Philosophy and Critical Thinking (PACT) Summer Camp

# Philosophy and Critical Thinking (PACT) Summer Camp PACT is run directly by the Department of Philosophy at The Ohio State University, not by a pre-college vendor, and it is built as an introduction to philosophical thought for students who have never taken the subject. Camp runs 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for a week on the Columbus campus, with each session organized around a theme; the 2026 offerings were Philosophy of AI and Philosophy and Identity. ## What You'll Do - Hear guest lectures from Ohio State philosophy faculty on the session theme - Take part in interactive discussions, media analysis, and structured debates - Practice identifying arguments, assumptions, and fallacies as formal critical-thinking skills - Join a week-long "community of inquiry" with peers from across Ohio and beyond ## Who Should Apply Students who will be in high school (grades 9-12) in the coming school year or who were in high school the previous year - typically ages 14 to 19. The application asks for an online enrollment form, an academic recommendation from a teacher, counselor, or tutor, and short written responses about why you want to attend and a learning experience that mattered to you. ## Outcomes Participants leave with a working grasp of philosophical method, argumentative writing practice, and a documented university department program on their record. Tuition is $500 covering instruction, materials, facilities, and daily lunch, and full-tuition scholarships are available for students with financial need.