique. Draw inspiration from your surroundings in pastoral Vermont, the natural world, and featured guest writers. Share your work and receive valuable feedback from your peers and instructor. Host a celebratory final reading and present your best pieces to the Pre-College community.

The Spanish language is the key to exploring and understanding some of the world’s most interesting and vibrant cultures, and it also unlocks travel, relationship, and work opportunities in the U.S. and abroad. With nearly half a billion speakers, Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language in the world, and it is the official language in 21 countries. This lively Spanish immersion seminar advances your proficiency so that you are prepared to study abroad in college. Instructors and participants speak entirely in Spanish, and this immersive approach pushes you to build your communication skills so you feel confident in your ability to speak spontaneously about a wide range of topics. q

What makes a business succeed in today’s market and what are the steps between identifying a need and opening your doors? In recent years, larger-than-life characters like Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, Mark Zuckerberg, and Elon Musk have dominated headlines and raised questions about leadership, charisma, and risk-taking, all while cornering their market. This hands-on course begins by examining the economic players and the playing field where firms operate, with discussions of supply and demand, regulations and free trade, international trade, and currency flows. Learn about the conditions that create fertile ground for businesses to thrive, from 19th-century industrialists to modern Silicon Valley, and glean insights from the individuals who succeed in these environments

At its core, outdoor leadership and recreation is more than learning technical skills. Outdoor recreation encourages you to push yourself outside of your comfort zone, learning more about yourself and developing greater self-confidence in the process. In this experiential seminar, Vermont’s forests and the Green Mountains are your classroom: Learn hard skills like orienteering, camping, and ecology while growing interpersonal skills like team-building and communication. The campus of Castleton boasts a variety of ecological diversity. With your seminar group, learn about the native and endemic flora and fauna of Vermont. Educate yourself on how we can stop the spread of non-native species, and what the future of conservation looks like in the United States.

From CSI to Dexter, Sherlock Holmes to Bones, forensic science is portrayed in popular culture as a nearly magical tool in modern-day crime investigations. But is a drop of blood or a single strand of hair really the same as a smoking gun? In this seminar, look critically at case studies from around the world and learn how forensic evidence can be used in securing criminal convictions. In the lab, learn the science behind crime-solving tools such as blood splatter analysis, fingerprinting, and bone identification. Learn how this evidence is collected—how to approach a crime scene, from preserving evidence to documenting through sketch and photograph—and how it can be used both by prosecutors and defense attorneys in court.